You know, I always dreamed of having a proper basketball court at home. Not that cheap concrete stuff that kills your knees, but the real deal – hardwood like the pros use. So last summer, I finally decided to tackle it.
Planning and Prep Work
First things first, I measured my whole backyard. Needed to figure out how much wood to buy without wasting cash. Dug around and found decent maple planks at the lumber yard downtown. Not NBA quality, but hey, it’s my first try.
- Cleared the whole area with a shovel and rake
- Mixed concrete to make level foundation pads
- Stared at YouTube tutorials for 3 hours straight
Biggest headache? My neighbor’s pine tree roots popping up right where I planned the free-throw line. Had to chop those suckers with an axe.
Putting It Together
Started with the frame using 2x4s. Hammered like crazy till my thumb turned purple – rookie mistake forgetting gloves. Laid the plywood sheets next, screwing them down real tight. Used my kid’s sidewalk chalk to mark where the court lines should go.
- Measured each plank twice before cutting
- Nailed boards starting from center moving outwards
- Added extra screws near the corners after last month’s rain warped the edges
The stain smelled so strong I had to wrap a t-shirt around my face. Put three coats on kneeling like I was praying for this to work out.
Finishing Touches
Almost wrecked everything trying to paint the lines freehand. Ended up using painter’s tape like a smart person should’ve from day one. Clear sealant made the grain pop beautifully until bugs decided to land on it while drying. Had to sand off those spots and redo half the surface.
Final test? Dribbled my old Spalding ball across the surface. That sweet thump-thump-thump sound? Worth every splinter and sunburn.
Now my back aches if I play over an hour and there’s a tiny dip near the three-point line. But man, seeing friends actually fighting over pickup games in my yard? Couldn’t wipe this grin off my face.
