How To Make An Indoor/Outdoor Basketball Court
Sometimes, you do not want to travel to a facility with a basketball court. Sometimes, the winters in your homeland are very harsh — you can’t just be playing out there in the local park.
However, basketball knows no limits. The love and passion for the sport cannot fade away so easily.
In such circumstances, it is always advantageous to have your own basketball court. How will that happen, you ask?
Well, we have got the perfect indoor and outdoor basketball court how-to guide for you. So, get a pen and some paper for taking notes, and continue reading on!
How To Make An Indoor Basketball Court?
An indoor basketball court is something every fan of the sport dreams for. We are here to tell you that your dreams can now come true. It is not easy, but with proper guidance, nothing is impossible! Let us get into it.
Dimensions
An indoor basketball court measures about 30x35 feet with a height of 17 feet above the ground. You must be thinking that you do not have such a space in your home, but do not fear.
Smaller courts can be made too, and they can fit in just about any home. You can use either your backyard, the driveway, or even an unused parking lot.
Before you start with the actual process, try determining what size court can be fit in your yard. Can you fit a full-size court or a half-sized one?
You can also use a tape measure to draw a line around the area you can use for your court. Wooden stakes can help mark the corners.
Materials You Need!
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- Cement
- Cement slabs
- Reinforcing bars
- Hardwood slabs (Maplewood/Laminate)
- Lights
- Heating/cooling system
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The Process of Making an Indoor Court
Before you start building your own indoor basketball court, go over a few important things. First, make sure you have ample space in your house to accommodate an indoor basketball court.
A lot of seasoned interior designers and home builders prefer having such a development take place near the garage as there usually is enough room in that region.
You also need a professional’s opinion about your floor plan and other things associated with building your own indoor basketball court. An engineer will be able to discuss the feasibility of the project and make you aware of your flooring plan.
You must also look for trained professionals for the breaking ground process. If the digging is done without keeping certain guidelines in mind, it may mess up the whole thing.
Therefore, in this case, it is recommended to hire professionals. They will do the digging and framing while keeping the water levels of the area in mind in order to prevent flooding.
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To start building your indoor basketball court, prepare your footings in the form of a monolithic pour. The floor should be poured with concrete 4-inches thick, being 10-inches thick at the edges. The concrete on the edge has reinforcing bars like any normal footing.
A keyway will be needed where the walls of your court will be, for the foundation walls. A keyway is a slot that ensures the correct orientation of the part that is to be fitted.
The keyway will result in a 3-inch groove in the footing which will help the foundation mold into it. This way, the bottom of the wall will also be sealed; this prevents water from entering and messing up the works.
The walls of your indoor basketball court should be made of pre-stressed suspended concrete slabs and must be put into place using a crane. This will ensure proper orientation and molding.
The walls should also have a thickness of 8-inches with a reinforcing bar strategically placed at intervals of 12-inches. These should be placed along the foundation of the wall for extra rigidity and added stability.
The horizontal reinforcing bar creating a reinforcement mat across the floor should be used to tie all the joints. They should be sealed and tied properly.
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Let there be light … and heat!
You are going to need a good lighting setup in your indoor basketball court for those evening matches. Another thing you will need is a central air/heat system. This depends on how deep your basketball court is into the ground.
The depth of the indoor basketball court and heating/cooling issues should be discussed with the designer as it is going to be one of your most important decision.
Additionally, fluorescent lights are the way to go, with wire cages around them. Some designers also recommend glass to be put into the ceiling for that natural light effect. In the end, the lighting comes down to personal preference.
Court surface
The surface you should use for your indoor basketball court should be made up of hardwood tiles. The advantage to having hardwood tiles is that they snap together and provide a cushion should a player fall. They also make sure your ankles are not too stressed.
Hardwood tiles also add smoothness, quality, and durability to your court, things everyone wants. They are also quite easy to clean and maintain.
How Much Does It Cost To Make An Indoor Basketball Court?
Let us now discuss one of the most important parts of building an indoor basketball court. How much does it cost? Will you need to dig deep into your pockets for this item of luxury?
The answer is yes, BUT:
For all the benefits you can get out of it, every penny spent on it redeems its worth. A court on the smaller side can cost you somewhere around $11000, while a medium-sized one may go up to $35000.
For a court measuring up to 94x50 feet, the price can go up to $76000. On average, it comes down to about $3.50 — $17 per square foot. Now, let us move on to an outdoor basketball court.
How to Make an Outdoor Basketball Court?
