Alright, so the other day I had to get down and dirty with some LVL basketball court flooring. Let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park, but it was a pretty cool project.

Getting Started

First things first, I gotta gather all my supplies. I had to made a checklist, you know, like a shopping list but for construction stuff. Checked all the boxes, ensured nothing was missing.

• LVL Boards– Obviously, needed a bunch of those engineered wood planks. Made sure I got the right size and thickness for a basketball court – can’t have any weak spots!
• Adhesive– This is the sticky stuff that holds everything together. I went with a heavy-duty one, the kind that’s made for sports flooring. Don’t want any boards popping up mid-game!
• Screws and Nails – Extra security, you know? Belt and suspenders. Gotta make sure those boards are really locked in.
• Subfloor Prep Stuff– Leveled out the existing concrete, checked for cracks that needed to be filled. Used a self-leveling compound to make it all nice and smooth.
• Tools – Circular saw, drill, level, measuring tape, chalk line, the whole nine yards. Basically, everything in my workshop came out.

The Dirty Work

So, the first thing to do was get that subfloor perfectly prepped. Cleaned that area. Swept, vacuumed, the works. Any little bumps or dips, even tiny ones, can mess with the final court. I used a leveler to get it perfect.

Then, I started laying down the LVL boards. I put the adhesive down, spread it all even, and then carefully placed the first board. A few taps to get it to settle in place.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Each board has to fit snugly against the next one. It is like a giant puzzle. I used a chalk line to make sure my rows were straight – a crooked basketball court is just embarrassing. And a whole lot of measuring.

Once a section was down, and the adhesive was setting, I went back and used screws and nails to secure the boards into the subfloor. Overkill? Maybe. But I wanted this floor to be rock solid. It’s a basketball court, it’s gonna take a beating!

The Final Touches

It took a while, working row by row, section by section. Cut some boards to fit around the edges, making sure everything was flush. I was constantly checking the level, to make sure the whole surface was even.

Finally, all the LVL boards were down! I gave the adhesive some extra time to fully cure, no one is allowed to step on it during that time. It was a lot of hard work, but seeing that smooth, even surface ready for the court lines and finish… that was pretty satisfying.

It’s not a fancy job, but it is sturdy and it will works. And most importantly, I did it by my own hand!