Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get this project done for, like, forever, and today was finally the day. I’m talking about putting down some proper flooring in my makeshift basketball area. It’s basically just a keel basketball setup, nothing fancy, but the ground was all uneven and kinda messed up my dribbling practice.

Leveling the Playing Field (Literally)

First things first, I had to figure out the high and low spots. I used some string and a level, just stretching it across different sections of the area. Turns out, it was way more uneven than I thought! Lots of dips and bumps.

So, I grabbed some larch wood – it’s supposed to be pretty tough and weather-resistant, which is good since this area is kinda exposed to the elements. My “keel” is really just some sturdy wooden beams I had lying around. I spaced them out evenly to create a basic frame, making sure they were all level with each other using shims where needed. This part took a while, lots of adjusting and checking with the level.

Assembling the Wooden Floor

Once the keel/beam frame was solid and level, it was time for the flooring itself. I got these larch planks, and they had this tongue-and-groove thing going on, so they kinda clicked together. Started at one edge, and just kept adding planks, making sure each one was snug against the last. Used a rubber mallet to tap them into place – didn’t want to damage the wood.

• Started laying the planks.
• Used a rubber mallet to gently persuade the wood to fit.
• Double checked to ensure it was flush.

For the edges, I had to cut some planks to size. Used a circular saw for that – always gotta be careful with those things! Once all the planks were down, I secured them to the keel beams with some screws. Wanted to make sure everything was nice and tight, no loose boards to trip over.

Finishing Touches (Or Lack Thereof)

Honestly, I haven’t sealed or stained the wood yet. Might do that later, but for now, I’m just happy to have a flat surface to practice on. The difference is HUGE. My dribbling feels so much smoother, and I’m not worried about twisting an ankle on some random bump anymore.

It was a full day of work, and I’m pretty beat, but totally worth it. Now I just gotta work on my jump shot!