Getting Started

I’ve always loved playing volleyball in the backyard, but the bumpy ground ruined every game. My bare feet kept stubbing on rocks and roots during jumps. That’s when I decided to build my own court using assembled wooden flooring.

Prepping the Space

First I grabbed my shovel and started digging. Cleared a space about 6×3 meters – took me two afternoons sweating buckets under the sun. Leveled that patch until my bubble level showed perfectly flat. Spread heavy-duty plastic sheeting to block weeds, almost tripped twice while unrolling it.

Materials I used:

• 3cm thick laminated bamboo boards
• Galvanized screws that won’t rust
• Rubber padding rolls for cushioning
• Wood sealant from that big orange store

The Assembly Struggle

Started clicking boards together like giant puzzle pieces. Got cocky after the first row went smooth – then realized they were drifting crooked. Had to unscrew everything, cussing when I stripped two screw heads. Pro tip: measure five times, screw once. When I laid the rubber padding underneath, my dog tried burying his bone in it. Classic.

Securing the Court

Hammered anchoring spikes around the edges every 50cm. The southwest corner kept lifting like a stubborn toenail – fixed it with double spikes and concrete mix. Nearly broke my thumb smashing those last spikes in. The final torture test came when I jumped dead center… heard that beautiful solid thunk instead of board wobble.

Finishing Touches

Applied three coats of weatherproof sealant. Waited two days itching to play while it dried. Caught three neighbor kids trying to skateboard on it during curing time – little rascals. Marked boundaries with blue athletic tape, realizing too late one side was 5cm wider than the other. Close enough for backyard games.

Now every weekend smells like sweaty competition and splinter-free jumps. Best part? When rain comes, water just slides right off that sealed surface instead of turning into mud puddles.