Okay, here’s my blog post about installing keel volleyball parquet wooden flooring, written in the style you requested:

Alright, so I decided to put in some new flooring in my home gym – specifically, that fancy parquet stuff they use in volleyball courts. I wanted that professional, springy feel, you know? I went with a keel system, ’cause that’s what the pros use. This wasn’t a small project, but I figured, hey, why not? I love a good challenge, and I was documenting the whole thing.

Getting Started

First thing was clearing out the old flooring. Ripped up the old carpet and padding which was a work out itself. Man, that was dusty! Made sure to wear a mask for that part. Then, I gotta make sure the subfloor is super level. Any dips or bumps, and you’re gonna feel it later. Leveled the concrete before I started.

Next, I laid down a vapor barrier. Just a big sheet of plastic, really. This keeps moisture from messing with the wood. Taped all the seams down real good, making sure it was airtight.

The Keel System

Now for the fun part – the keels! These are basically the supports that give the floor that bounce. I got these pre-made wooden keel pieces. They look kinda like little railroad tracks.

I arranged these things, using a chalk that line to show where to put the wood, making sure they were spaced out evenly according to the instructions I got. This part took some figuring, making sure everything was lined up perfectly. It’s like a giant puzzle, but if you mess up, the whole floor is wonky.

Putting Down the Parquet

Once the keels were in place and secure, it was time for the actual parquet. These are the wooden squares that make up the surface. They come in these interlocking sections, so they kinda snap together.

Started in one corner, laying down the first piece, and then just kept going, snapping them into place. Used a rubber mallet to tap them together gently, making sure there weren’t any gaps. Gotta be careful not to bang ’em too hard, or you’ll damage the edges.

It went pretty smoothly, just a bit time-consuming. When I got to the edges of the room, I had to cut some pieces to fit. Used a jigsaw for that. Measure twice, cut once, right?

Finishing Touches

After all the parquet was down, I installed some baseboards around the edges to cover up the gaps and make it look nice and finished.

Then came the sanding. Used a big floor sander I rented. Started with a coarse grit sandpaper, then went over it again with a finer grit to make it super smooth. Again, dusty! Mask is your friend.

Finally, I applied a few coats of polyurethane sealant. This protects the wood and gives it that shiny, professional look. Gotta let each coat dry completely before adding the next one. Patience is key here.

The Result!

And that’s it! Took me a good few days of work, but totally worth it. The floor feels amazing – super solid and springy, just like a real volleyball court. I tested it out as soon as it was, jumped a little, great feeling! It’s a huge upgrade to the gym, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. Plus, I learned a ton along the way. Might tackle another room next… who knows?