Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade the flooring in my makeshift home gym for a while now. The old concrete was just killing my joints, especially during those intense basketball drills. I did some digging and decided to go with LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) engineered wooden flooring. It seemed like a good balance of durability, cost, and, well, it looked pretty cool.

Getting Started

First things first, I measured the area. Twice. You know the saying, “measure twice, cut once”? Yeah, that applies to ordering materials too. I didn’t want to end up short or with way too much extra. After I had the square footage, I started shopping around for the LVL flooring. I found a local supplier that had a decent price and offered delivery, which was a huge plus.

Prepping the Space

Before the flooring arrived, I had to prep the concrete. This involved a good sweeping and cleaning. I used a concrete cleaner to get rid of any grease or grime. Then, I checked for any major cracks or unevenness. I found a few small cracks, which I filled with a concrete patching compound. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough for a home gym.

The Installation Process

The flooring arrived, and man, those planks were heavy! Thankfully, the delivery guys helped me get them inside. I let the wood acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity for a couple of days, just like the instructions said.

• Then came the fun part – actually laying the floor. I started in one corner, working my way across the room.
• The LVL planks had a tongue-and-groove system, so they clicked together pretty easily.
• I used a rubber mallet to tap them into place and make sure they were snug.
• For the edges, I had to cut some planks to size. I used a circular saw for this, and it worked like a charm. Made sure to wear safety glasses, though!

It took a couple of days of on-and-off work, but I finally got the whole floor installed. I added some baseboards around the edges to give it a finished look. I have got to say that I feel great.

The End Result

Honestly, it looks awesome! The wood grain gives the gym a much warmer and more inviting feel. More importantly, it’s way easier on my knees and back. I can actually do jump shots and dribbling drills without feeling like I’m punishing my body. It was definitely a worthwhile project, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. Now, time to shoot some hoops!