Okay, here’s my blog post about assembling that volleyball court flooring:

So, I decided to take on this project: putting in a cushioned, hard-assembled wooden floor for a volleyball court. I’m no professional, just a guy who likes to get his hands dirty, and honestly, it sounded like a cool challenge.

Getting Started

First, I measured the area where the court was going to go. I mean, really measured it. Gotta get those dimensions right, otherwise, you’re gonna have a bad time later. I wrote it all down, double-checked, and triple-checked. Better safe than sorry, right?

Then came the fun part – picking out the materials! I went to a local building supply store. The amount of wood choices? Overwhelming. I spent way too long just staring at different types of wood, trying to figure out which one was best.

• I needed something durable, something that could take a beating from volleyballs and jumping.
• I also wanted something that looked decent. You know, aesthetics!
• And, of course, the budget. Had to keep that in mind.

I eventually settled on a pre-finished, interlocking wooden flooring system. It seemed like the easiest option for a DIYer like me. The “cushioned” part was a layer of foam underlayment that went beneath the wood.

The Hard Part (aka, the Actual Work)

I cleared out the space, making sure it was super clean and level. Any bumps or debris would mess everything up. I rolled out the foam underlayment first. That was the easy part. It was like putting down a giant puzzle, taping the seams together.

Then came the wooden flooring. Those interlocking pieces? Not as easy as the brochure made them look! I started in one corner, carefully laying down the first row. The instructions said to use a rubber mallet to tap the pieces together. Let me tell you, my arms got a workout. Seriously, I struggled with some that did not want to perfectly fit. I may have used some… choice words during this part.

Row by row, I worked my way across the area. It was slow going. I had to make sure each piece was perfectly aligned with the others, otherwise, the whole thing would be crooked. I used a level constantly, checking and re-checking.

There were a few cuts I had to make, to fit the flooring around the edges of the room. I’m not gonna lie, I was nervous about that. I borrowed a circular saw from a buddy (thanks, Mark!), and very, very carefully cut the pieces to size. Measure twice, cut once, right? I messed up once, and ended up using the panel anyway… do not look too close!

Finally Finished!

After what felt like forever (probably about two weekends of solid work), I was done! I stood back and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, there were a few little gaps here and there, but overall, it looked pretty darn good! More importantly, it felt solid and springy underfoot, just what you want for a volleyball court.

My first “test” was just bouncing a volleyball on it. The sound, the feel… it was awesome. It felt like a real court! Now, all that’s left is to get some friends over for a game. And maybe invest in some knee pads. This DIY stuff is tough on the body!