Okay, here’s my attempt at a blog post, following your instructions and example:

Alright, so I finally got around to putting down that batten basketball plywood floor in my basement. It’s been on my to-do list forever, and let me tell you, it was a bigger project than I initially thought, but totally worth it in the end.

First, I cleared out the entire basement. This was a pain, moving all the junk we’d accumulated down there. I mean, who needs three broken vacuum cleaners? Anyway, once it was empty, I gave the concrete floor a good sweep and made sure it was super clean. Any little bumps or debris would mess with the level of the floor later on.

Prepping the Concrete

Next up, I checked for moisture. I taped down some plastic sheeting in a few spots and left it for a couple of days. When I peeled it back, there was condensation underneath, which meant I needed a vapor barrier. No biggie, I just rolled out a big sheet of plastic across the entire floor, overlapping the seams and taping them down.

Laying the Battens

Then came the battens. I used treated lumber, because, you know, basements can be damp. I laid them out perpendicular to the direction I wanted the final plywood floor to run, spacing them about 16 inches apart. I used some concrete screws to secure them to the floor, making sure everything was nice and level. This part took a while, getting the spacing right and making sure everything was even.

Some of the concrete screws I used were stubborn going in and at times I thought of giving up, but after persisting I got through it.

Adding the Plywood

With the battens down, it was time for the plywood. I went with tongue-and-groove plywood because it interlocks and makes the floor more stable. I started laying the sheets, staggering the joints so they didn’t all line up. This is important for strength, apparently. I used construction adhesive and screws to attach the plywood to the battens. Lots of screws. My drill got a workout, that’s for sure.

I had a little trouble getting the tongue-and-groove to fit perfectly in some spots. A rubber mallet helped persuade the pieces together without damaging them. I had to do some trimming, mostly at places where the walls connected.

The Finished Product

Finally, after a few days of work, I could finally stand the plywood to create a beautiful, even base.

I didn’t do a perfect job, but I got it done.

Honestly, it’s not a professional-looking job, but it’s solid, and it feels great underfoot. Plus, I saved a ton of money doing it myself. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but the satisfaction of building something with my own hands is pretty awesome.