How I Tackled That Wobbly Volleyball Court Floor

Alright, so our community volleyball court got chewed up bad after last summer’s storms. Like, big old warped gaps you could trip on – total ankle-breaker zone. I figured plywood strips over the gnarly parts was cheaper than replacing whole planks, so here’s how it went down.

First up, gathering stuff:

• Snagged exterior-grade plywood planks from behind Dave’s shed
• Dug out Grandpa’s rusted but trusty saw
• Rummaged through my garage for deck screws, wood glue & that mystery wood filler paste
• Stole Mom’s ancient electric sander (shhh)

The Dirty Work Begins

Measured the worst gaps with my boot for scale – bad idea. Actually dug out the tape measure after kicking a screw box. Cut those plywood strips wider than the gaps, eyeballing about thumb-width extra on each side. Sawdust got EVERYWHERE. My cat sneezed for an hour.

Dry-fit the strips over the gaps, pressed down hard. Still wobbly as heck. Sanded the edges smooth-ish so they wouldn’t splinter kids’ knees off.

Slathered wood glue on both surfaces like thick peanut butter. Slapped the plywood down, jumped on it like a trampoline to squash air bubbles. Pre-drilled holes while squatting – thighs screamed at me next day.

Screwing It All Together

Sank countersunk screws around the edges every few inches. Drill got so hot it smelled like burnt plastic. Missed my mark twice – now two wonky screw holes need filling later. Used that brown filler paste; smeared it like Nutella with my thumb.

Waited overnight (impatiently poked it every hour). Next morning, sanded everything flush. Took forever! Dust coated me head-to-toe like a powdered donut. Final touch: brushed outdoor sealant over it just as mosquitos launched their evening assault.

Does It Work? Hell Yes

Tested it by jumping like a hyperactive kid. No creaks! No wobbles! Even dumped a bucket of water – drained fine, no pooling. Biggest win? Played three full games last weekend without a single splinter or faceplant. Worth every scratch and dusty sneeze. Just don’t ask about my throbbing knees – next project needs knee pads.

Team’s happy, ankles are safe. Time for a beer.