How to Build an Indoor Basketball Court

Building an indoor basketball court inside your home can be fun and yet challenging. The dimensions are a given, as you will need a floor space of at least 25 feet by 40 feet (half-court dimensions) with a ceiling height of at least 27 feet. The best thing about an indoor court is that the activities don't end with basketball, as you can invite friends over to play volleyball, racquetball or develop an interest in gymnastics. And don't worry about the cost, as it's an equivalent of purchasing a boat. Take your family's consideration into mind, as it will have better year-round use out of an indoor basketball court than lounging on a boat during the summer.

Take inventory. Make sure your home can accommodate the space for an indoor basketball court. Experienced home builders prefer to build this extension near the garage, as most floor plans provide ample space in this area for this type of an addition.

Check your floor plans. Before you begin your remodeling project, have an engineer look over your floor plans. He or she will give a professional opinion and explain the guidelines you must adhere to.

Break ground. Trained professionals should be hired to begin the process of breaking ground, as they will be cautious digging and framing the foundation. They will make themselves aware of the water levels in your area to avoid flooding.

Indoor specs. There is no variation to the design specs of an indoor basketball court, as the height from the floor to the ceiling should be at least 27 feet. Begin by pouring concrete to create the floor, which should be 4 inches thick and increase to 10 inches thick at the edges. This will help create a vertical and horizontal rebar formation that helps to seal the bottom of the wall to avoid water leaking onto the court.

The walls. Your walls should be created from pre-stressed suspended concrete slabs and must be placed into the foundation by a crane operator. The walls should be a standard 8 inches thick, with a rebar enforcement placed every 12 inches along the foundation of the wall. All joints must be sealed and tied into the horizontal rebar that creates a reinforcement mat throughout the floor.

Lighting and heating. This could be your most important decision. Discuss with your designer about the depth of your court into the earth, as you many not need to install a central air or generated heat system. The lights should be fluorescent with a wire cage around them. Some designers will encourage glass to be placed into the ceiling to shine natural light on the court.

Basketball surface. All professional installers will suggest hardwood tiles that snap together, as they offer added cushioning to protect players from the stresses of game competition. This also creates a seamless basketball floor that will not compromise the durability and quality of the court. And it is easy to clean and maintain.