Okay so here’s the deal—my garage volleyball court’s larch wood floor looked straight up trashed after last season. Dents, scratches, you name it. Got tired of sanding it down every six months. Stumbled on this “pad volleyball” hack online claiming to preserve floors longer. Skeptical? Hell yeah. But figured I’d try it anyway.
Step 1: Prep Work Mess
Cleared out all the junk—bikes, tools, that half-dead lawnmower. Swept like crazy till my back hurt. Found tons of sand embedded between planks (grit is the enemy, apparently). Took a stiff brush and went full karate kid on every groove. Vacuumed three times just to be safe.
Step 2: Pad Layout Drama
Bought these rubbery interlock pads—supposedly shock-absorbent. First mistake? Didn’t measure first. Cut ‘em haphazardly with a box cutter. Wound up with gaps near the edges and weird overlaps. Ripped ‘em out, re-cut while cussing. Finally laid ‘em flush corner-to-corner. Looked kinda like a giant ugly puzzle.
- Pro tip #1: Use chalk to mark cut lines.
- Pro tip #2: Wear gloves—those pad edges slice fingers!
Step 3: Surface Test Run
Invited the squad for a “test game”. Initial vibe? Slippery as ice! Nearly ate concrete diving for a spike. Realized forgot the grip spray. Next day, sprayed textured court sealant over pads (smelled like burnt plastic). Waited 24 hrs. Huge difference—shoes gripped but didn’t stick awkwardly. Jump landings felt… squishy? Less knee-jarring for sure.
Step 4: Long-Term Watch
Three months later: pads are filthy but intact. Larch wood underneath? Pristine. Zero new dents. Even spilled Gatorade wiped right off pads without staining the wood. Only issue? Pad corners curled slightly near the garage door (moisture maybe?). Fixed it with heavy-duty tape. Floor’s survived beer pong disasters, dropped weights, and sweaty volleyball marathons. Still looks fresh.
Final verdict? Way less maintenance. Floor might actually last years now instead of months. Downsides? Ugly pads and that chemical spray smell haunts my nightmares. But hey—tradeoffs, right?
