Alright, let’s talk about my little project of putting in some batten basketball parquet wooden flooring. It wasn’t some huge gym, just a decent-sized space in my basement I wanted to turn into a mini-court for my kids (and maybe a little for me, too!).

Getting Started – The Prep Work!

First things first, I cleared out the entire area. This meant moving a bunch of old storage boxes, some dusty furniture, and a whole lot of random junk. It’s amazing how much stuff you accumulate over the years!

Next, I checked the concrete subfloor. It had to be level, or else the flooring would be all wonky. I used a long level and, sure enough, found a few dips and humps. Nothing major, thankfully. I grabbed some self-leveling compound and filled in the low spots, letting it dry completely before moving on. That stuff is pretty easy to work with, just mix it up and pour it on.

Laying Down the Battens

Now for the battens! These are basically just strips of wood that create a framework for the flooring. I used pressure-treated lumber, because, you know, basement… moisture… things like that. I measured the space and cut the battens to size. It’s important to get these cuts pretty accurate, or the whole thing can get messed up.

I laid out the battens in a grid pattern, making sure they were evenly spaced. I think I went with about 16 inches apart, but you might want to double-check what’s recommended for your specific flooring. I used construction adhesive and concrete screws to secure the battens to the floor. It’s a bit of a workout, drilling all those screws, but you gotta make sure those battens are solid.

The Parquet Goes Down

Okay, this is where it started to look like a basketball court! I chose a parquet pattern because, well, it looks cool. It’s a bit more work than just laying down planks, but totally worth it, in my opinion. I carefully put them step by step. You can imagine how I felt.

I started in one corner and worked my way across the room, piece by piece. Each piece of parquet had these little tongue-and-groove edges, so they snapped together pretty easily. I used a rubber mallet to tap them into place, making sure they were nice and tight. I also left a small expansion gap around the perimeter of the room, because wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity.

Finishing Touches

Once all the parquet was down, I filled any small gaps with wood filler. Then, I sanded the entire floor to make it perfectly smooth. This took a while, and it created a lot of dust, so I definitely recommend wearing a good mask.

Finally, I applied a few coats of polyurethane finish. This protects the wood and gives it that nice, shiny look. I let each coat dry completely before adding the next one. And that’s it! My own little basketball court, ready for some serious (or not-so-serious) action.

It was a lot of work, but seeing my kids shoot hoops on it made it all worthwhile. Plus, I learned a few things along the way. If you are willing to put in the time, it is a nice project!