Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this whole LVL Basketball court thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I wanted to try and do something a little different, you know? Not just your regular backyard hoop setup.

First, I gotta find the right spot. I didn’t want it taking over the whole yard, but I needed enough space to, you know, actually play. I paced around a bunch, moved some lawn furniture, and finally found what seemed like a good, flat area.

Next up, was figuring out what to use for the surface. I looked at concrete, that asphalt stuff, and then I stumbled upon this LVL – Laminated Veneer Lumber. It’s like, super strong plywood, mostly used for construction. But I saw some folks online using hard maple timber LVL for basketball courts, and I thought, “Why not?”

Ordering the stuff was a bit of a pain. My local hardware store didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Finally, I find a lumber supplier a few towns over that carried it. I borrowed a buddy’s truck and spent a good chunk of a Saturday hauling these massive sheets of LVL back to my place.

The Build

• Leveling the Ground: This was the worst part, hands down. Digging, adding gravel, tamping it down… my back was killing me. I rented a small plate compactor, which helped, but it was still a workout.
• Framing: I built a simple frame out of pressure-treated lumber to contain the LVL sheets. Nothing fancy, just enough to keep everything in place.
• Laying the LVL: These sheets are heavy! I got my neighbor to help me wrestle them into the frame. We used construction adhesive and screws to secure them together and to the frame.
• Sanding, Sanding, Sanding: The LVL is pretty smooth, but I wanted it really smooth. So I spent a few more days with a rented floor sander, going over the whole surface multiple times.
• Sealing and Finishing: I use a few good coats of a polyurethane sealant for outdoor use, making sure to get in all the cracks and edges. After those have been dryed, then paint the court lines. I just used regular exterior paint and some painter’s tape. This part was actually kind of fun.

The whole process took me about a week. The end, my own little basketball court. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and it’s got that cool, unique look I was going for. Plus, the bounce is surprisingly good!

I’ve played on it a few times now, and so far, so good. It’s holding up great, even after a bit of rain. I’m thinking about adding some padding around the edges, just in case, and maybe a better backboard and hoop later on. But for now, I’m pretty stoked with how it turned out.