Okay, here’s my blog post about installing keel volleyball plywood wooden flooring, written from a personal, hands-on perspective:

So, I decided to tackle a pretty big project – installing new flooring in my home gym. I wanted something durable, with good bounce, and, well, something that looked good. After a ton of research, I landed on a keel system with plywood and a wooden finish. Specifically, I imagined this being perfect for some indoor volleyball practice. Here’s how the whole thing went down.

Getting Started: Planning and Prep

First, I measured the entire room, like, three times. Gotta be sure, right? Then I ordered the materials. This included:

• Plywood sheets: I went with thicker sheets for better stability.
• Wooden flooring panels: Choosing a light, resilient wood.
• Keel materials: I chose sturdy, treated lumber to form the support structure.
• Fasteners: Lots and lots of screws, and construction adhesive.
• Vapor barrier: Don’t want any moisture messing things up.
• Tools: Circular saw, drill, level, measuring tape, safety glasses (important!), and a few other bits and bobs.

Before I started laying anything down, I made sure the subfloor was clean and level. A few spots needed some patching, nothing major, just some self-leveling compound.

Building the Keel System

This was the most time-consuming part, but also kinda fun. I started by laying out the perimeter keels, making sure everything was square and level. This is the skeleton, so it has to be right. I used construction adhesive and screws to secure them to the subfloor.

Then, I built the inner keel structure. Think of it like a grid, providing support across the entire floor. I spaced the keels evenly, making sure they were all level with each other. Lots of checking and re-checking with the level. Seriously, don’t skimp on this step!

Laying the Plywood

With the keel system in place, I started laying down the plywood sheets. I staggered the joints, like you would with bricks, for extra strength. I used both construction adhesive and screws to attach the plywood to the keels. A bit of a workout, but satisfying to see it all come together.

I used my circular saw to cut the plywood sheets to fit around the edges of the room. Measure twice, cut once, as they say! A little bit of sanding made sure everything was flush.

Installing the Wooden Flooring

Finally, the pretty part! I laid down the wooden flooring panels, starting from one corner and working my way across the room. These panels clicked together, which made things a bit easier. I still used some adhesive for extra security, though.

Again, I used the circular saw to cut the panels to fit around the edges. I left a small expansion gap around the perimeter, just in case the wood expands or contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. I covered that later, easy job.

The Finished Product (and Some Volleyball!)

After a few days of work (and a few sore muscles), the floor was done! It looked great, felt solid underfoot, and had that nice, springy feel I was going for. And yes, I immediately grabbed a volleyball and tested it out. Perfect bounce! Totally worth the effort.

It has been a really rewarding project, and I learned a lot along the way. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, just take your time, plan it out, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!