Okay, so the other day I decided to tackle a project I’ve been putting off – assembling the wooden flooring for my “keel basketball” setup. It sounds fancier than it is, really. Basically, I’m just trying to create a decent little practice area in my backyard.

First things first, I had to gather all my materials.

• Lots and lots of wooden planks (birch, because I like the look).
• These metal “keel” things – basically, they’re like the support beams for the floor.
• A whole bunch of screws, a drill, a saw (just in case), and my trusty measuring tape.
• Level, because the surface has to be flat for play.

I started by laying out the keel pieces. They’re kinda like a metal grid that goes underneath the wood. I wanted to make sure they were spaced evenly, so I spent a good chunk of time measuring and adjusting them. My back was already complaining at this point!

Then, it was time to start placing the wooden planks.This part was actually pretty satisfying.It was like putting together a giant puzzle. I’d lay down a plank, make sure it was snug against the others, and then screw it into the keel. I wanted to check the floor level from time to time, but I was lucky enough to do it with my eyes.

Here’s a tip I learned the hard way: pre-drill the holes in the wood! Makes screwing things in so much easier, and you’re less likely to split the wood. I definitely messed up a few planks before I figured that out.

The whole process took way longer than I expected. Sunlight was so hot. I’m not gonna lie, there were moments where I thought, “Why did I even start this?” But I kept pushing through, one plank at a time.

Finally, after what felt like forever, I was done! I stood back and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, mind you. There were a few gaps here and there, and some of the screws weren’t perfectly flush. But overall, I was pretty proud of myself. I had built a basketball floor! And the whole basketball court surface was flat.

Now, all that’s left is to actually, you know, play some basketball. And maybe invite some friends over to show off my new DIY skills.