Getting the Idea and Materials

Okay so I really wanted to play basketball outside my garage but the concrete sucks. Saw some expensive portable floors online, laughed at the prices, thought “bet I can slap something together myself”. Grabbed these beech wood panels from an old furniture project – super hard wood, perfect for stomping around.

Measuring and Cutting Phase

Measured my shooting area with a tape, messed up twice because math is hard. Cut panels with circular saw, wood chips everywhere like a hamster explosion. Sanded edges like crazy after nearly getting splinters the size of toothpicks.

Key details I obsessed over:

• Made tongue-and-groove joints so panels click together tight
• Drilled holes in corners for rope handles (total lifesaver!)
• Painted lines with stencil – took three tries not to look drunk

Assembly Disaster Turnaround

First test: panels slid apart like butter on hot pan. Almost cried. Fixed it by hammering rubber strips underneath – those cheap bath mats cut into strips! Now they grip concrete like gecko feet. Threw WD-40 on the rope handles so they don’t fray.

Final Battle Test

Dribbled ball for hour, panels didn’t budge even when I tripped (happens a lot). Rain test next day? Wood warped like banana. Fixed by sealing with boat varnish – now it’s basically waterproof. Weighs a ton though, need wheelbarrow to move it.

Totally worth it. Costs less than fancy shoes, feels pro when swishing shots. Downside: neighbors think I’m weird hammering wood at midnight. Whatever, court’s ready anytime!