Okay, so I finally tackled this project I’ve been eyeing for months – building proper shock-absorbing flooring for backyard volleyball games. Let me walk you through the messy reality of how it actually went down.

Starting Point: Concrete Ain’t It

Got super tired of wrecking my knees diving on our sad, hard concrete patio every weekend. Watched some random dude’s YouTube vid about DIY sports floors using those interlocking wood panels, clicked “add to cart” immediately.

First step? Totally underestimated this part. Hauled my lazy butt outside with a push broom and spent like two hours just sweeping every single speck of gravel and dirt off the concrete. Knees were already screaming. Should’ve worn kneepads just for sweeping.

Laying the Puzzle Pieces

Unpacked those tongue-and-groove wood tiles – smelled like Home Depot’s lumber section. Started clicking them together from one corner. Sounds easy until you realize half the pieces are warped slightly different directions. Had to:

• Hammer the stubborn ones with a rubber mallet (neighbors definitely heard the THUMP-THUMP)
• Jiggle tiles like car keys when they refused to lock
• Re-do entire rows twice because one crooked tile throws off everything like dominos

Shock Part Got Weird

Thought I was genius using leftover pool noodles under the panels for cushioning. Cut ’em lengthwise with this ancient serrated knife – looked like a pink spaghetti massacre. Tucked ’em under the wood panels wherever they’d fit, mainly under center court. Yeah, super scientific method there.

Battle Testing Phase

Made my nephew bounce a volleyball like mad while I laid flat on the court like a starfish. Felt the noodles compress under my spine – weird but satisfying. Jumped up and down like an overcaffeinated kangaroo near the edges. Some panels shifted a bit, but nothing catastrophic. Knee impact? Way softer than concrete. Called it victory.

Reality Check Post-Game

Next morning, walked out to find like 15 gaps between tiles wider than my pinky. Sun/wind must’ve shrunk ’em overnight. Whole thing creaked like a pirate ship when stepped on. Smooshed a few pool noodles flat already. Still… no more bruised knees? Worth every hour and awkward stare from neighbors.

Gonna duct tape those gaps tomorrow. Maybe shove more noodles in. It’s ugly, kinda janky, but man does it feel better than concrete.