Hey everyone, got some thoughts swirling after finally finishing up my hardwood sports floor project. Been living it for weeks now and man, what a journey.

How It Started

Okay, so the basement concrete slab? It sucked. Like, really uneven. I grabbed my longest level, laid it down everywhere, and groaned. Humps and dips all over the place. Leveling compound became my best friend and worst enemy. Mixing those bags felt like shoveling cement dust straight into my lungs. Spreading it was even worse. My knees and back were screaming after just one section. Got a crazy workout trying to drag it smooth before it set.

The Wood Arrives

Ordered special maple planks designed for gyms – super hard stuff. The delivery truck showed up, and seeing those heavy bundles filled me with a mix of excitement and dread. Carrying them down into the basement nearly killed me. Seriously heavy boxes. Let them sit in the room for a whole week just to get used to the basement air. Didn’t want any nasty surprises later.

Gluing It Down

Time to glue. Boy, that stuff stinks! Big industrial-grade adhesive. Spread it thick and messy with a notched trowel. Got sticky mess everywhere. Then it was go time: dropping those boards onto the glue, clicking the sides together tight. Took a rubber mallet and a scrap piece of wood to bang them snug. Thought I was careful with the spacing against the walls, but honestly? Was sweating bullets hoping I didn’t mess up the pattern.

Making Cuts

Oh man, the cutting. The ends and fitting around pipes? That’s where the chop saw and jigsaw became essential. Generated mountains of sawdust, despite the shop vac running non-stop. Cut my finger too – stupid. Got covered head-to-toe in fine wood particles anyway. Itchy doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Finishing Touches

Wiping it all down felt useless – new dust settled instantly. Finally, the last piece clicked in. Did a little victory shuffle right there on the squeaky, sticky wood. Still smelled like glue for days.

Reflecting

Would I ever glue down hardwood for a sports floor alone again? Honestly? Probably not. The leveling fight, the back-breaking box hauling, the sticky glue wars, the endless sawdust – brutal. Seeing it done, though? That was pure satisfaction. This maple better survive generations now. This project earned its keep, no doubt. Just… maybe hire a second pair of hands next time.