Okay, here’s my blog post about putting together some basketball court flooring.

Alright, so I’ve been wanting to set up a little practice area in my backyard for a while now. Nothing fancy, just a decent surface to work on my dribbling and shooting. I finally got around to it this past weekend, and let me tell you, it was a bit more involved than I initially thought!

The Prep Work

First things first, I cleared out the area. This meant moving some old planters, a sad-looking garden gnome, and a whole lot of weeds. I wanted a relatively flat space, so I spent a good chunk of time leveling the ground with a shovel and a rake. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, it’s a backyard court, not the NBA finals.

Then came the base. Some folks recommended gravel. So I dumped a layer. And spread this as evenly as I could and tamped it down firm with tamper. This part was seriously hard work, and I definitely worked up a sweat.

The Plywood

Next up, the plywood! I chose a decent exterior-grade plywood – nothing too fancy, but something that could handle a bit of rain and wouldn’t warp after a week. I got it pre-cut at the hardware store. Saved me a ton of time and hassle, since I don’t have a fancy circular saw.

Laying down the plywood was relatively straightforward. I started at one corner and worked my way across, making sure the sheets were butted up nice and tight. Used a bunch of screws to secure them to the sleepers/keel. I didn’t go crazy with the screws, but I wanted to make sure things were solid.

The Assembly (The Tricky Part)

Now, this is where the “keel” part comes in. Instead of just laying the plywood directly on the compacted, I decided to build a simple frame underneath for support and a bit of bounce. Think of it like tiny little joists. I used some pressure-treated 2x4s for this.

I cut the 2x4s to length and laid them out in a grid pattern, spacing them about 16 inches apart. Then, I screwed the plywood sheets onto this frame. This was the most time-consuming part, making sure everything was level and aligned. I used a level constantly, and even then, it wasn’t perfect. But again, backyard court!

• Measure and cut the keel (2×4) pieces.
• Arrange the keel pieces in parallel lines.
• Secure keel to the base.
• Lay the plywood sheets on top of the keel.
• Screw the plywood down.

The Finishing Touches

Once all the plywood was down and secured, I went around the edges and filled in any gaps with some exterior wood filler. Just to keep things looking a bit neater and prevent any tripping hazards. And applied a couple of coats of sealant that should help protect it from the elements.

It’s not a professional-grade court, by any means. It’s got a few imperfections, and the bounce isn’t perfectly consistent. But it’s mine, and I built it! And most importantly, it’s a heck of a lot better than dribbling on uneven grass and dirt. I’m already out there practicing my free throws. Mission accomplished!