Okay, here’s my attempt at writing a blog post in the style you requested, focusing on the practical process and using simple language:

So, I wanted to put down some new flooring in my basement rec room. I’d seen those fancy sports courts with the wood floors, and I thought, “Why not?” I play some volleyball with my buddies, so I figured a nice sprung floor would be awesome. This is how the whole thing went down.

Getting Started

First, I had to clear out the whole space. That meant moving all the furniture, the ping pong table, everything. It was a pain, but it had to be done. Then, I checked the concrete floor to make sure it was pretty level. A few dips here and there, but nothing major. If it was really bad, I would’ve needed to use some of that self-leveling compound, but luckily, I skipped that step.

The Keel System

This is where it got interesting. I went with a “keel” system. Sounds fancy, but it’s basically just a framework of wood that sits under the floorboards. I used these 2x4s, all pressure-treated because, you know, basement.

I laid out the 2x4s, making a grid pattern across the whole floor. I spaced them about 16 inches apart. Made sure to leave a little gap around the edges of the room for expansion and stuff. I used construction adhesive and some concrete screws to keep those 2x4s in place. Had to pre-drill the holes which was a real workout.

The Plywood Layer

Next, I added a layer of OSB board over top of the keel frame.

• Cutting: Used a saw to slice them down to size, also left expansion gaps.
• Fasten: Used plenty of screws to secure OSB to the 2x4s. Staggered the seams, like they say to do.

The Maple Flooring

Now for the good stuff! I got my hands on some maple flooring. It came in these long, tongue-and-groove pieces.

I started laying the flooring along one wall, making sure to keep that expansion gap. The tongue-and-groove thing was pretty slick – the pieces just fit together. For securing you have to options:

• Nailing: Used a flooring nailer to drive nails through the tongues at an angle. This was kinda fun, but also a little nerve-wracking. Don’t want to mess up those nice maple boards!
• Glue-Down: Another option is gluing the floor, you could use construction adhesive, but that’s a more permanent choice.

I kept going, row by row, until the whole floor was covered. Had to do some tricky cuts around the doorways and corners, but I managed.

The Finishing Touches

After all the flooring was down, I rented a big floor sander. Sanded the whole thing down to make it super smooth. This part was dusty! Wore a mask and goggles, for sure. Then, I applied a few coats of polyurethane finish. This stuff protects the wood and gives it a nice shine. Waited for it to dry completely between coats. That was the hardest part – waiting!

Finally, I put up some baseboards around the edges to cover up those expansion gaps. And that was it! My very own sprung, maple volleyball court (sort of) floor. It took a while, and it was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Now, game on!