Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little weekend project: messing around with keel, volleyball courts, and hevea wooden flooring. I’m no expert, but I like to get my hands dirty and figure things out.

So, I started by looking at this old patch of concrete in my backyard. I always thought about how to make it a active space. I’d always wanted to make a multi-purpose court, you know? Something for the kids, maybe a little basketball, a little volleyball, the whole nine yards.

The Concrete Plan

The first step was figuring out the base. The concrete was already there, but it was cracked and uneven. After some online look-up, I decided to go with a keel system. Basically, it’s like building a little wooden frame on top of the concrete to give the floor some bounce and make it more forgiving on the joints. Like other people’s experiences, a solid foundation is super important, right?

Keel Time!

Off to the lumber yard I went! I grabbed a bunch of pressure-treated 2x4s. The guy at the counter looked at me kinda funny when I told him what I was up to, but hey, who am I to judge? I spent the next few hours cutting and laying out the 2x4s, creating a grid pattern. Think of it like a giant waffle iron, but for a floor. Lots of measuring, lots of screwing, and definitely a few “oops” moments.

I used deck screws by the way. I learned from previous experiences that they hold up much better outdoors.

The Hevea Enters the Picture

Now, for the flooring itself. I stumbled across hevea wood, also known as rubberwood. I like the color of it. Sounds kinda fancy, huh? It’s supposed to be pretty durable and eco-friendly, since it comes from rubber trees. I ordered a bunch of planks online – fingers crossed it would all work out.

Laying the Floor

When the hevea arrived, it was go-time. I started laying the planks perpendicular to the keels, making sure to leave a little gap between each one for expansion. This is where a good mallet and a tapping block came in handy. Let me tell you, pounding those planks into place was a workout! By using the tapping block, I successfully prevented the planks from damaging.

• Measure Twice, Cut Once: This old saying is absolutely true. I messed up a few cuts, but thankfully I had extra wood.
• Get Help: If you can, rope in a friend or family member. Laying flooring is much easier with two people.
• Take Breaks: Don’t try to do it all in one go. My back was definitely talking to me by the end of the day.

After a couple of days of sweat and (maybe a few) tears, the floor was down! It actually looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. The hevea had a nice, smooth finish, and the keel system gave it a nice, springy feel. Perfect for a friendly game of volleyball… or maybe just some casual bouncing around.

The Final Touch

I added a couple of coats of waterproof sealant, just to protect the wood from the elements. I’m not sure how long this whole thing will last, but hey, it was a fun project! I get to make a useful space. And who knows, maybe I’ll actually get good at volleyball now.

So, that’s my little flooring adventure. Not exactly professional-grade, but it’s mine, and I built it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go ice my knees.