Okay folks, let me walk you through my weekend project installing rubber tree flooring with basketball court cushions in my garage. Buckle up because this took way more sweat than I expected!

Grabbing All The Stuff

First thing Saturday morning, I drove down to the lumber store and picked out these rubber tree planks. They’re supposed to be tough as nails and bounce-friendly. The guy at the counter kept raving about how they wouldn’t warp like regular wood. Also grabbed those special basketball court cushion pads – thick foam squares that feel like walking on marshmallows.

Prepping The Garage Floor

Came home and completely emptied the garage. Swept out years of dust bunnies and found three dead spiders (RIP). Used a level on the concrete and wow, my floor’s slanted like a skate ramp! Fixed it by spreading self-leveling concrete mix:

• Poured the nasty gray goop into low spots
• Smoothed it with a giant spatula thing
• Waited four hours playing Call of Duty

Laying Down The Magic Cushions

Unrolled those court cushion pads corner to corner. They’re like giant puzzle pieces:

• Snapped the edges together real tight
• Duct taped every single seam (probably overkill)
• Trimmed excess with box cutter when hitting walls

Timber Time Got Tricky

Started laying the rubber tree planks diagonal cause I saw it on HGTV. Bad idea! Wasted three planks making wonky cuts. Switched to straight lines parallel to the garage door:

• Measured twice but still screwed up cuts twice
• Hammered tongue-and-groove joints with a rubber mallet
• Kicked every plank hard to lock them tight

Around the water heater? Nightmare. Cut weird shaped pieces looking like jigsaw murders.

Final Stretch Fights

Last two rows needed skinny planks. Saw blade started smoking cutting the dense rubber wood! Finished with these ugly 1-inch slivers near the back wall. Covered them with trim molding and called it art. Sweat through two shirts and drank six Gatorades.

Ballin’ On Budget Floor

Test dribbled my old basketball – the bounce is ridiculously springy! Feels like an actual court. Kids ran in to slide around in socks yelling “floor is lava”. Still gotta add baseboards next weekend but the main thing’s done. Concrete jungle? More like backyard Madison Square Garden!