Getting the Idea and Gathering Stuff

Okay so our local volleyball court had these concrete floors, right? Hurts like crazy when you dive. I was watching folks limp off court last month and thought: someone gotta fix this junk. Started digging around online and found people talking about shock-absorbing wood floors. Figured hey – I can mess with plywood and foam, why not?

First thing, I raided my garage workshop. Had:

• A bunch of half-used plywood sheets (kinda warped but whatever)
• Cheap carpet foam leftovers from my nephew’s bedroom project
• Wood glue that was probably older than my dog

Went to the hardware store for rubber padding strips though – those cost me two pizzas worth of cash. Oh and grabbed a handsaw since my electric one died last winter.

The Messy Building Part

Started by drawing rectangles on the plywood with a busted pencil. Measured wrong twice – third time’s the charm I guess. Sawing those planks? Man, my arms felt like noodles after. Half the cuts looked like drunk snakes, but sandpaper fixed the worst spots.

Laid the rubber strips down first like train tracks. Then slapped wood glue on the plywood planks and pressed them onto the rubber. Held it down with paint cans for weight overnight. Next morning, peeled off the cans and poked the planks – felt kinda bouncy already!

Foam Disaster Time

Here’s where it got stupid. Tried gluing the carpet foam UNDER the plywood. Big mistake. Glue soaked straight through the foam like water. Whole piece turned into sticky spaghetti. Cussed for five minutes straight.

Changed tactics: just laid the foam sheets on the concrete FIRST like a rug. Dropped my plywood-rubber sandwich on top. Stepped on it – immediate squishy feel. Jumped like maniac to test bounce. Neighbors probably think I lost it.

Court Testing and Wins

Took three slabs to the court. Made a tiny rectangle near baseline. Got stomped on by five club players during their break. Expected snaps or cracks – nothing happened! Even dropped a volleyball from head height: thumped softly instead of that awful concrete “crack”. Felt like legit victory.

Only issue? One plank slid sideways when Brenda slammed her heel down. Need to lock them together better. Maybe drill holes for ropes? Next weekend’s problem.

Whole thing cost less than a takeout dinner. Knees don’t bruise anymore. Still ugly as sin though – might paint flames on it later.