An outdoor basketball court is something we have all wanted since high school. The love for the game never wanes, which is why we present you with this overview of building an outdoor basketball court for yourself and your friends. Be ready for many good memories and crazy enjoyment!
Dimensions
A normal-sized outdoor basketball court measures around 94x50 feet. Slightly smaller ones also exist at around 84x50 feet, 74x42 feet, or a half-court at 47x50 feet.
Before you start with the actual process, try determining what size court can be fit in your yard. Can you fit a full-size court or a half-sized one?
You can also use a tape measure to draw a line around the area you can use for your court. Wooden stakes can help mark the corners.
Materials you need!
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- Portable Basketball hoop OR an In-Ground Basketball Hoop
- Stencil (for the markings on the court)
- Tamper
- Flooring material
- Tape measure
- Paintings
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The Process of Making an Outdoor Court
Use a shovel to dig a hole for the basketball hoop poles. In order to maintain stability, dig at least 15 inches deep and make sure the orientation is as manufacturers recommend.
Make sure you use a level to verify if the pole is full vertical once it has been inserted into the ground. Finally, hold it in place and fill up the ground with the dirt you dug up to insert it.
Scrap lumber can help you secure the perimeter of the court as you set up your concrete. Pour it on the surface of the court, exactly 4-inches thick. Once the concrete is dry, install the court flooring. Stick it to the concrete subflooring by using adhesive or glue.
You could also leave it as it is and use the concrete as your floor for your outdoor basketball court, but adding more flooring reduces stress that can come upon joints and eventually causes injuries.
Paint the lines around the perimeter and then use a stencil to make the marking inside the court. In order to know the location of the baseline, hang a plumb bob from the backboard.
You can also install lighting, a fence, or any other accessories that you might prefer on your outdoor basketball court. You should also look to leave some space outside the perimeter for a buffer zone.
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Do go through the local guidelines and rules set by the authorities. If you need a permit before proceeding to build your own personal outdoor basketball court, obtain one before going forward with the project.
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How Much Does it Cost To Make an Outdoor Basketball Court?
This is the part most of you must have been waiting for. So really, how much does it cost to build an outdoor basketball court?
Well, it all depends on the dimensions of the court. It also depends on the materials you used and the accessories you chose to install. It can also vary more if you hire someone to do the job for you.
As discussed earlier, constructing your own basketball court can cost you somewhere in the region of $11000 to $76000.
If you opt for a full-sized court, expect costs to rocket up to the figure mentioned earlier. If you go for a half-court, you also have half the cost involved, so there is that. A smaller one will cost you a backward of $15000.
This also depends highly on the material you use for flooring: concrete is the least costly material you could go for, followed by asphalt. Tiles, however, are going to financially set you back the most.
Painting Your Basketball Court
Once all is done and you have acquired your own indoor or outdoor basketball court, it is now time to make it look like glory. You can paint your basketball court in several different ways in order to make it look like the stuff of legend.
Paint can also reduce wear and tear along with giving your basketball court a distinct look. However, you need a variety of tools if you want to paint your basketball court. Here is a list of what they are:
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- Rollers
- Pads
- Trays
- Assorted art brushes
- Concrete or asphalt primer
- Roller extensions
- Porch and floor paint
- Duct tape
- Painter’s tape
- Paint cups
- Latex gloves
- Paint can opener
- Stirring sticks
- Caution tape
- Non-skid additive
- Pressure washer/hose
- Push broom
- Measuring tape
- Pencil/chalk
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Once you have acquired all these materials, sort them into piles in order to maintain organization and efficiency. With your basketball court stencil, you will be able to make the correct markings on your outdoor court.
But first, wash the entire court with a washer, and once it has dried up completely, apply the primer. Use rollers in order to ensure a clean job. You might need to look up safety precautions before handling the primer.
Once that is done, move on to the painting part.
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- The non-skid additive must be mixed with your paint.
- Use a stencil if you want to paint a logo or a mascot in the center of the court.
- Layout the stencil and fill in the spaces with tapes. Paint them then, using rollers and brushes.
- Make sure to put up caution tape in order to keep people away for the time it dries up.
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Conclusion
If you plan out your budget accordingly, you can have a nice basketball court. You need a more flexible budget for a full-sized court but some trade-offs can be made in the form of flooring materials, etc.
if you play around with the possibilities, you can surely end up with something both you and your bank account like! Moreover, having your own personal basketball court can be extremely amazing.
You can enjoy yourself with your friends and family and have hundreds of good memories that you can savor for years to come by. Lastly, you can also build on your skill set and improve your overall game. Happy shooting!
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