Why I Tried Building Removable Maple Flooring for Basketball
Okay so last month I had this dumb idea – why not turn half my garage into a mini basketball court? But my wife needs parking space when it rains. Fixed floors are permanent, so removable became the goal. Total gamble honestly.
The Wood Hunt Disaster
First mistake: I grabbed cheap pine planks at Home Depot. Big surprise – they warped after one bounce test. Went back for maple because I remembered hardwood courts use it. Paid double. Hurt my soul but whatever.
Actual Building Steps (Chaos Included)
- Measured the garage corner like five times. Still cut two planks too short. Used them as bookends later.
- Drilled pilot holes through every plank to prevent splitting. Sweat dripping into my eyes the whole time.
- Attached rubber pads underneath using gorilla glue. Waited 24 hours. Half peeled off when I flipped them. Redid it with screws instead.
- Sanded everything twice. First pass felt like scratching concrete. Second pass left sawdust in places I’ll find for years.
The “Removable” Test
Slapped five panels together with interlocking clips. Dribbled once – perfect! Dribbled twice… whole section shifted sideways like a sliding puzzle. Added rubber border strips as buffer walls. Now they stay put until I kick them apart. Takes 15 minutes to disassemble.
Was It Worth It?
Kinda? Maple feels amazing for ball handling and jump shots. Looks pro-ish too. But man: Still find wood splinters in my socks. My kids keep losing the locking clips. And my wife only allows Tuesday/Thursday “court hours”. Next project? Maybe just buying a portable hoop.
