Okay, here’s my take on the LVL basketball court flooring project, written in a casual, first-person blog style:

Man, this project was a beast, but so satisfying in the end. It all started with a buddy hitting me up – he wanted a legit basketball court in his backyard, but the quotes he was getting for concrete were insane. So, we started brainstorming. Could we do a wooden court? That’s where the LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) idea came in.

Choosing the Materials

We needed something strong, something that could handle the weather, and something that wouldn’t warp like crazy. Regular plywood? Nope. Solid wood planks? Too expensive, and probably would twist over time. LVL seemed like the Goldilocks solution: strong, relatively stable, and more affordable than solid wood.

We went with a beech assembly. Because beech is tough and that wood is dense. This ensures durablity.

Prepping the Ground

First things first: we had to level the area. This was not fun. We rented a mini-excavator (which was kind of awesome to operate, not gonna lie) and got to work digging and moving dirt. We aimed for a super slight slope, just enough for water to run off, but not enough to affect gameplay.

Then came the gravel base. We laid down a thick layer of crushed stone, compacting it like crazy with a plate compactor. This was crucial for drainage and to give the LVL a solid foundation.

Building the Frame

The frame was basically a giant rectangle made of pressure-treated lumber. We used 2x8s for the perimeter and spaced 2x6s across the middle for support. Think of it like a giant, super-sized deck frame. Lots of measuring, lots of cutting, and even more screws. We made sure everything was level and square – a crooked frame would mean a crooked court!

Laying the LVL

This was the moment of truth. We carefully laid down the LVL sheets, staggering the joints like you would with hardwood flooring. We used construction adhesive and screws to secure them to the frame. The adhesive was a pain to work with – sticky and messy – but it was essential for keeping everything locked together.

• It is key to stagger the joints.
• Using construction adhesive and screws to install.

The Finishing Touches

Once all the LVL was down, it was time for sanding. We rented a big floor sander and went to town, smoothing out any unevenness and getting the surface ready for the finish. Then came the polyurethane. We applied multiple coats of an outdoor-rated polyurethane, letting each coat dry completely before adding the next. This was crucial for protecting the wood from the elements and giving it that nice, glossy basketball court look.

The Lines and Hoops

Finally, we taped off the lines and painted them with durable outdoor paint. We installed the hoops, double-checking that everything was regulation height and distance. I am not gonna lie, the first time we shot hoops on the finished court, it felt amazing. All that hard work had paid off!

It wasn’t a quick or easy project, but it was definitely rewarding. We saved a ton of money compared to a concrete court, and we ended up with something unique and pretty darn cool. Would I do it again? Maybe… after my back recovers!