Okay, here’s my take on the “LVL Basketball soft maple portable wooden flooring” project, written in a casual, personal blog style:

So, I got this crazy idea to build a portable basketball court. Yeah, I know, sounds nuts, right? But I wanted something I could set up in different places, maybe the driveway, the park, even a big empty warehouse if I could swing it. I figured LVL (that’s Laminated Veneer Lumber, basically super-strong plywood) would be the way to go – tough enough for bouncing balls and all that jumping around.

Choosing the Wood

I went with soft maple. Why? Because it looks good, it’s pretty durable, and I found a decent deal on it. I spent a good chunk of time just staring at wood samples, feeling them, even bouncing a basketball on them (the store people probably thought I was weird). I mean If I spend a good chunk of my time playing with my crazy idea,I need a decent material,right?

The Build

• First, I measured everything out. Like, a million times. Measure twice, cut once, right? I didn’t want to mess this up.
• Then, I started cutting the LVL sheets into smaller, manageable panels. This was a workout, let me tell you. My arms were burning!
• Next, I built a simple frame system underneath each panel. Think of it like a mini-floor joist system. This was crucial for support and to keep the panels from warping.
• I used a tongue-and-groove system to connect the panels. It’s like a giant puzzle, and it makes the whole thing super solid. You slam those pieces together, and they ain’t going nowhere.
• I also added some cushioning underneath. I used these rubbery pads – again, thinking about my knees and ankles here.

Finishing Touches

After all that, I sanded the whole thing down like crazy. Smooth as a baby’s bottom! Then I applied a few coats of polyurethane. Gotta protect that wood from sweat, spills, and whatever else gets thrown at it.I even thought about painting lines on it, like a real court, but I decided to keep it simple for now. Maybe later I’ll get fancy.

The Result

Honestly, it turned out way better than I expected. It’s surprisingly sturdy, and the ball bounces really nicely. It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few little imperfections here and there, but that’s part of the charm, right? It’s handmade! And the best part? I can pack it all up, throw it in the back of my truck, and take it wherever I want. Backyard basketball, here I come!