Alright folks, let’s get into how I finally got that shock-absorbing volleyball court floor setup in my garage. Been chewing on this project for weeks since my knees started yelling after jumping on concrete.
The Unboxing Mess
Cracked open those beech wood flooring boxes first thing Saturday morning. Planks everywhere like pick-up sticks – each piece smelled like fresh lumber though. Dug out the foam underlayment rolls that came with it, felt like squishy yoga mats. Had to move my dusty workbench into the driveway to clear space.
Prepping the Pit
Grabbed my broom and went ham on the garage floor. Swept up all them dead leaves and mystery bolts that collect in corners. Unrolled the blue shock pads corner-to-corner, cutting extra bits with kitchen scissors when they overlapped. Taped seams with that shiny duct tape because the instruction pics showed some fancy adhesive I didn’t have.
Tools I Actually Used:
- Rubber mallet (my kid’s toy hammer was too wimpy)
- Measuring tape with dried paint splotches
- Hand saw that squeaked like a dying squirrel
Plank Puzzle Time
Started laying planks along the longest wall, tongue-side facing out. Whacked each piece with the mallet till the grooves locked – made that satisfying thok-thok sound. Got cocky around the fifth row until I realized the wall wasn’t straight. Had to rip-cut three planks on the driveway, sawdust flying into my neighbor’s rosebushes.
Middle section went smooth until hitting the garage door rail. Measured twice, still hacked off a chunk too small. Ended up shoving wood shims under that wonky plank so it wouldn’t wobble. Sweat dripping into my eyes the whole time – forgot the dang fan.
The Final Hurdle
Last row against the far wall was tight as skinny jeans. Had to remove the baseboards with a crowbar, scuffing my fresh paint job. Forced the final planks in with a pry bar and brute force – heard nasty cracking noises but nothing split. Trimmed the excess shock pad with my wife’s fabric scissors (don’t tell her).
Victory Jump Test
Stomped around checking for squeaks like a madman. Did a test spike – landed softer than stepping on moss! Still gonna slap volleyball court tape lines this weekend when my back stops aching. Pro tip: wear kneepads during assembly unless you enjoy carpet burns.
