Alright folks, buckle up. Today’s mess was about putting down some shock-absorbing basketball flooring using larch wood. Supposedly good stuff.

Starting With The Bones

First off, lugged in all these wood planks. Heavy as heck, larch is no joke. Had to measure the court area – twice, actually, because I screwed it up the first time. Cut the plywood base layer rough and laid it flat. Had to hammer down a few stubborn spots to make it less bumpy. So much for “precision.”

Rubber Crumbs Everywhere

Next step: those shock pads. Opened the bags of recycled rubber crumbs. Tiny black bits got everywhere. I mean everywhere – shoes, hair, probably inhaled some. Kicked them into this frame thing on top of the plywood, trying to spread them out kinda even. Felt like raking gravel in a sandbox. Messy and boring.

The Wood Wanted to Fight

Finally got to the star of the show: the larch wood planks. Figured it’d be smooth sailing, right? Nope. Started laying them across the rubber base. Immediately realized some planks were slightly warped. Nothing fits like the ads show. Had to push, shove, even stood on them hoping weight would convince them. Used these long screws to anchor the damn things into the plywood underneath. Arms felt like jelly after fighting with the drill for an hour.

The Big Problem

Got about halfway done, stepped back to admire the work… and saw it. A damn dip in the middle section! The rubber crumbs underneath must have shifted or I spread them wrong. Whole area felt softer, like stepping on a slightly deflated tire. Panicked a bit. So much for my “professional” installation.

• Option one: Rip it up? No chance. All that sweat for nothing?
• Option two: Add more rubber? Tried shoving handfuls through the gaps at the edges. Felt sketchy.
• Option three: Live with it? Almost did.

Went back to option two. Pried up a couple of planks near the dip – snapped one in half doing it, naturally. Filled the hollow spot with way more rubber crumbs than probably recommended. Jammed the planks back down, screws biting hard. It felt… marginally better? Jury’s still out.

Finally… Kind Of

After an eternity, got the last plank down. Sanded the whole thing to even it out a bit – more dust than you’d believe. Applied some protective oil finish hoping it hides a few sins. Knees are killing me, fingers are cracked. Does it bounce? Yeah, the ball bounces. Is it shock absorbing? Well, my feet didn’t feel like they were hitting concrete by the end, so maybe?

Why the heck did I choose larch? Because everyone said “tough wood, shock resistant.” Supposed to last forever. Did they mention it weighs a ton and fights you while installing? Nope. Did I save my stupid knees? Maybe. Ask me after I play for real. Shoulda just painted concrete and called it a day. Probably would have hurt less than installing this beast. Remember to get industrial-strength knee pads if you try this. You’ll need ’em. I kid you not. Forgot mine. Paying for it now.