Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of building a basketball court, and I wanted to share my journey – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

Brainstorming and Scoping

First things first, I started by just jotting down everything I could think of. What kind of court did I want? Indoor? Outdoor? Full-size? Half-court? I went back and forth on this for a while. The space I had available was a big limiting factor, obviously.

Then I dove into materials. I knew I wanted a solid base, so I looked into concrete, asphalt… and then stumbled upon this idea of using a keel system with timber on top. Sounded interesting, and potentially more forgiving on the knees than straight-up concrete.

The Keel Conundrum

This “keel” thing was new to me. I spent hours just Googling, trying to figure out what the heck it even was. Basically, it’s like a support structure, kind of like the ribs of a boat, but for a floor. I figured this would give the court some bounce, which is what I was after.

Timber Troubles

Next up was the timber. What kind? How thick? Treated or untreated? I went down a rabbit hole of wood types, densities, and weather resistance. I ended up leaning towards a treated hardwood, something that could handle the elements (since I decided on an outdoor court) and wouldn’t warp too easily.

Building It Out

• First step was leveling the ground, I had to make sure the surface area was ready.
• I laid out the perimeter. This was crucial – get this wrong, and the whole thing’s messed up.
• I started assembling the keel structure. This was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and honestly, I messed it up a couple of times.
• Once the keel was down, I began laying the timber planks. This was the satisfying part, seeing the actual court surface take shape.

Finishing Touches

After the timber was all down, I sanded the whole thing to get rid of any splinters or rough edges. Then I applied a sealant to protect the wood from rain and sun. Finally, I painted the lines – free throw line, three-point line, the whole shebang.

The Result

It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. There are a few uneven spots, and the lines aren’t exactly professional-grade. But it’s mine. I built it, and I can play basketball on it. And that’s pretty darn cool, if I do say so myself. It’s a bit rough around the edges, just like this whole process has been, but that’s part of the charm, right?