Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade the flooring in my makeshift basketball court for a while now. The old concrete was just killing my knees, and let’s be honest, it looked pretty rough. I did some digging and decided to go with LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) and hard maple for that classic basketball court feel. Here’s how the whole thing went down:

Prepping the Space

First things first, I had to clear out the old space. This meant moving all the junk I had stored there (don’t judge, we all have that one storage area!). Then came the fun part – getting rid of the concrete. I rented a jackhammer, and boy, was that a workout! It took a good weekend, but I finally got down to a relatively level dirt surface.

Laying the Foundation

Next up was creating a solid base. I laid down a layer of gravel, making sure to compact it really well with a rented plate compactor. This is super important for drainage and to prevent the wood from warping later on. After the gravel, I put down a vapor barrier – basically a thick plastic sheet – to keep moisture out. This is crucial, especially since I live in an area with humid summers.

Installing the LVL Subfloor

Now for the LVL! These things are heavy, so I enlisted the help of a buddy. We carefully measured and cut the LVL panels to fit the space, making sure to leave a small gap around the edges for expansion. We secured them to each other using construction adhesive and screws. It felt like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle, but slowly but surely, the subfloor took shape.

The Hard Maple Arrives!

The hard maple flooring arrived on a huge pallet. It was beautiful – that smooth, light-colored wood just screamed “basketball court”! Unpacking it all was like Christmas morning. Before we could start laying it down, though, we had to let it acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity for a few days. This helps prevent any future issues with expansion or contraction.

Laying the Hard Maple

Finally, the main event! We started laying the maple planks, using a flooring nailer to secure them to the LVL subfloor. This part was surprisingly satisfying. Each plank clicked into place, and the court started to look… well, like a real court! We staggered the joints for a more professional look and to add strength. It took a couple of long days, lots of sweat, and some serious teamwork, but we got it done.

Finishing Touches

Once all the flooring was down, I sanded the entire surface to make it perfectly smooth. Then came the fun part – applying the finish. I chose a durable polyurethane finish specifically designed for sports floors. I applied several coats, letting each one dry completely before adding the next. This was probably the most tedious part, but that glossy sheen at the end was totally worth it.

After that, it was time to paint the lines (free throw, three-pointer, etc.).And at last. My own, somewhat respectable, basketball court was finally finished!