Started this project cause my backyard volleyball kept wrecking knees, you know? Plain grass just ain’t enough. One dude landed wrong last month – sounded awful, crunch! That got me thinking hard about some shock-absorbing floor, cheap way.
How It Happened
Saw thick wooden pallets behind hardware store. Free! Grabbed three real quick. Eyes locked on those rubber mats too – the ugly recycled ones. Cheap as dirt. Thought “Why not smash wood and rubber together?”. Got home, brain fried already.
Stuff I Used:
- Wooden pallets (free)
- Old truck mud flaps (thick rubber, $5 flea market)
- Construction screws (rusted ones from shed)
- Half-empty wood glue bottle
- Random plywood scraps
Chopped pallets rough size first. Made big rectangle frame, like 10×15 feet. Messy cuts everywhere. Then stupid idea came: layered stuff. Bottom layer? Slammed plywood scraps flat. Middle layer? Stacked mud flaps crisscross like puzzle. Glue splattered all over, stuck fingers good. Top layer? Whacked pallet pieces on tight. Screwed through everything like madman. Neighbor shout like crazy.
Big shock came when jumped on it. Feet bounced! Like cheap trampoline, sorta. Tried volleyball landing tests. Stomped real hard, knees felt soft. Even dropped heavy toolbox on corner – just bounced! Sound? Much quieter than plain wood slap. Floor didn’t shift either, stayed put.
Thing looks ugly? Hell yeah. But cushions falls real good. Portable too – we lift whole thing sideways, store in garage fast. Dirt collects between cracks though. Might glue outdoor carpet scrap on top someday. For now, works perfect. Saving knees one bounce at a time.
