If you love playing sports, then there are probably certain things that feel really good. For golfers, you crave the feeling of having a club in your hand. For soccer players, it’s all about bouncing a ball around on your feet and knees.
And for those who love basketball? The magic is felt when you step onto the court. The flooring that basketball courts use is one-of-a-kind. When you take a step on it, you instantly know what you are about to do.
If you are a true basketball player, fan, or both, then you have probably dreamed of having a basketball court at your home. And if it could be installed indoors, you could enjoy it year-round.
The other benefit of an indoor court is that you could install basketball court flooring. But what exactly is the type of flooring used by professional courts? Keep reading to find out now.
Why Do Basketball Courts Need Specific Flooring?
Every sport has variables that require perfect conditions for maximum enjoyment. For golf, the putting green needs to allow for golf balls to roll across without much resistance. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for golfers to actually get the ball in the hole.
The same holds true for basketball. While basketball around the world is enjoyed on streets, driveways, and even dirt lots, it’s much more enjoyable on the right type of floor.
Basketball flooring allows basketballs to bounce at their best, which is necessary for players to dribble the ball. But more importantly, they offer maximum grip for the players.
Most sports in which players are running and chasing each other happen outdoors on grass or turf or sometimes even on composite decks. The ground offers natural friction to prevent players from slipping all the time.
But indoor basketball courts are very different. With solid, hard ground, basketball players need to be able to run, pivot, and stop constantly without slipping and getting injured. So, a proper indoor basketball court floor will be finished very specifically to allow for maximum grip and control.
What Is Basketball Court Flooring Made of?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to basketball court flooring. Different types of courts use different types of flooring. And when constructing a basketball court at home, you’ll have many factors to consider when it comes to the perfect flooring choice.
But most professional courts, along with those found in colleges and other heavily-used facilities use wood flooring. Wood is the traditional flooring choice for basketball courts. It’s been used across the country for decades.
But it’s not as simple as installing a standard wood floor and calling it good. What happens underneath the wood, and how the wood is laid will determine if it’s basketball quality or not.
The underlayment will provide the perfect amount of firmness with shock absorption and elasticity. Shock absorption is critical for players running and jumping on the hard floor for extended periods of time. It will be much more enjoyable and less painful than playing on concrete.
Finally, the finish of the wood flooring is critical. It needs to be sealed in order to block out moisture and provide a smooth, even surface. The finish needs to be on the matte side so that it’s not highly reflective. And players will need to be able to look down the court and see the colored markings.
And the finish will be very important for providing friction and slip resistance.
Choosing Your Home Court Flooring
Should you go with the traditional basketball court flooring? You can, as long as the court will be indoors. However, it will be more expensive.
Most homeowners looking for a court choose alternative flooring. Court flooring is now often made of synthetic materials, such as vinyl, laminate, plastic, or some combination of these.
They are affordable, easy to install, and weather-resistant, making it much easier for homeowners looking to build a court in the backyard without worrying about rain, snow, or sunshine.
These flooring choices also have built-in shock resistance, making basketball more enjoyable and less damaging on the joints. Plus, some flooring options have an open-top design. This means that the top layer isn’t solid.
Rain will drain through the flooring rather than sitting on top of it. This will allow you to play in the rain and still have good traction.
And the best part of modern, synthetic flooring is that it can be really easy to install. Most basketball court coloring systems come in tiles or planks that snap together.
This can make it possible for homeowners to build their own court. And since the flooring isn’t permanent, like most hardwood flooring installations, you can remove it and reinstall it elsewhere if need be.
So while traditional wood flooring is appealing for your home court, it isn’t as flexible as most there modern options that allow you to create either an indoor or outdoor court that can resist weather and be moved to a new location.
Customizable Flooring
When you opt for synthetic court flooring, you’ll have many more options than you would with a hardwood floor. With hardwood, you are getting one color; brown. While it offers a classic look, it might not be ideal for your application.
With other flooring options, you can generally pick tiles or planks in many different colors. This can allow you to create a court that is unique to your home or yard.
Or, you can choose colors that match your favorite team or the college that you graduated from.
Some flooring options will be paintable, while others might be too complicated to paint. Open-top flooring, for example, wouldn’t take paint very well since the surface isn’t solid.
The other nice thing about synthetic court flooring is that you can customize your basketball court dimensions at any time. If, later on, you decide you need a bigger court, you can always add more tiles or planks. You can’t make decisions like that with a hardwood court.
When you can play any time, any day, you’ll start to improve your game fast.
Create Your Ideal Basketball Court
The biggest benefit of building a home court is getting to play whenever you want. No longer do you have to search for public basketball courts, drive over, and share them with others. Just walk outside and start shooting hoops. Just like you choose the ideal paint for your room, make sure you get your basketball court according to your convenience.
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