Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade my home gym for a while, and I finally decided to tackle the flooring. I wanted something sturdy, that could handle dropped weights, and also look decent. After some digging around, I landed on the idea of using LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) basketball plywood for a DIY wooden floor. Here’s how it went down:

Getting Started

First things first, I measured the gym area carefully. I wanted to make sure I ordered enough plywood, but not too much. Waste not, want not, right? Then, I headed to the local lumber yard. They had these big sheets of LVL plywood, the kind usually used for, well, basketball courts, I guess.

Prepping the Subfloor

Before I could even think about laying down the plywood, I had to make sure the existing concrete floor was level. There were a few dips and bumps, so I used a self-leveling compound to smooth things out. That stuff is messy, but it gets the job done. I let that dry completely, which took a day or so.

Laying the Plywood

Next up, the main event! I started laying down the plywood sheets. The lumber yard guys were kind enough to cut them into more manageable sizes for me. Still, these things were heavy! I used construction adhesive to glue them down to the concrete, making sure to stagger the joints for extra strength. Think of it like laying bricks, you don’t want all the seams to line up.

I also left a small gap around the edges of the room for expansion and contraction. Wood moves with changes in temperature and humidity, so you gotta give it some breathing room.

Screwing it Down

Glue alone wouldn’t be enough, so I also screwed the plywood down to the concrete. I used concrete screws and made sure they were countersunk, so they wouldn’t stick up and snag on anything. This part took some time, and my drill got a good workout, it is exhausted after all the screwing work.

Finishing Touches

Once all the plywood was down and secured, it was time for the finishing touches. I rented a big floor sander to smooth out any unevenness and get a nice, even surface. Then, I applied several coats of polyurethane sealant. This protects the wood from moisture and wear, and it also gives it a nice, slightly shiny finish. The sanding and sealant are must done, I think.

The Result

And that’s it! My DIY LVL basketball plywood gym floor. It took a few weekends of work, but it was totally worth it. The floor feels super solid underfoot, it can definitely handle any workout I throw at it, and it looks pretty darn good, too. Not bad for a DIY project, if I do say so myself!

It’s a little rough around the edges, sure, but it’s my rough-around-the-edges project, and I’m proud of it. Plus, I saved a bunch of money doing it myself. Now, time to get back to lifting!