An indoor basketball court is a large area of flooring material for renovation, and great caution is needed when selecting basketball court wooden floors. As a type of decorative flooring material, basketball court wooden floors are not only visually appealing but also highly functional, thus gaining the favor of many consumers. However, due to the high installation requirements of basketball court wooden floors, many times, inadequate attention to minor installation details can lead to post-sales disputes. It would be quite concerning if improper installation affects the later use. Here, the editor has compiled several points about the installation details of basketball court wooden floors for your reference.

Basketball Gym Wooden Flooring

01 Pre-communication on color difference issues

No two basketball court wooden floors are exactly alike in the world, so a preliminary laying is done before the formal installation to select those with similar colors and textures. Color differences can vary due to individual sensory perceptions, thus, it is mandatory for the client to confirm after the preliminary laying.

02 Groundwater Levels Meet Standards; Installation is Safe

Basketball gym wooden floors, as a natural material, are highly sensitive to their surrounding environment. Particularly during the humid rainy season, they are prone to expansion, deformation, cracking, warping, and even mold and discoloration. A significant portion of the moisture in the environment comes from the ground, making the moisture content of the floor crucial for the installation of basketball gym wooden floors.

Typically, the ground moisture requirement is below 20%, and the geothermal environment should be below 10%. If it exceeds these standards, the ground must be naturally dried or waterproofed treatments applied. Under no circumstances should installation be rushed just to meet the deadline.

03 Level the ground for a solid installation

If the ground is uneven, the frame will hang in the air, and it's prone to make noise when stepping on the basketball court's wooden floor. Therefore, after the first row of basketball court wooden floor is laid, installers should pull a straight line parallel to set the benchmark. If it's not straight, it needs to be adjusted immediately, otherwise, it will affect the subsequent laying of the basketball court wooden floor, potentially causing excessively large gaps or triangular seams.

04 Skeletal Laying: Moisture Content Is Crucial

If the keel is not laid securely, it can also produce noise. Therefore, it is essential to inspect the keel after it is laid. You can step on the keel with both feet and shake your feet to check if the keel is secure. If not, reinforcement is needed. Another detail to note is that the spacing of the keel should not exceed 30 centimeters.

The moisture content of basketball gym wooden floors is generally around 7-14% (except for the northern market, where the moisture content is typically 13-14%). Therefore, the wood joists must be dried to prevent the wooden basketball gym floors from absorbing moisture too quickly due to excessive humidity differences, which can cause the floors to buckle and the paint to crack. To prevent termite infestation, it is recommended to place camphor blocks inside the wood joists, with a standard of one kilogram of camphor blocks per 8 square meters, ensuring even distribution.

Be mindful of the fixing method for the basketball court's wooden floor on May 5th.

The installation of wooden flooring and joists in a basketball gym requires the use of screws specifically designed for basketball gym floors. Begin by pre-drilling with an electric drill, followed by securing the flooring. The diameter of the screws must be larger than the pre-drilled holes. The length of the screws should be 2.5 times the thickness of the flooring board.

06 Pay Attention to the Details When Laying Vapour Barrier Film

Many post-sales issues with basketball gym wooden floors are largely due to the influence of moisture. To prevent moisture from the ground and walls from "spreading" to the basketball gym wooden floors, when laying moisture-proof film, it is not only necessary to cover the entire joist but also to ensure that the moisture-proof film extends up along the wall corners by about 5cm. Additionally, an expansion gap of 8-12mm should be left between the wooden basketball gym floor and the wall. If the gap is too small, the floor is prone to bowing after expansion.

In many cases, workers laying the materials rush to meet deadlines, resulting in improper installation despite the moisture-proof film being applied. The moisture-proof film typically requires a thickness of 2mm and should be stretched straight when laid on the joists, tightly adhering to the back of the basketball court's wooden floor. The film should overlap by 5cm, and it must be securely taped down. During the laying process, it should be parallel to the basketball court's wooden floor. Any damage discovered during installation should be promptly repaired with tape.

07 The installation of basketball court wooden flooring should allow for reasonable allowance.

Basketball gym wooden floors, retaining the characteristics of wood, are susceptible to environmental humidity and dryness. Therefore, when installing basketball gym wooden floors in different regions, it is necessary to leave appropriate gaps based on the average annual moisture content of the area. The moisture content of basketball gym wooden floors typically ranges around 13-14%. If the local annual average moisture content exceeds this rate, gaps must be left; the greater the deviation, the larger the gap should be. When leaving gaps, the method of inserting a spacer between the boards is generally used, with poker cards or packaging bags inserted between the basketball gym wooden floors.

08 On-site Safe

Before installing the basketball court wooden floor, it is recommended to transport it to the construction site 24 hours in advance during the plum rain season. After the quality inspection is passed, unpack the basketball court wooden floor and lay it flat. This allows the basketball court wooden floor to acclimate to the on-site environment. Doing so can minimize the expansion and contraction variations of the basketball court wooden floor after installation.