Hey folks, today I’m breaking down the actual costs behind building that backyard basketball court I’ve been blabbering about for months. Started this whole thing back in March when my teenager wouldn’t stop nagging about practicing dunks.
Getting Dirty With Measurements
First thing I did? Grabbed a tape measure and stumbled around our sloped backyard like an idiot. Marked out where the court could fit without eating the entire lawn. Ended up deciding on half-court size since full would’ve cost an arm and leg – settled on 30 feet by 50 feet after tripping over rose bushes twice.
Material Price Shock
Checked three places for concrete quotes and almost choked when I heard the numbers:
- Basic cement slab: $5.8K
- Mid-range acrylic surface (colors included): $7.2K
- Pro-style shock-absorbing tiles: $14.5K
Ended up with the acrylic cause those tiles were straight-up robbery for my budget.
Grading and Base Work
Hired Bob from down the street with his mini-digger since our yard slopes like a skate ramp. He charged $900 to level the ground which felt fair after I spent two weekends trying manually and only managed blisters. Had to get truckloads of gravel as base layer too – that burned another $500.
DIY Disaster Moment
Attempted painting the lines myself to save cash. Pro tip: don’t trust YouTube tutorials. My three-point line looked like a drunk caterpillar. Had to call in painters who charged $350 to fix my mess and do the center logo properly. Still cringe remembering that splattered paint job.
Surprise Extra Costs
Nobody tells you about the sneaky stuff:
- Fencing (so balls don’t massacre my tomatoes): $1.2K
- Light fixture for evening games: $400
- Two extra tons of fill dirt after heavy rain caused sinking in corner: $230
Oh and the permit! Damn township charged me $125 just to say “yeah build that”.
The Final Damage
Drumroll… total landed at $11,605 when receipts were stacked up. Blows my mind how that acrylic coating alone was 60% of the bill. Worth every penny though hearing that basketball thump nightly without driving to rec center. Kid better make varsity team after this investment!
