Okay so today I wanted something totally wild – a volleyball court in my garage but also, ya know, not permanent? Like I gotta park the car in there sometimes! So I figured, why not try removable wooden flooring? Chose larch wood cause it’s tough but doesn’t cost a fortune. Here’s how I hacked it together.

The Big Messy Idea

Right, first things first. Measured my garage like crazy. Twice. Three times maybe. Dragged out a tape measure and chalk, crawling around marking spots where the floor would sit. Gotta have space for the car wheels still, right? Wrote down every single number. Messed up once, cursed, erased it all and started again. Precision isn’t fun, but it’s gotta be done.

Prepping the Timber

Got these thick larch planks from the local timber yard. Smelled awesome, honestly. Plan was simple: cut them into big panels, say 4 feet by 6 feet each. Grabbed my trusty circular saw. Dust flew everywhere. Definitely needed goggles. Cut fifteen panels total – took me half the damn day. Arms were burning!

Building the Puzzle Pieces

Okay, the magic part – making them removable. Decided on these cool interlocking brackets, kinda like giant puzzle pieces. Bought heavy-duty metal ones meant for stage flooring. Screwed them onto the sides and ends of every single panel with my impact driver. Made sure they lined up perfectly. Test-fit two panels together in the driveway. Pushed, pulled… they clicked! Held tight. Oh man, fist pump moment for sure.

Surface Stuff & Slippery Danger

Now, raw wood ain’t great for volleyball. Splinters? No thanks! Sanded every panel smooth with my orbital sander. Went through a bunch of sandpaper pads. Took forever. Then finished them with this super tough, slightly textured outdoor sealant. Brushed it on thick. Smelled strong! Garage was basically off-limits for two days while that stuff dried out.

Laying it Down & Jumping On It

Finally, time for the big assembly in the garage. Swept the concrete floor super clean. Started laying panels from one corner. Click, click, click… dragged each one into place, locked it to the neighbors. Slowly covered the marked area. Took maybe an hour? Didn’t rush. Stood back. Looked… like a real court! Nervous test jump in socks. Solid! Got the kids bouncing a volleyball immediately to test grip. No sliding! Amazing.

How It Actually Works

Okay, the “removable” bit! After play time? Unlocking the panels is actually stupid easy. Just slide them sideways or lift slightly at the joints – they pop apart. Stacked them flat against the wall on these little foam spacers I made for airflow. Didn’t even take ten minutes to clear the whole space. Garage floor was back! Next weekend? Pulled them out, clicked them together again, and boom – game on.

So far so good! Few things I’d maybe change:

• Weight: Larch is heavy! Lifting panels ain’t light work.
• Edges: Put rubber strips on the panel sides day one. Stubbed toe. Hurt.
• Storage Space: Stacking them eats up wall space in my garage.

But honestly? It totally works. My stupid, wobbly, homemade court is holding up! Friends came over, we played. Floor didn’t break, nobody fell. Called it a win.