Okay, so I’ve been wanting to put in a basketball court at my place for, like, forever. Finally decided to just go for it! First thing I did was measure out the space in my backyard. Gotta figure out how much room you’re working with, right?

Then came the fun part – NOT. I spent, no joke, hours online looking at different flooring options. There’s so much stuff out there! Concrete, asphalt, those plastic tile things… my head was spinning. I even looked at some fancy wood flooring, but quickly realized that was way out of my budget. Unless I win the lottery or something.

Choosing the Material

I ended up narrowing it down to concrete and these modular plastic tiles. Concrete seemed like the classic choice, you know, super durable. But those tiles… they looked pretty easy to install, and some of them even had shock-absorbing features. Plus, way more color choices!

• Concrete: Pros – super strong, lasts forever. Cons – kinda boring looking, and I’d probably have to hire someone to pour it.
• Modular Tiles: Pros – easier to install (maybe DIY?), more color options, some have better shock absorption. Cons – might not be as durable as concrete, long-term.

I finally decided to go with the modular tiles. Seemed like the best balance of cost, ease of installation, and, let’s be real, I wanted a cool-looking court!

The Prep Work (Ugh)

Before I could even think about laying down the tiles, I had to get the ground ready. This was the least fun part, by far. I spent a whole weekend clearing out grass, rocks, and leveling the dirt. Let me tell you, my back was killing me after that. I even rented a little plate compactor thing to make sure the ground was super packed down. Didn’t want any shifting or settling later on.

Laying the Tiles

Actually putting the tiles down was surprisingly easy. They just kinda snapped together like giant LEGOs. I started in one corner and worked my way across, following the instructions that came with the tiles. It took a few hours, but it was way easier than I expected. And seeing it all come together? Super satisfying.

Painting the Lines

Once the tiles were all down, I had to paint the lines. I bought a basketball court line painting kit online. It came with stencils and special paint. This part was a little tricky, gotta be careful to get the lines straight and even. But I took my time, and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Final Touches

The last thing I did was add a basketball hoop. I went with one of those portable ones with a base you fill with water or sand. Seemed easier than digging a hole and pouring concrete for a permanent pole. And that was it! My very own basketball court. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. Been shooting hoops every day since!