Okay, so I’ve been wanting to set up a little basketball area in my backyard for a while. I didn’t want anything too permanent, and the idea of a portable wooden floor really caught my eye. This weekend, I finally decided to tackle the project, and let me tell you, it was a bit of an adventure.

Getting Started

First things first, I needed to figure out what I was actually doing. I looked at some pre-made portable courts, but they were way out of my budget. I decided to build something from scratch, keeping it simple and focusing on using batten, rubber tree wood, because I heard it’s pretty durable, and since it is going to be portable. I also consider I need to keep the cost reasonable.

The Build

• Measuring and Cutting: I started by measuring out the space I wanted to cover. Then I sketched a basic plan. And get the wooden and start cut to size the batten, I am using the handsaw.I decided to build the floor in smaller, manageable sections that I could later connect.
• Assembling the Frame: I nailed the batten together to create frames for each section. I made sure these were solid, as they’d be the foundation of the whole thing.
• Adding the rubber tree Surface: After the Cut, I lay the rubber tree wood on top of the frames. I didn’t want to make any cuts on it, I need the whole board to keep the surface. I have to align the board with the frame, make it tight.
• Connecting the Sections: This was the tricky part. I wanted the sections to connect securely, I decided to use some heavy-duty hooks. So I can lock and unlock.
• Underneath Support: To make the floor portable, I want to add some kind of bottom, I use the rubber sheet, and the thick one, so it will not worn out easily, I nail it to the batten.

The Finishing Touches

It took a whole weekend, working on and off, to get it all done. I’m no carpenter, so some of the cuts were a little rough, and let’s just say there was a lot of “measure twice, cut once” being muttered under my breath. By Sunday evening, I managed to get it all assembled in the backyard. I test it, and it is not slippery, I will try to play basketball on it next time.

The Result

It’s definitely not perfect, but it’s mine. It’s sturdy enough to dribble and shoot on, and the best part is, I can move it around or store it away when I need to. It’s a great feeling to have built something with my own hands, even if it’s a bit wonky in places. I am very happy with it.