Getting Started

So, my volleyball court flooring was messed up big time. Right near the boundary line, one section looked like it got chewed up. Badly. Not cool, especially after a few games where people nearly tripped on it. Safety first, right? Gotta fix that.

First thing, grabbed my toolbox. Needed basic stuff: hammer, a pry bar kinda tool, nails, screws, my power drill, and this staple puller doodad. Oh, and obviously, the replacement wooden planks I picked up weeks ago, finally getting used. Thank god I had spares lying around.

Tearing Out the Old Mess

Started by clearing the area. Swept away all the dust and grit, felt like cleaning up after a tiny sandstorm. Then, the fun part – pulling up the wrecked planks. Jammed the pry bar under one end, used way more muscle than expected. Wood cracked, splintered everywhere. So many staples holding it down! Used the hammer and the pry bar combo, kinda levering them out. Bent a bunch, had to yank the really stubborn ones with pliers. Man, that took forever. Sweat was pouring, hands got grubby. Under the floor? More sand and bits of old, dried glue. Scooped that out like a mini excavation.

Getting the New Wood Ready

Laid the new plank beside the gap to see how it fit. Ha! Too long. Typical. Grabbed my measuring tape – measured the gap length like three times, ’cause I always get it wrong first go. Marked the plank with a pencil, double-checking. Used my circular saw outdoors. Noise was brutal, sawdust flying like crazy. Cut it slightly longer than the mark, you know, just in case. Better too long than too short! Sanded the rough edges down with sandpaper. Felt smoother? Good enough.

Putting It All Together

Time to fit the new piece. Lowered it carefully into the space. Pushed and wiggled it. Needed a tiny trim? Yep. Took it out again, shaved off maybe a millimeter with the saw. Second try fit way better. Nice and snug. Still a hair uneven? Used the hammer handle to tap it gently – left, right, down – until it sat flush with the others. Felt so satisfying seeing it line up.

Securing it was next. Made sure the replacement plank lined up with the existing row. Took my drill and wood screws. Drilled pilot holes first – learned that lesson ages ago. Prevents splitting. Screwed it down tight at both ends and a couple in the middle. Didn’t want it popping back up! Then came the annoying staples part. Used the staple gun thingy – thwack, thwack, thwack – putting staples along the edges where the old ones were. Bent one instantly. Had to pull it out and try again, hitting my thumb twice in the process. Ouch! Finally got them all seated properly.

Finishing Touches

Swept the whole area again. Brushed some fine sand into the tiny gaps between the planks – helps keep things tight and level. Walked over it, bounced a ball on the new spot. Felt solid! No weird bumps or noises.

What I Learned (The Hard Way)

• Pre-drill holes. Every. Single. Time. Saves wood and sanity.
• Always cut a little longer than you think. Easy to trim more later.
• Staple guns are tricky. Gotta hold ’em just right and apply firm pressure.
• Wear gloves. Splinters are sneaky devils.
• Take breaks. Getting frustrated makes you rush and mess up.
• Check alignment constantly as you tap the wood in.

It wasn’t super fast or glamorous, but the job’s done. Court feels safer now, ready for the next game. Kinda proud, if I’m honest. Need a cold drink now! Might add another coat of sealant next week, just in case.