Okay, here’s my blog post about putting in that batten basketball court floor:

Alright, so I’ve been wanting a proper basketball practice space at home for ages. My driveway’s all cracked and uneven, and the local park is always packed. So, I decided to take the plunge and build a little court in my backyard. I went with a batten, birch assembly, wooden flooring system, and let me tell you, it was a project!

Getting Started

First things first, I cleared out the area. This was mostly just grass and some sad-looking bushes. I rented a mini-excavator for a weekend – way easier than doing it all by hand! – and got the ground level. I also dug out the area where I am planning for the basketball poles installation.

Then came the gravel. Loads of it. I spread it out, tamped it down like crazy with a rented plate compactor (another lifesaver!), and made sure it was super level. This is the base, so it’s gotta be solid.

The Battens

Next up were the battens. These are basically just long pieces of treated lumber. I laid them out in a grid pattern, making sure they were evenly spaced. This is what the flooring panels will eventually sit on, so getting the spacing right is crucial.

To help with creating the grid pattern, I created a simple jig using cut 2x4s. Nailed two pieces together and notched out where the battens are supposed to go, it was a big time saver as I do not need to use measuring tape for every single batten laying!

The Birch Panels

Now for the fun part – the actual flooring! These birch panels are designed to interlock, which makes things a bit easier. But it’s still a bit of a puzzle. I started in one corner and worked my way across, clicking the panels together. A rubber mallet came in handy for persuading some of the stubborn ones.

There was also a lot of cutting involved. I measured the area before I ordered any wood, but it is still a little bit off. I used a circular saw to trim the panels to fit around the edges of the court. It was a bit dusty, but hey, that’s woodworking for you!

The Finishing Touches

Once all the panels were down, I gave the whole floor a good sweeping. I plan to add some kind of sealant later to protect the wood from the elements, but for now, I’m just admiring my handiwork.

• Clear the area and level the ground.
• Add a gravel base and compact it.
• Lay out the battens in a grid.
• Assemble the birch flooring panels.
• Admire and have fun.

It took a few weekends of solid work, but I’m super stoked with how it turned out. Now I can practice my jump shot whenever I want! It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I built it. That’s a pretty good feeling.