My buddies kept bugging me about having a volleyball setup at our weekend hangouts, but pouring permanent concrete was too much hassle. So last month, I slapped together this wild plan for removable maple wood flooring. Here’s exactly how I butchered—I mean, built—the thing.

The “Brilliant” Backyard Brainstorm

Sipping cheap coffee on my porch, I sketched this cluster of squares on a napkin. Needed something:

• Light enough for two people to lift
• Dumb-proof connectors (cause Dave always drops things)
• Flat-pack storage behind my rusty shed

Settled on maple ’cause my neighbor’s cabinet offcuts were free. Yes, free. Don’t judge.

Shopping Trip Blues

Hauled myself to the lumber place, sweating buckets in the July heat. Grabbed:

• Maple planks (¾ inch thick, because flimsy crap warps)
• Self-tapping screws that looked military-grade
• Plastic connectors my cousin swore by

Forgot measuring tape. Used my shoe. Size 10 sneakers make terrible rulers.

Garage Wars: Sawdust Edition

Cut planks into 2×2 foot squares ’cause volleyball courts need math or whatever. Screwed three support beams underneath each tile—cross pattern, like tic-tac-toe gone wrong. Drilled holes in the sides where connectors would go. Sawdust in my teeth for three days straight.

The “Oh Sht” Moment

Tried assembling six tiles in my driveway. They locked together smooth… until Dave tripped on tile #4. Whole section popped apart like Lego bomb. Redesigned connectors that weekend: beefier plastic brackets + rubber washers to absorb stupid stumbles.

Field Test: Chaos Mode

Set up 18 tiles on uneven grass. Used bubble levels duct-taped to my head. Called the gang over. We played two hours—tiles shifted maybe half an inch. Win! Till Mike spilled beer on tile #9. Lesson: waterproofing spray exists. Use it.

Now it lives stacked like giant toast slices behind my shed. Takes 20 minutes to deploy. Would I rebuild it? Heck no. But does it work when beers are cold and nets are high? You bet your spikes it does.