Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little weekend project: putting down some portable wooden flooring for a makeshift basketball court. I’ve been calling it the “Keel Basketball Pine” project, mostly because I like how it sounds.

The Idea

It all started with my kid, who’s suddenly obsessed with basketball. We’ve got a decent-sized backyard, but it’s mostly grass and a bit uneven. I figured, why not make a little area where he can actually dribble without the ball bouncing off into the neighbor’s prize-winning petunias? So, I began to search for a flooring.

Gathering Supplies

First things first, I needed to figure out what I was even doing. I looked for portable basketball court options, and it seemed like interlocking wooden tiles were the way to go. They’re supposedly easy to put together and take apart, which is perfect because I definitely don’t want this to be a permanent fixture.

I chose some pine ones, I liked the look, and I had read that they are light.

I measured out the area I wanted to cover – roughly 10×12 feet, big enough for some basic * I bought some materials.

Prepping the Ground

Before laying anything down, I had to make sure the ground was reasonably level. This involved a lot of raking, moving some dirt around, and tamping it down with a hand tamper I borrowed from my neighbor, (thanks, Bob!). It wasn’t perfectly flat, but I figured it was good enough for a temporary court.

I also put down a layer of weed barrier fabric. I really, really don’t want weeds poking through my basketball court.

Laying the Tiles(The Hard Part)

This is where the “portable” part got tested. The tiles were supposed to just snap together, but it was a bit more finicky than I expected. I started in one corner and began to add tiles one by one.

• Some of them clicked in easily.
• Others needed a bit of…persuasion. (Okay, a lot of persuasion. And maybe a rubber mallet.)
• I definitely broke a sweat.
• My back was not happy with me.

But, slowly but surely, the court started to take shape. It took me a good chunk of Saturday afternoon, but I finally got all the tiles down. I might have muttered a few choice words under my breath during the process, but hey, that’s DIY for you.

The Finished Product(Almost)

Once all the tiles were in place, I stood back and admired my handiwork. It actually looked pretty good! The pine had a nice, clean look, and it felt surprisingly solid underfoot. I tested the first shoot, and the sound of the ball hitting the wood was so much better than bouncing on the grass.

My kid was thrilled, of course. He immediately grabbed his basketball and started dribbling and shooting. Seeing his happy face made all the sweat and backache totally worth it.

Final Thoughts

So, was it truly “portable”? Well, I could take it apart if I needed to, but it wouldn’t be a five-minute job. I’d say it’s more “semi-permanent.” But for now, it’s perfect. It’s a dedicated space for my kid to practice, and it keeps him out of the petunias. Mission accomplished!

Would I do it again? Probably. But next time, I might recruit some help. And maybe invest in some knee pads.