Alright folks, today’s project was building a shock-absorbing volleyball floor using soft maple wood planks. Gotta be honest, the idea of making a court that doesn’t murder your knees sounded real good.
Getting Started
First thing, I hauled my butt over to the lumber yard. Needed soft maple specifically ’cause it’s tough but kinda springy? Grabbed a whole stack – way heavier than I thought! Nearly threw my back out loading them into the truck. Lesson learned: rent a cart next time.
Got home, measured my garage space. Needed a firm base first. Swept the concrete floor like crazy – dust bunnies were not welcome guests. Laid down this thick rubber pad roll I’d ordered online ages ago and forgot about. Felt like wrestling an anaconda getting it flat. Used double-sided tape like a madman to stick the edges down.
The Wooden Puzzle
Time for the maple pieces. They come with these little tongue and groove edges – supposed to click together. Started on one corner, lining up that first plank real careful. Hammered the connecting pieces gently with a rubber mallet. Took a few tries; messed up the first row twice because I wasn’t hitting square. Was getting seriously annoyed by plank number five.
Kept going row by row, crawling on my knees like I was praying to the flooring gods. My knuckles were red and sore from shoving those grooves tight. Had to cut the last plank in each row to fit with my circular saw. That sawdust gets everywhere, I mean everywhere. Looked like I’d taken a bath in powdered sugar. Pro tip: Wear goggles. And maybe a hazmat suit.
Finishing Touches
Finally had the whole area covered! Stepped back to admire the smooth maple surface… then realized I needed to seal it. Ugh, forgot that bit. Grabbed some water-based sealant from the shed. Brushed on a thin first coat like I was painting the Mona Lisa. Waited a few hours, sanded it lightly with fine paper – made it smooth as glass. Did a second coat just to be safe. The smell lingered forever though.
The Moment of Truth
After letting it cure for a full day (patience is not my strong suit), I grabbed an old volleyball. Tossed it down. That satisfying “thump”! Then I jumped on it myself. Oh man, the difference! Felt that nice cushioning underfoot from the rubber pad giving just a little. No harsh smack on the concrete, just a soft landing. Definitely saved my old joints.
Materials I ended up using:
- A whole bunch of soft maple floor planks (specific shock-absorbing type)
- That massive rubber underlayment pad
- A big roll of heavy-duty double-sided tape
- Rubber mallet (my knuckle saver)
- Circular saw for the awkward cuts
- Water-based floor sealant & brushes
- A metric ton of elbow grease
Total win, but man, was it a workout building it myself. Worth it for the bounce!
