Okay, so I’ve been wanting to redo the flooring in my makeshift volleyball practice area for ages. The old setup was just… sad. Uneven concrete, definitely not ideal for practicing those sweet, sweet dives. I finally decided to tackle it, and I went with this batten, larch, assembling wooden flooring system. Figured I’d share the process, ’cause why not?

Getting Started

First things first, I cleared out the entire space. This was a workout in itself! Moved all the old equipment, swept up a ridiculous amount of dust and who-knows-what-else. I wanted a completely blank canvas to work with.

Next up, I laid down a vapor barrier. This is super important, especially since my practice area is basically in a glorified shed. Didn’t want any moisture creeping up and messing with the wood. I just used some heavy-duty plastic sheeting, overlapping the seams and taping them down really well.

Building the Batten Frame

This was the most time-consuming part, but also pretty satisfying. I used treated lumber for the battens. I cut them first, it took a while, then I measured and marked out where the battens would go, making sure everything was level and evenly spaced. This is crucial for a nice, flat playing surface. I used a laser level (best tool purchase ever!) to make sure everything was perfect.

I screwed the battens down. Making sure each board is firmly fixed.

Laying the Larch Flooring

• Then I laid down the first row of the larch flooring. I had to tap each one.
• I made sure the tongue-and-groove system of the floorboards were correctly.
• I repeated until the last board.

Finishing Touches(almost)

After I got it all in,I did a little test bounce with the volleyball. Felt pretty * It looks a thousand times better. Now I’ve gotta get back out there and finish up those last few details!