Alright, guys, gather ’round! Today, I’m diving into something a bit different, but super cool – at least I think so. It’s all about setting up a portable wooden dance floor, specifically a battened maple one. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey, but totally worth it!

It all started because my daughter, bless her heart, is really into dance. Like, really into it. Ballet, tap, jazz – you name it, she does it. Our living room carpet? Not exactly ideal for pirouettes and shuffles. So, I started thinking, “How can I make this work better for her?”

I did some digging, looked at all sorts of options, and eventually landed on this idea of a portable dance floor. Something I could set up when she needed it, and then pack away to reclaim our living room. And maple? Well, that just seemed like the classic, beautiful choice.

Getting Started & Building

First things,First,I gathered my materials. It is very important. This was the not-so-fun part, running around to different stores. I needed:

• Sheets of maple plywood (I went with a decent thickness for durability).
• Wooden battens – these are basically strips of wood that go underneath to provide support and spring.
• Screws, wood glue, sandpaper, and a finish (I opted for a water-based polyurethane to keep it light and bright).
• A saw, which is essential for completing the division and cutting of the wood.
• A drill, which makes your work easier.

Then came the real work. I measured out the space I wanted the floor to cover, and then cut the plywood sheets accordingly.

Pro tip (from a not-so-pro): measure twice, cut once! I definitely learned that the hard way.

Next up, the battens.I arranged them on the underside of the plywood,spacing them out evenly to give good support across the whole surface.

Then I glued and screwed those suckers * sure they’re really secure!

Once the glue was dry (patience is a virtue, my friends), I flipped the whole thing over and got to sanding.

I wanted a nice, smooth surface, no splinters for my little dancer! This part took a while, but it’s important.

Nearly there!

Finally, I applied a few coats of that polyurethane finish, letting each coat dry completely before adding the next. This helps protect the wood and gives it a nice, finished look.

And I allowed everything to dry and “cure” properly.

And… that was it! My very own DIY battened maple portable wooden dance floor. Seeing my daughter’s face when she first danced on it? Priceless. It wasn’t perfect, sure, but it was made with love, and it works! Now, she can practice to her heart’s content, and I can easily pack it away when we need the space. Win-win!

The spring action from the battens is just right, not too bouncy, not too stiff. It really does feel like a proper dance * process is not very difficult.