Getting Started with the Rubber Basketball Floor Project

So my old garage floor felt super rough and slippery whenever I tried dribbling. Decided it’s time for a proper basketball spot right there. Did some digging online and found this rubber basketball parquet made of wood pieces you assemble like a puzzle. Sounded perfect for my space. Ordered a bunch of those interlocking wood planks – they came stacked in boxes, smelling like fresh timber.

Clearing and Prepping the Area

First, I hauled all the junk outta the garage. Swept the concrete slab like crazy until no dust or pebbles were left. The instructions said the base gotta be totally flat, so I spent hours with a level tool, marking uneven spots with chalk. Ended up using this leveling compound paste stuff, spread it thick over the bumps and dips. Waited a whole day for it to dry solid – kicked it with my boot to test.

Laying Down the Foam Stuff

Next, I rolled out this black foam matting all over the floor. Cut it with box cutters near the walls. It’s supposed to absorb shock and stop moisture, kinda like a big sponge under your feet. Taped the seams together with heavy-duty stuff so it wouldn’t shift around when I walked on it.

Putting the Wood Pieces Together

Now the fun part – snapping those wood planks in place! Started from the corner near the garage door. Each plank had these little rubber edges and tongue-and-groove sides. Had to angle the piece just right, then whack it gently with a rubber mallet. Got tricky when hitting edges:

• Measured gaps with a tape
• Sawed planks using a hand saw on sawhorses
• Hammered trimmed pieces into awkward corners

Midway, realized I’d laid a row crooked. Had to backtrack and unsnap like fifteen boards. My back was screaming bending over that long.

Trimming and Finishing Up

Around the edges where planks met the wall, I left a finger-width gap for expanding and put rubber trim strips there. Last step: dropped a basketball and let it bounce. Satisfying thump-thump sound, no slippage. Swept sawdust off, stood there grinning like a kid. Took two weekends but feels solid – ready for some real hoops action tomorrow.