Decided to finally build that backyard basketball court my kids kept begging for. Jumped online thinking I’d find a simple price list – big mistake. Everything depended on size, material, and a bunch of other junk.
Measuring the Damn Yard
Grabbed a tape measure and walked my muddy backyard at 7AM. Wanted half-court dimensions but realized my space could only fit something like 30ft by 20ft after accounting for trees and the neighbor’s fence. Sketchy drawing on notebook paper ended up looking like a toddler’s doodle.
Asking for Quotes
Called three contractors. First guy laughed when I said my budget was $5k. Second asked if I wanted asphalt or concrete base – no clue asphalt was even an option. Third dude kept pushing “premium polymer surface” stuff that sounded like spaceship material. Prices were all over:
- Basic concrete slab: $8-12k
- Asphalt with lines painted: $6-9k
- Fancy rubber tiles: “starts at $15k” (yeah right)
Material Hunting Hell
Went to Home Depot thinking I’d DIY. Grabbed bags of concrete mix until the cart looked ridiculous. Employee asked if I knew how many yards I needed – obviously not. Calculated 12 cubic yards for my size. That’s 400+ bags at 80lbs each. Noped out immediately.
The Shock Install Day
Hired the asphalt guy after he promised two-day install. Crew showed up with a steaming truck full of black tar. Smelled like burning tires for hours. They compacted it with this vibrating monster machine that shook our windows. Kids watched from the porch like it was Netflix. Added $500 for proper double-rims after the contractor said standard ones warp.
Final Damage Report
Total wallet annihilation:
- Asphalt base: $7,200
- Acrylic surface coating (blue): $1,800
- Professional line painting: $300
- Hoops & net install: $1,200
- Random extra crap: $500
Grand total: $11,000. Kids haven’t stopped playing though – worth every penny. Maintenance tip: bought a $40 squeegee for puddles after rain ruined our first game.
