Kicking Off the Wood Floor Project
So I started thinking about my backyard looking kinda bare. Needed something flexible where my kids could play basketball while I sometimes do morning yoga. Saw expensive sports floors online that only do one thing? Nah. Decided to build a multipurpose wooden sports floor myself.
Diving Into Research Mode
First thing – watched like twenty YouTube videos about outdoor sports floors. Realized maple wood gets slippery when wet while oak splinters too easy. Home Depot guy recommended treated pine saying “this stuff lasts forever”. Also measured my backyard like five times ’cause last time I eyeballed a project, ended up with a shed blocking the garage.
The Shopping Struggle
Grabbed:
- Twenty 8-foot treated pine planks
- Three giant tubs of waterproof sealant
- Industrial shock-absorbing pads
- A circular saw that scared me just looking at it
Checkout dude stared at my cart like I was building a treehouse for giants.
Construction Chaos Begins
Cleared the patch first – found three garden gnomes and a fossilized tennis ball. Laid the shock pads down first, but they kept shifting. Had to duct tape them together like some Frankenstein mat. Cutting the planks was the worst part – measured wrong twice. Ended up with two short boards that became “experimental pieces” (aka firewood later).
The Golden Hour
When all planks finally clicked together? Pure magic. Slapped on the first coat of sealant. Looked so smooth I almost didn’t wanna walk on it. Kid tested it immediately by spilling grape juice – thank god for waterproof coating! Added court markings with athletic tape later. Blue for basketball, yellow for volleyball lines, just peeled off when switching sports.
Final Verdict
Been six months now and this floor’s tougher than my mother-in-law’s meatloaf. Survived basketball tournaments, yoga sessions, even my neighbor’s Zumba phase. Some scratches add character – like that deep mark where I attempted rollerblading. Maintenance is stupid simple: sweep it monthly, reseal yearly. Best part? My wife finally stopped eyeing that overpriced patio furniture set!
