Okay, here’s my blog post about assembling batten basketball flooring, written from my personal experience, in a casual, conversational tone, with simple HTML formatting:

Alright, so the other day I decided to tackle a project I’ve been putting off – installing some new flooring in my makeshift home gym. I wanted that real basketball court feel, you know? So I went with this batten system, supposed to be easier than traditional hardwood.

First things first, I cleared out the entire room. Everything. Weights, mats, that dusty old treadmill in the corner… all of it had to go. This gave me a totally blank canvas to work with.

Next up, I made sure to check the subfloor situation. Made of concrete. I give it a good sweep and made sure it was level. I can not afford any surprises, later on, to pop up.

Then came the underlayment. This is the stuff that goes between the concrete and the wood, it will give me a bit of cushioning and help with sound. I rolled that out across the whole floor, making sure to overlap the seams a bit, and then taped it all down securely with some heavy-duty tape. I wanted zero movement.

Laying the Battens

Now for the fun part – the battens! These are basically long strips of * create the framework that the actual flooring panels will sit on.

I started laying them out according to the instructions that came with the kit. It’s super important to get the spacing right, otherwise, the floorboards won’t fit properly. I used a measuring tape constantly, double and triple-checking everything. These things were pretty long, so I had to maneuver them carefully to get them into position.

I secured the battens to concrete subfloor. I used the screws, which were provided in the kit, to make sure those battens would be well secured.

Putting Down the Floorboards

With the batten framework in place, it was time for the actual floorboards. These were pre-finished, which saved me a ton of time and effort. No sanding or staining needed!

I started snapping the floorboards into place onto the battens. It was surprisingly satisfying, hearing that click as each board locked in. You kind of work your way across the room, row by row. It is like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

I used a rubber mallet to gently tap some of the boards into place, making sure they were nice and snug against each other. No gaps allowed!

The Final Touches

Once all the floorboards were down, I installed the perimeter trim. This covers up the edges and gives it a clean, finished look. A bit of nailing and those were on.

Finally, I stood back and admired my handiwork. It looked amazing! A real, proper basketball court surface, right there in my basement. And the best part? I did it myself!

It took a good chunk of the day, and my back was definitely feeling it afterward, but it was totally worth it. Now I can get my practice on in style. Time for some layups!