Alright, guys, let’s talk about my little project of putting in some laminate flooring that looks like a basketball court. I’ve been wanting to do this in my basement for ages, and I finally took the plunge.

Getting Started

First things first, I measured the area. Gotta know how much material you need, right? I made sure to add a little extra for mistakes, because, let’s be real, I’m no pro.

Prepping the Floor

Next up, I cleaned the existing floor like crazy. Any little bumps or debris will show through the laminate, so I made sure it was super smooth. I even used a level in a few spots to check for any major dips. I found a couple and filled them in with some floor leveling compound. After that stuff was dry I went over the floor with a damp mop for dust off.

• Measure the floor.
• cleaned the floor.

Laying the Underlayment

Then, I rolled out the underlayment. This stuff is like a thin foam that helps cushion the laminate and makes it a little quieter to walk on. I taped the seams together so it wouldn’t shift around.

• Roll out the underlayment.
• Tape the joins.

Laying the Laminate

Now for the fun part! I started laying the laminate planks. The ones I got had a cool click-lock system, so you just line them up and snap them together. It’s kind of like putting together a giant puzzle. I made sure to stagger the joints, so it looks more like a real wood floor. Use some little space to keep a small gap off the wall because of expansion or something.

Dealing with Tricky Spots

Around the door frames and some pipes, things got a little tricky. I used a jigsaw to cut the planks to fit. Let me tell you, it wasn’t perfect, but I got it done! A little caulk can hide a multitude of sins, my friends.

Finishing Touches

Once all the planks were down, I installed the baseboards. This really finishes off the look and covers up any rough edges. Again, caulk is your best friend here.

The End Result

And that’s it! It took me a couple of weekends, and my back was definitely feeling it, but I’m so happy with how it turned out. Now I’ve got my own little basketball court in the basement! It’s not perfect, but I did it myself, and that’s pretty darn cool.