Okay, so the other day, I was looking to upgrade the flooring in my home gym. I’ve been wanting to put in a proper volleyball court for ages, and I finally decided to take the plunge. I did some digging around and settled on that classic parquet timber look – you know, the kind you see in all the pro gyms. But I also knew I needed something that could handle some serious impact, so I went with a keeled system.

Getting Started

First things first, I had to clear out the old space. That meant ripping up the old carpet (good riddance!), hauling out all the gym equipment, and basically getting the room down to the bare bones. It was a sweaty job, let me tell you, but totally worth it to get a clean slate.

Prepping the Subfloor

Next up was the subfloor. This is super important because it’s the foundation for everything else. My existing subfloor was concrete, and thankfully, it was pretty level. I just needed to give it a good sweep and make sure there weren’t any major cracks or bumps. I used some self-leveling compound to fill in a few minor imperfections, just to be extra safe.

Installing the Keel System

Now for the fun part – the keel system! This is basically a framework of interlocking pieces that creates a supportive, shock-absorbing base for the timber flooring. It’s kind of like building a mini-deck, but indoors.

• I laid out the keel pieces according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• They snapped together pretty easily, which was a relief.
• I made sure everything was nice and square, using a level and a measuring tape to double-check my work.

Laying the Parquet Timber

With the keel system in place, it was time to lay down the parquet timber. This part was a bit more time-consuming, as I had to make sure each piece was perfectly aligned and fitted snugly against the others.

• I started in one corner of the room and worked my way outwards.
• I used a rubber mallet to gently tap the pieces into place.
• And I used wood glue to secure to the keel.

It definitely took some patience, but seeing that beautiful parquet pattern come together was incredibly satisfying.

Finishing Touches

Once all the timber was down, I gave the floor a good sanding to make sure everything was smooth and even. Then, I applied a few coats of sealant to protect the wood and give it that nice, glossy finish. I let it dry completely, and that’s that!

Finally after finshing all the process, now I have my own personal, pro-level volleyball court, right in my home! It’s been amazing for training, and it looks fantastic too. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, I say go for it! It’s a bit of work, but totally worth the effort.