Okay so this started when my rubber tree plant went crazy tall, right? Had to move its pot outside for summer, but then I needed something solid underneath – my patio bricks are wobbly as hell. Plus, I wanted a mini spot to practice basketball dribbles without scuffing the concrete or waking neighbors. Got this wild idea: why not build a portable floor pad?

Stuff Gathering & First Disaster

Scrap wood was step one. Dug out these leftover deck planks from last year’s failed bench project – yeah, that thing collapsed when my uncle sat on it. Bad memory. Cut ’em into two-foot lengths. Mistake number one: didn’t measure the gaps between bricks first. First try was like tossing toothpicks on gravel – total dumpster fire.

Measure Twice, Cuss Once

Went back with the tape measure. Brick gaps are weird, man. Like, who lays these things? Cut thicker plywood strips to bridge the uneven bits underneath. Glued rubber shelf liner scraps to the bottom of each plank – stole it from my wife’s kitchen organize thingy. Bad idea mentioning that later. Clamped everything while the glue dried overnight, woke up to this sticky mess dripping everywhere.

Rubber Time & Near Meltdown

Ordered that interlocking foam puzzle mat stuff – the kind for kids’ play areas? Laid it out where the wood panels would go. Then the genius move: covered each panel with thin rubber sheet, using spray adhesive. Holy hell, that stuff smells like death. Almost passed out in the garage. Major rage moment when one sheet wrinkled up like an old prune. Had to peel it off, scraped glue for an hour… nearly threw my wrench through the wall. Beer break required.

Assembly Like Frankenstein

Finally got panels dried. Joined them with heavy-duty straps and buckles so it folds up. Did the bouncy test: dribbled the basketball right on it. Noise level? Much quieter than concrete! Stability? Shockingly decent – like, sturdier than that dumb IKEA shelf in the hallway.

• Good: Rolls up easy, lightweight enough to drag around
• Bad: Rubber still smells faintly like Satan’s gym bag 2 weeks later
• Ugly: My wife’s “borrowed” shelf liner hasn’t been forgiven yet

It lives by my sliding door now. Use it as a plant stand/dribble pad combo. Rubber tree seems pleased, basketball feels smoother, garage smells sketchy. Worth it? Ask me after buying the wife new shelf liner.