So I decided to finally fix up my backyard basketball court. The old concrete slab was cracked and uneven, messing up my dribbling. Wanted real hardwood like the pros use but didn’t know squat about pricing. Started calling local lumber yards.
Phase One: Hunting Down Quotes
First guy laughed when I asked for NBA-grade maple. “You rich or crazy?” Turns out there’s huge differences:
- Maple: Super hard, bounces great, costs a fortune
- Oak: Cheaper but gets dented easy
- Bamboo: New trend, eco-friendly but feels weird
Got three estimates:
- Premium maple: $12 per square foot
- Mid-grade oak: $8
- Bamboo crap: $6.50 (nope)
Phase Two: Hidden Costs Ambush
Almost signed for the oak when Bob (contractor buddy) warned: “Flooring’s just 60% of your bill.” Forgot extra stuff:
- Subfloor: Plywood base layer? Add $3/sq ft
- Finish: That glossy coat? Another $4/sq ft
- Delivery: $200 flat fee for trucking
My 600 sq ft court math:
- Oak planks: $4,800
- Subfloor + finish: $4,200
- Delivery + labor: $3,000
Suddenly $12,000 total. Wallet cried.
Phase Three: DIY Disaster Recovery
Tried cutting corners by installing myself. Big mistake.
- Rented nail gun ($85/day)
- First row crooked – gaps everywhere
- Splintered 10 planks forcing them together
After wasting $500 on botched boards, called Carlos the floor guy. He salvaged it in two days for $2k labor.
The Final Tally
- Materials: $9,500 (went with oak after all)
- Labor: $2,000
- Nail gun & wasted wood: $585
- Beer for Carlos’ crew: $50 (best money spent)
Total: $12,135. Court plays amazing now, but man – should’ve budgeted for headaches. Next project? Maybe just repaint the hoop.
