Okay, so today let’s talk about this rubber basketball court idea I tried out with larch wood flooring. Wanna explain why I ended up pickin’ this combo.
Starting Point: My Old Messy Court
First thing, my backyard court was totally wrecked. Cracked concrete everywhere, puddles after rain, and my knees screamed every time I played. Needed somethin’ way better without breakin’ the bank.
The Rubber & Wood Lightbulb Moment
Went down this rabbit hole researchin’ options. Concrete? Too hard. Asphalt? Gets sticky in summer. Pure wood? Crazy expensive. Then I stumbled on rubber courts with wood unders. Seemed weird at first – like mixin’ sneakers with dress shoes.
But hear me out: rubber tiles on top give bounce and cushion, while larch wood underneath? That stuff’s like nature’s concrete. Hard as nails but cheaper than maple. Found a supplier sellin’ larch planks from Siberian forests – said it laughs at rain and won’t rot.
Grunt Work Phase
Got my hands dirty real quick:
- Dug out
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- the old concrete mess – took three weekends with a rented jackhammer
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- Leveled the dirt super flat, like baking a giant mud cake
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- Laid gravel for drainage because swamp courts suck
- Nailed down those larch planks perpendicular to where I’d run – extra support where shoes slam hardest
The Rubber Magic Touch
Then came the fun part – unrollin’ those interlockin’ rubber tiles. Thought it’d be like Legos, but some pieces needed trimmin’ around edges. Pro tip: Get extra tiles! Messed up cuts twice.
Why rubber tops? Three big things:
- Bounce
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- – Ball reacts like indoor courts, no dead spots
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- Knee saver – Landin’ from jumps doesn’t feel like hammers on cement
- Drainage – Rain just vanishes between tiles, no puddle nightmares
Six Months Later Verdict
Played through winter snow and summer heat waves. Zero warping on the larch base – stuff’s tough as tractor tires. Rubber surface? Barely any wear marks even where I always pivot. Only annoyance is sweeping leaves gets trickier between tiles.
So why choose this Frankenstein setup? Costs less than all-wood, plays softer than concrete, survives weather better than asphalt. Like getting three courts in one without the crazy price tag.
