So, I decided to upgrade my old basketball court in the backyard, you know? The title is pad basketball level larch wooden flooring, but honestly, I just call it the “ball court makeover.” Always wanted that pro feel without the big bucks, and man, larch wood sounded sturdy enough for some serious dunking.

First off, I had to figure out what to buy. I checked online for larch flooring since it’s supposed to be tough and weather-proof, perfect for outdoor games. Found a local store that had sales on wood, so I drove over there with my pickup truck. Talked to the guy at the counter, and he showed me the options. Ended up grabbing a whole load of larch planks—some were shorter, others longer—plus glue, nails, and a level tool. Total cost was around $300, which felt like a steal.

Next up, getting the area ready. My court was all cracked concrete from years of use, so I grabbed a shovel and dug out the old stuff. Sweated buckets clearing the space, then used the level tool to make sure the ground was flat. Found rocks and roots everywhere, tossed them aside. After that, I laid down a plastic sheet as a moisture barrier, ’cause rain messes things up real fast.

Now for the fun part: installing the wood. I started by spreading out the larch planks one by one, lining them up straight. Measured each piece with a tape measure, cut them to size using a hand saw—ouch, got a splinter here and there. Then, pressed each plank down hard, nailed it in place along the edges. Did this row by row, keeping gaps tight for no wobbling. Halfway through, my back started aching, but I kept going. Applied glue to seal the joints, wiped off any spills with a rag.

Ran into some hitches, though. About midway, the wood started warping slightly in the sun, which threw off my nice flat lines. Panicked a bit at first, but I just loosened some nails, adjusted the planks back, and hammered them in again. Learned to work earlier in the day when it’s cooler. Also, neighbor kids kept running over asking questions, so I shooed them off—focus is key.

Finally, after two full days of work, I finished smoothing everything out. Walked all over it to test the bounce, felt solid and smooth. Not perfect—a few spots creak when I jump—but overall, it looks sharp and handles dribbling like a dream. Cost me less than expected, saved cash doing it myself. Would I do it again? Maybe, with more coffee breaks.