So last weekend I finally tackled that basketball court project in my garage. Had this pile of beech wood planks and shock pads sitting around for weeks, figured it’s time to make something happen.
Prepping the Ground
First thing’s first – swept the concrete floor like crazy. Even tiny pebbles can mess up the whole setup, you know? Grabbed my level tool and damn near kissed it when it showed the floor wasn’t completely flat. Had to mix some leveling compound for that back corner where rainwater always pools. Let it cure overnight while I inventoried all the materials.
Laying the Shock Pads
Morning came and I started placing those rubber shock absorbers. Followed the herringbone pattern I saw in YouTube tutorials:
- Measured and marked every 16 inches with chalk
- Used construction adhesive on each pad’s underside
- Stomped on every single one to make sure they stuck
Busted two utility knife blades trimming the edge pieces. Pro tip: cut rubber pads outside unless you want rubber crumbs in your coffee forever.
Assembling the Beech Planks
Started dry-fitting the tongue-and-groove planks. Realized halfway why the box said “acclimate wood for 48hrs” – planks had swollen from garage humidity! Had to:
- Re-space every plank with 1/4 inch gaps
- Pre-drill every freaking screw hole (beech splits like crazy)
- Use rubber mallets to tap stubborn joints
The metal tapping block dented three planks – switched to a scrap wood block instead. My cordless drill died during this part, nearly threw it across the garage.
Nailing the Perimeter
For the border planks near the walls:
- Hammered in hidden clips instead of surface nailing
- Filled gaps with color-matched wood putty
- Used quarter-round trim pieces for clean edges
Applied protective sealant with a roller, made the grain pop beautifully. Let it cure for two full days before testing – hardest wait ever.
Final Court Test
Grabbed my old basketball and did some serious dribbling. The difference is wild – when you jump and land, your knees don’t feel that concrete punch. Ball bounce sounds softer but still responsive. Only issue: got too enthusiastic dunking and scuffed the sealant near the hoop. Oh well, battle scars just mean it’s getting used properly!
