Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade my home gym for a while now, and I finally decided to tackle the flooring. I play a lot of volleyball, so I wanted something that would give me good bounce and support, but also be durable enough for other workouts. After some digging, I landed on the idea of an LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) sleeper system with wooden flooring. It seemed like a good balance of performance and affordability, and I was up for the challenge of building it myself.

Getting Started

First things first, I cleared out the entire space. This was a good excuse to get rid of some old junk anyway. Then, I made sure the concrete subfloor was clean, level, and dry. Any major cracks or unevenness would need to be addressed before I could start building.

Building the Sleeper System

This was the fun part! I bought a bunch of LVL beams – these are way stronger than regular lumber. I laid them out on the floor, spacing them about 16 inches apart. This spacing felt right for the support I wanted. Then, I used construction adhesive and concrete screws to secure them to the subfloor. I made sure everything was level as I went, using shims where needed. It was a bit of a workout, but seeing the framework come together was super satisfying.

Adding the Plywood

With the sleepers in place, I started laying down the plywood subfloor. I went with two layers of plywood, staggering the joints for extra strength. This part was pretty straightforward – just laying down the sheets and screwing them into the LVL sleepers. I used plenty of screws to make sure everything was solid and wouldn’t squeak later on.

The Wooden Flooring

Now for the pretty part! I chose a nice, light-colored hardwood flooring. I installed this with the standard * took some time and patience, but using nails to install it step by step. I watched some videos before to make sure it goes * final effect is what I wanted！

The Final Result

Honestly, it turned out even better than I expected! The floor has a great feel to it – firm, but with just the right amount of give. It’s perfect for volleyball drills, but also feels great for other workouts. And it looks fantastic! It completely transformed the space. I’m pretty proud of myself for pulling this off, and I can’t wait to get more use out of my upgraded home gym.