Okay, so the other day I decided to tackle that pile of plywood I had lying around. You know, the one that’s been taking up space in the garage for, like, ever? I figured I’d try my hand at making some wooden flooring. It sounded easy enough in my head.

Getting Started

First things first, I needed a clean workspace. So, I moved all the junk in the garage around – bikes, tools, that weird inflatable snowman from last Christmas – the whole nine yards. Finally, I had a decent-sized area to work with.

Next, I grabbed my plywood sheets. They were pretty rough, so I knew I had some sanding to do. I dug out my trusty old sander, plugged it in, and went to town. It took a while, and let me tell you, the dust was everywhere. I definitely should have worn a mask, but, well, hindsight is 20/20, right?

The Cushion Idea

Here’s where things got a little interesting. I didn’t want the plywood directly on the concrete floor. It would be cold, hard, and probably not very forgiving on the feet. So, I decided to add a cushion layer. I found these foam padding rolls – the kind you use under laminate flooring. I figured they’d do the trick.

I rolled out the foam padding across the floor, cutting it to size with a utility knife. It was a bit like wrapping a giant, flat present. Easy peasy.

Putting it All Together

Now for the plywood. I started laying the sheets down on top of the foam, making sure they were snug against each other. This is where the “dancing” part comes in. I literally walked and jumped – okay, maybe more like stomped – on the plywood to get it to settle into the foam padding. It was surprisingly effective, and kind of fun, actually.

To keep everything together, I used wood glue along the edges of the plywood sheets. I applied a thin line, then pressed the sheets together. To make sure they stayed put while the glue dried, I placed some heavy stuff – paint cans, toolboxes, whatever I could find – on top. It looked a bit like a chaotic Jenga tower, but hey, it worked.

The Finished Product

After a few hours, the glue was dry, and I removed the weights. And there it was – my DIY plywood floor! It wasn’t perfect, sure. There were a few gaps here and there, and some of the edges weren’t perfectly flush. But it was mine, and it felt pretty good underfoot. The foam padding made a huge difference.

Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but also kind of satisfying. Plus, I finally got rid of that plywood pile! I might get some colored markers to design some pictures on them next time.