Man, my backyard volleyball court got wrecked after that crazy storm last week. Half the wooden planks were sticking up like jagged teeth – super dangerous for bare feet. Figured it was time to fix my oak flooring assembly properly.
Gathering My Battle Gear
First I dragged out all the warped planks. Man, those oak boards were heavier than I remembered! Rusty nails were poking out everywhere, so I grabbed:
- My crusty yellow hammer (the one with duct tape on the handle)
- Box of 3-inch galvanized nails
- That dented level from my garage sale haul
- Bottle of wood glue that’s probably older than my dog
The Real Struggle Begins
Started hammering replacements into place and immediately messed up. Forgot oak wood swells when damp! Had to rip out three boards I’d just nailed because they buckled like accordions. Lesson learned: let wood dry overnight after rain.
Next disaster happened when I tried using the warped old planks as spacers. Big mistake! Whole section ended up looking like a drunk caterpillar. Tore everything out again and cut fresh spacers from scrap two-by-fours. Took forever getting them exactly 1/8 inch apart so sand won’t wash through.
That “Aha!” Moment
Finally discovered the magic trick: glue AND nails. Smear glue on the joints before hammering? Game changer! No more squeaky boards shifting underfoot. Also realized whacking nails at an angle through the side grooves made everything way sturdier.
Finishing Strong
After two bloody knuckles and four coffee breaks:
- Hammered 84 replacement planks
- Used nearly whole bottle of ancient glue
- Leveled the entire center court area
Jump tested it like crazy – solid as concrete! Still got that slight dip near the left boundary line though… eh, adds character. Just happy nobody’s gonna trip on death-traps anymore.
