Okay so last month I decided to finally upgrade my home gym setup. I really wanted that specific rubber basketball court feel underfoot, but honestly, figuring out where to even buy that kind of fancy LVL larch wood flooring felt like a total maze at first. Here’s how I went down the rabbit hole and what I found.

Starting with the Obvious (And Failing)

First thing, I just typed into Google like everyone does. Searched stuff like “buy rubber basketball larch flooring suppliers” and variations. Man, it was overwhelming. Tons of websites popped up, big names, small names, promises everywhere. Felt impossible to tell who was actually legit. Loads looked super corporate, prices weren’t listed, and I had no clue about quality or if they even had that specific LVL larch stuff. I needed something concrete, not just fancy websites.

Hitting Forums and Getting Real Talk

Figured I needed advice from people who actually did this before. Hopped onto some big home improvement and gym building forums. Found dedicated threads where people shared their actual buying experiences. This was gold! People were naming specific companies they used, good and bad. Not the big box stores I saw first. Saw three names pop up repeatedly:

• Wood Solid: Several people swore by their quality, especially for sports floors. Mentioned they offer LVL larch.
• Big Floors Central: Got mixed reviews. Some said they were good value, others had nightmare shipping stories.
• ProBuild Surfaces: Specializes in athletic flooring but seemed pricier. Few said they were worth it for top-notch stuff.

This really narrowed my search. Instead of fifty options, I had three serious contenders.

The Real Pain: Calling Them Up

This is where things got real. Websites look nice, but talking to a human tells you everything.

ProBuild Surfaces: Called them first. Guy who answered sounded professional but kinda rushed. Knew his stuff, confirmed they had the LVL larch basketball specific surface. But wow, he quoted me and my wallet screamed. Seemed super premium, probably awesome, but definitely the highest cost.

Big Floors Central: Okay, call two. Tried them out. Lady seemed nice but… vague. When I asked about the specific LVL larch type for basketball and rubber integration, she sounded confused. Started talking about “oh we have wood, we have rubber mats…” Felt like she was just grabbing generic answers. Couldn’t give specifics on that exact product combo I wanted. That made me nervous.

Wood Solid: Last call. Sales guy sounded like he actually built gyms himself. Asked exactly where I was putting it, the subfloor type, everything. Knew the LVL larch specs cold. Explained the rubber basketball surface binding process they use. Quoted a price that was better than ProBuild, still solidly mid-range. More importantly, he inspired way more confidence than the Big Floors Central person. He got the purpose.

Asking for Samples (Always!)

Even though I liked Wood Solid best after the calls, I’m not buying a whole floor blind. I asked all three if they could send small samples of the exact LVL larch with the rubber basketball coating.

• ProBuild: Said yes, no problem. Sample arrived fast, looked super high quality.
• Big Floors Central: Hesitated, then said they had a “generic larch sample” without rubber coating. Not what I asked for. Pass.
• Wood Solid: Sent the specific sample I requested super quickly. Material looked really good, felt sturdy, the rubber surface had the right grip and bounce.

Seeing and feeling it confirmed things. The sample sealed it.

Pulling the Trigger and Experience

Ended up going with Wood Solid. Price made sense, service was knowledgeable, sample delivered. Placing the order was straightforward over the phone. Delivery took a couple of weeks, which was what I expected. Boxes arrived all in good shape. Had a contractor friend help install it – he commented the wood was cut well, everything lined up nicely. Finished floor? Looks fantastic. The larch grain is beautiful under the rubber coating, and the playing feel is exactly what I wanted.

So Where To Buy? Based on my whole headache search:

• For Top-Tier & Budget is Secondary: Look at ProBuild Surfaces. Quality seems amazing, you’ll pay for it.
• Budget Friendly? Maybe… Big Floors Central gets mentioned, but my direct experience with them was shaky. Do your homework extra hard here.
• My Pick for Balanced Value & Knowledge: Wood Solid. They understood my needs, provided proof, price was fair, final product is awesome. Zero regrets.

Seriously, whoever you look at, call them and get a sample. Best time you’ll spend in this whole process. Saved my sanity.