Okay, here’s my blog post about messing around with keel basketball court flooring:

So, I’ve been getting into this whole DIY home improvement thing, and my latest project was tackling a basketball court floor. I wanted that classic look, you know? The kind with the wood, but also that springy feel. That’s where the keel system comes in, and let me tell you, it was a learning experience!

Getting Started

First things first, I cleared out the space. I mean really cleared it. We’re talking moving everything, sweeping, and even mopping the concrete slab underneath. You gotta have a clean slate, right?

Then came the fun part (and by fun, I mean the part where I questioned all my life choices). I laid down a vapor barrier. Basically, it’s this thick plastic sheeting that keeps moisture from the ground from messing up the wood. I overlapped the edges and taped them down good and tight with some heavy-duty tape. No shortcuts here!

Building the Keel System

This is where things got interesting. I used 2x4s for the keels. Some people use fancy pre-made systems, but I’m on a budget, folks! I spaced them out according to some guidelines I found online – can’t remember the exact spacing, but it was something like 16 inches apart. This is important for that bounce I was after.

I screwed the 2x4s down into the concrete. This was a pain. I rented a hammer drill, which helped, but it was still a lot of work. Make sure you’ve got good drill bits and plenty of screws. Trust me on this one.

Between the keels, I placed these rubber pads. These are crucial! They’re what give the floor that cushioning effect. I found some online, they weren’t too expensive. I just wedged them in there, nice and snug.

Laying the Wood

Then came the wood itself and used wooden flooring.I did a test run to make sure all my pieces would match.

Then I Screwed the wooden to the keels,It took me some time,but at the end all pieces were screwed perfectly.

The Finished Product (Almost!)

After all that, I finally had a floor! It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. It definitely had that “basketball court” feel.

I was very happy for getting it done.