So I got this crazy idea to build my own portable basketball floor after seeing those pro setups costing crazy money. Started simple with leftover hardwood flooring from my kitchen reno but man that warped after two weeks outside – total fail.
The Messy Beginning
Went hunting at the lumber yard for tough stuff. Sales guy kept pushing pressure-treated pine but I remembered high school gym floors used maple. Grabbed five 6-foot maple planks to test – way too heavy! Nearly threw out my back carrying them to the pickup.
Dug around online and found hard maple was the magic word. Thinner pieces still strong as hell. Ordered 20 boards cut to 48 inches specially.
The Garage Disaster Zone
Cleared out my wife’s minivan spot for this project. Laid all boards side by side on the concrete:
- Used exterior-grade wood glue between planks
- Weighted ’em down with my old dumbbell set
- Forgot to trim edges first – sticky glue drips everywhere
After drying overnight, the dang thing wouldn’t lay flat! Realized I needed a tongue-and-groove system. Chiseled grooves by hand for three hours – wood chips all over my damn workshop.
The Portability Nightmare
Wanted sections light enough for one person. Cut the big slab into four 4×6 panels with my circular saw. Edges looked like a beaver chewed ’em!
- Sanded for two hours straight
- Added rubber feet from old furniture legs
- Nearly glued my fingers together attaching handles
First driveway test: Ball bounced like concrete! Realized maple needs finishing. Used four coats of polyurethane – still smells like a chemical plant after two weeks.
The Final Frankenstein
Took it to the park yesterday. Took me 20 minutes to assemble:
- Connectors kept jamming
- Forgot leveling shims – ball rolled sideways
- Neighbor’s kid tripped on a seam and skinned his knee
But holy hell – ball bounces true! Worth the splinters and wife complaining about maple dust in our bed. Would I do it again? Hell no. But it works!
