So last month I had this wild idea to build an indoor basketball court in my backyard shed. Sounds cool right? I thought it’d be just some hoops and flooring, no big deal. Boy was I wrong.
First Step: Poking Around Online
Started googling like crazy. Typed “DIY indoor court price” and similar stuff. Found forum posts saying things like “$5k should cover it” – felt super hopeful. Called my buddy who remodeled his basement and he laughed. “You’re lookin’ at double that easy,” he said. Gut punch already.
The Contractor Shock
Called three local builders for quotes. First dude shows up with a tape measure, takes one look at my 20x30ft shed space and starts mumbling numbers:
- Flooring: “$8-$16 per square foot” he says. Did quick math – that’s $5k minimum just to walk on!
- Lighting: “Gotta have proper LEDs” – another $2,300
- Hoops: “Wall-mounted or portable?” Portable $600, professional wall ones $1,500+
- Netting/Ceilings: “So balls don’t smash lights” – add $800
His total estimate? $19,500. Almost spat out my coffee.
Reality Check Time
Second contractor came while I was still hyperventilating. She broke it down differently:
- Basic Version: Thin sport tiles + cheap hoop = $9k
- Mid-range: Springy hardwood-like floors + decent hoop = $15k
- “NBA Wannabe”: Pro-grade maple floors, stadium lighting = “$35k easy”
Showed me samples – the $9k flooring felt like walking on Legos. The $15k stuff? Heaven for knees.
My Big Mistake
Totally forgot about permits and prep work! Turns out:
- Permits alone: $300-$1,000 (depends on county)
- Fixing my shed foundation: “Another $3k minimum”
- Ventilation? “You want AC or just fans?” That decision added $2k-$5k more
Felt like every time I asked a question, the price tag grew legs.
Where I Landed
After crying a bit over my bank account:
- Chose mid-range rubber tiles instead of dream wood ($8k)
- Picked basic wall-mounted hoop ($900)
- Skipped AC but added giant industrial fan ($1,100)
Total damage? $21,700 with permits and tax. That shed better survive me and my jumper for 20 years. Still cheaper than therapy though. Maybe.
