Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade the flooring in my home volleyball practice area for a while now. The old concrete was just brutal on the knees, and I needed something with a little more give. I did some digging and stumbled upon this LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) thing, and I thought, “Why not?” It seemed like a budget-friendly alternative to a full-blown sprung sports floor.

Getting Started

First things first, I measured the space. It’s not huge, just a section of my basement, but I wanted to make sure I got enough material. Then, I headed to the local home improvement store. I’m not gonna lie, finding the right LVL was a bit of a hunt. I eventually found some sturdy-looking beams, and I talked to one of the guys there to make sure it was suitable for what I had in mind. He seemed a little confused, to be honest, but gave the process a thumbs up any way.

The Prep Work

Before laying down the LVL, I cleaned the concrete floor really well. I swept and vacuumed like crazy to get rid of any dust or debris. Then, I rolled out a layer of heavy-duty plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier. I’d heard this was important to prevent moisture from messing with the wood.

Laying the LVL

This was the main event! I started by laying down the first row of LVL beams, making sure they were nice and snug against the wall. I used some construction adhesive to glue them to the concrete and to each other. This part was a little messy, and I definitely got some glue on my hands (and maybe my shirt…oops).

Then, I continued laying down the rest of the beams, row by row, staggering the joints like you would with regular flooring. It’s important to keep everything level, to get a better bounce to the floor, I also added some rubber padding in various key spots. I used a rubber mallet to tap them into place and make sure everything was tight. I checked for levelness as I went, using a long level.

The Sleeper System

Now, for the “sleeper” part. I cut some smaller pieces of LVL to use as supports underneath the main beams. I spaced these out evenly, creating a sort of grid pattern. This is supposed to give the floor some extra bounce and prevent it from feeling too stiff. I glued and screwed these sleeper pieces to the main beams, making sure everything was secure.

Finishing Up

Once all the LVL was down and the sleepers were in place, I let the adhesive cure for a full day. Then, I laid down some plywood sheets over the top of the LVL. This created a smooth, even surface for the final flooring layer. I screwed the plywood down securely, making sure there were no loose spots.

Finally, I installed some interlocking rubber floor tiles over the plywood. These are designed for gyms and workout areas, so they’re perfect for volleyball. They snapped together easily, and the whole thing looked pretty professional (if I do say so myself!).

The Result

Honestly, it’s a huge improvement over the concrete! It’s not quite as bouncy as a real sports court, but it’s definitely easier on the joints. I can practice my dives and jumps without feeling like I’m going to shatter my kneecaps. Plus, it was way cheaper than a professional installation. It’s a solid DIY solution for a home volleyball practice area, and I’m pretty stoked with how it turned out!