Alright, folks, let’s dive into my little project today: messing around with batten, dancing, plywood, and timber. I’ve been wanting to create a makeshift, sprung floor in my garage for a while now. You know, something with a bit of give for when I’m, uh, “practicing my moves” (don’t laugh!).

Gathering the Goods

First things first, I gathered my materials. I had some leftover plywood sheets from a previous project. Not the prettiest stuff, but hey, it’s a garage floor, not a ballroom. I also grabbed some timber – just standard construction stuff, nothing fancy. And, of course, the key ingredient: the battens. I chose some relatively thin, flexible ones, hoping they’d provide the right amount of bounce.

Laying the Foundation

I started by laying down the timber on the garage floor. These acted like joists, providing the main support. I spaced them out evenly, making sure to leave enough room for the battens to fit in between. To be honest, I just eyeballed it. No precise measurements here, just good old-fashioned “that looks about right.”

Batten Time!

Next, I placed the battens in between the timber joists. This was the crucial part. I wanted them to flex, but not break, so I tested a few different arrangements. Some I laid flat, others I placed on their edge. I even tried overlapping them in a few spots. It was all about feeling it out, seeing what gave the best spring.

Plywood on Top

Once I was (somewhat) satisfied with the batten arrangement, I laid the plywood sheets on top. I screwed them down to the timber joists, making sure everything was secure. I used plenty of screws – didn’t want any of those sheets popping up mid-pirouette!

The Test Run

And now, the moment of truth! I stepped onto my newly created floor and… it worked! It wasn’t perfect, mind you. Some areas were bouncier than others, and there was a definite “creak” factor. But it had that give I was looking for. I did a few test jumps, a couple of (very awkward) spins, and even attempted a little jig. Let’s just say I won’t be joining a professional dance troupe anytime soon, but the floor held up!

• Plywood sheets
• Timber
• Battens
• Screws

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’d call this little experiment a success. It’s not the prettiest or most professional-looking sprung floor, but it does the job. It gives me a slightly more forgiving surface to practice my “moves” on, and it was a fun little project to tackle. I’m sure I’ll tweak it over time, maybe add some more battens or adjust the spacing, but for now, I’m happy with my bouncy garage floor.