Okay, here’s my blog post about the LVL basketball court flooring project:

So, I took on this project to put in a new floor for a basketball court. It was going to be using this LVL stuff, which I hadn’t really messed with before, along with a soft maple surface. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it was a learning experience, let me tell you.

Getting Started

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First thing, I cleared out the old flooring. This was the most boring part of the work. I mean it took more time than i expected.

Next up, I had to make sure the subfloor was totally level. This part was crucial. You can’t have a bouncy, uneven basketball court. I used a laser level, went back and forth, and added some self-leveling compound in a few spots to get it perfect.

The LVL Part

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Okay, now for the interesting stuff. The LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) came in these big, long beams. They’re supposed to be super strong and stable, which is exactly what you want for a basketball court. We laid down a moisture barrier first – gotta protect the wood from any dampness from below.

Positioning the panels was hard. I had made the measure before, but It was not easy at all.

Then, me and my crew got to work laying down the LVL. We used construction adhesive and screws to secure them to the subfloor. Making sure they were all snug and tight was key – no gaps allowed! I also had to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on spacing and staggering the joints, which was a bit of a head-scratcher at times, but I figured it out.

The Soft Maple Magic

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With the LVL base down, it was time for the star of the show – the soft maple. This stuff is beautiful, and it’s known for being durable and having just the right amount of “give” for basketball. I did a visual check about the surface quality. And selected each piece.

We started laying down the maple planks, making sure to leave a little expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. Wood expands and contracts with temperature changes, so you gotta account for that. We used a flooring nailer to attach the planks to the LVL. This was actually pretty satisfying work – seeing the court surface come together was awesome.

Finishing Touches

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Once all the maple was down, it was time for sanding. We used a big drum sander to smooth everything out, going through several grits of sandpaper to get a nice, even finish. This part was dusty, I won’t lie. I wore a mask to keep out the dust.

After sanding, We applied a few coats of polyurethane sealant. This protects the wood and gives it that classic basketball court shine. We had to wait for each coat to dry before applying the next, which was a test of patience.

Between each coat of finish, I lightly sanded the floor with fine-grit sandpaper. This ensured a super smooth, professional-looking result.

Finally, I painted the lines for the basketball court. I used a special court-marking tape and paint, carefully measuring everything out to make sure it was regulation size.

This step required a lot of planning and preparation. I researched the specific type of finish recommended for soft maple basketball courts. I want make sure the floor has the right amount of grip and durability.

The Final Result

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And there you have it – a brand new, LVL-based, soft maple basketball court. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it in the end. Seeing the finished product, knowing I built it with my own hands, was a great feeling.

I double-checked all the measurements and markings one last time to make sure everything was accurate and up to professional standards.