Alright, so I’ve been meaning to get this project done for, like, forever. Finally got around to tackling the flooring in my spare room. I wanted something sturdy, and I play a fair bit of indoor volleyball, so I thought, “Why not make it a bit sporty?” I went with a batten, volleyball sleeper, and wood flooring combo. Sounds fancy, but it’s really just putting stuff on top of other stuff.

Getting Started

First things first, I cleared out the room. That was a workout in itself! Everything out, furniture, old rugs, the works. Then I gave the concrete subfloor a good sweep and vacuum. You want that surface as clean as possible so the adhesive has something solid to stick to.

Laying the Battens

Next up, the battens. These are just long pieces of wood that create a framework. I spaced them out evenly – this is important for even weight distribution. I used construction adhesive to stick them down, and then I used concrete screws to really secure them. Make sure you use a level to keep them all at the same height. That part’s a little tedious, but, you know, gotta do it right.

The Volleyball Sleeper Layer

Okay, this is where the “volleyball” part comes in. I found these rubber sleeper things, They go in between the battens. They’re supposed to give the floor some bounce, you know, like a real volleyball court. I cut them to size to make sure they will fit and, again with the adhesive, glued them down between the battens. Honestly, it felt like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Wooden Flooring Time!

Now for the pretty part – the actual wooden flooring. I picked out some pre-finished hardwood. Laying it down was pretty straightforward. I started along one wall, making sure to leave a small gap for expansion (wood expands and contracts with temperature changes). I used a nail gun to secure the planks to the battens. Click, click, click, row after row. It’s actually pretty satisfying to see it all come together.

Finishing Touches

Once all the flooring was down, I installed baseboards around the edges to cover that expansion gap and give it a finished look. A bit of sanding, a bit of cleaning up, and… done! I added a coat of polyutherane to seal wooden flooring, and it will last for years.

Honestly, it took a good few weekends, but it was totally worth it. Now I’ve got a room that looks great and can handle my… enthusiastic… volleyball practice. Plus, I can brag that I did it all myself!