Okay, here’s my blog post about assembling wooden flooring for a basketball court, written from my personal experience:

Yo, what’s up, guys! Today was a pretty physical day, but super rewarding. I got my hands dirty helping put together the flooring for an LVL Basketball court. It was a whole process, so I figured I’d share my experience and how it all went down.

Getting Started

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First things first, we had to get the area prepped. This wasn’t just some slap-it-down-and-go kinda deal. We cleared out everything, obviously. Then came the less exciting part: making sure the subfloor was totally level and clean. Any bumps or debris, even tiny stuff, can mess with the final result, and nobody wants a wonky basketball court!

Laying Down the Underlayment

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Once the subfloor was ready, we rolled out this underlayment material. It’s like a thin, foam-ish layer that goes under the wood. This stuff is crucial, it helps with:

• Sound dampening: Less noise when the ball bounces.
• Moisture protection: Keeps the wood from getting warped.
• Cushioning: Makes the floor a bit more forgiving on the joints.

We made sure to overlap the edges of the underlayment and tape them down securely. You don’t want any gaps or shifting later on.

The Fun Part: Assembling the Wood

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Now for the main event! The wood itself came in these long planks. They had this tongue-and-groove system, so basically, one side has a little ridge (the tongue) and the other has a slot (the groove).

We started by laying out the first row along the longest wall, making sure to leave a small expansion gap between the wood and the wall. This is super important because wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. If you don’t leave that gap, you’re gonna have buckling problems down the line. Trust me.

Then, it was all about connecting the planks. We slid the tongue of one plank into the groove of the other. Sometimes it was a snug fit, so we used a tapping block and a rubber mallet to gently hammer them together. You gotta be careful not to damage the edges, though.

Row by row, we worked our way across the room. It was like a giant puzzle, making sure everything lined up perfectly. We used spacers to keep that expansion gap consistent along all the walls.

Finishing Touches

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Once all the flooring was down, we installed the baseboards around the perimeter to cover up the expansion gap and give it a clean, finished look. Then, gave everything a good sweep and check.

It was a lot of work, no doubt, but seeing that beautiful, smooth wooden court come together was awesome. Can’t wait to see some games played on it! Hope you found this little rundown helpful. If you’re ever tackling a similar project, just remember: prep work is key, take your time, and don’t be afraid to use a rubber mallet! Peace out!