Alright, so the other day I had this project, right? We’re putting in a new floor for this basketball court, and the client wanted something called “LVL” – Laminated Veneer Lumber, made from larch. I’d heard of it, but never actually used it for a sports floor. So, I figured, why not? Let’s give it a shot and document the whole thing.

Getting Started

First thing, I did a little research. Found out LVL is supposed to be pretty strong and stable, which is good for a basketball court, you know? Less chance of warping or whatever. And larch, it’s a type of softwood, but it’s known for being tougher than some other softwoods.

Next, I ordered the materials. That part was a bit of a headache, had to find a supplier that had the right dimensions and could get it to me on time. Thankfully, that worked out in the end.

Prepping the Subfloor

Before we could even think about laying down the LVL, we had to get the subfloor ready. This is always important, but especially with something like a basketball court. It needs to be perfectly level, or you’re gonna have problems down the line. We spent a good chunk of time checking, leveling, and making sure everything was solid.

Laying the LVL

Now for the main event. We started laying down the LVL planks. It was actually pretty straightforward. They were tongue and groove, so they fit together nicely. We used a good quality adhesive, and made sure to stagger the joints, you know, for added strength and stability. My buddy and I, we got into a good rhythm, measure, cut, glue, and nail it down, piece by piece.

• Measuring and Cutting: Always double-check your measurements!
• Adhesive: Use a generous amount, but don’t overdo it.
• Nailing: We used a pneumatic nailer, made things a lot faster.

Finishing Touches

After all the LVL was down, we had to sand the whole thing down. This was a bit of a dusty job, so masks were a must. But it’s worth it to get that smooth, even surface. Then came the finishing coats – we used a special sports floor sealant, multiple coats, to protect the wood and give it that nice, shiny look.

Testing the Product

The final sealant coat was dry, and I took a few tentative steps onto the court, and it felt solid.

I found a basketball, and my first bounce test, wow, the ball came right back up with a satisfying thud. There was a nice, consistent bounce all across the surface, no dead spots or anything weird.

Honestly, it turned out way better than I expected. The LVL larch combo, it’s a winner. It looks great, it feels great underfoot, and I’m pretty confident it’s gonna hold up for years of basketball action. It was a bit of a learning experience, but definitely a success!