Last weekend I decided to finally fix my backyard volleyball court mess. The ground was all bumpy and uneven, making the ball bounce crazy directions. I’d tried gravel before but it washed away whenever it rained hard. This time I went for plywood sheets with that tongue-and-groove stuff on the edges.

Prepping The Ground First

Cleared out all those weeds and rocks where I wanted the court. Got my shovel and started leveling like mad. Had to dig down about four inches deep in some spots where the ground bulged up. Didn’t have fancy tools, just eyeballed it with a spirit level. Rained that night which was annoying cause my leveled pit turned into a mud pool.

The Wood Shopping Drama

Went to the lumber yard looking for pressure-treated plywood. Guy tried selling me marine-grade stuff costing triple! Said nope and got standard half-inch exterior plywood. Measured my court area like three times cause math ain’t my strength. Ended up getting twelve 4×8 sheets. Threw in two extra just in case – good thing I did!

Assembly Headaches Begin

Laid down the first row of panels after the mud dried up. That tongue-groove thing looked simple but man those planks fought me hard. Had to whack ’em with a rubber mallet to click together. Found this trick: soapy water on the grooves makes them slide smoother. Halfway through realized I’d laid the grain pattern sideways! Had to pry up six planks with a crowbar while swearing at myself.

My moron moments list:

• Forgot spacers at the edges until row three
• Drilled pilot holes too small, split two planks
• Used the wrong screws and they rusted instantly

Securing The Whole Mess

Anchored the corners with these concrete stakes I made from rebar rods. Dug holes, dumped quick-set concrete around them like a lazy person. Waited overnight feeling nervous. Next morning tugged on the corners – solid as a rock! Used deck screws every eight inches along the joints with washers so they wouldn’t pull through.

Final Touches & Victory

Sanded down rough spots with 60-grit paper. Brushed on wood sealant I had leftover from the fence project. Took the net out for testing – finally got consistent bounces! Kids next door came over and we played three matches. Still needs line markings but that’s next weekend’s problem. Total cost? Cheaper than taking the family to movies and lasts way longer!