Given that the plans are to build a GARAGE that doubles as an indoor basketball court, it is an easy/safe assumption that there will NOT be a gymnasium/hardwood floor in the garage.

Is is also an safe assumption that pre-cast concrete will not be used.

What indoor height are you thinking of? 20 ft. clear is school gym height. Add structure and roof. Are there zoning restrictions?

"2 story car garage" minus basketball court:

Well, you want to go to all this huge expense to build a basketball court, and yet don't want to play on hardwood?

Why not build a garage on one side and a half-court on the other side, with a proper wall in between them so no one exercising breathes in car-related fumes.

These two uses seem incompatible.

I assume the BB court is on the upper floor not the garage level and I have no idea where the statement was that they did not want hardwood for the court. I think this is doable , not cheap but doable as long as the 2nd storey is tall enough for basketball.

When I think of the oily grunge that builds up under most cars, I shudder to imagine playing basketball on that same surface. It's possible that OP hasn't considered that drawback.

I don't think OP drives those kind of cars, do you OP.....OP?

The "oily grunge" on a basketball court would be what is referred to as the "sixth man".

Has anyone here ever actually played basketball? Basketball is played on hardwood.

Sure, your uncompetitive kids can go outside and play on concrete. But you need special (inferior) basketballs to do that!! Why would you build an indoor court for that?

High schools and public rec centers and gyms have hardwood for a reason. Basketball courts are specially designed with floors that have "give" to them.

There are some "Sport Court" flooring systems that are sometimes used temporarily indoors, or for outdoors, but any real, actual player of the sport could explain why this is a distant second choice to an indoor court/hardwood. No reasonably competitive basketball player can play on concrete. And I'm talking here about athletes. No actual basketball player (travel basketball player, high school basketball player, college basketball player, nor pro, practices on anything but hardwood.

Secondly, for the "non-competitive" player, garage style concrete is slippery, hard on the knees, etc. It will ruin your expensive Nikes, and you have to use those crappy, cheap "outdoor" basketballs. Further, as stated above, the off-gassing that cars provide just sitting there, is enough to ruin indoor air. Who would want to breathe that when they're exercising? Ever been in a tire store and smelled that nasty smell? You want to exercise with that?

As for you D E, try again.

IMO the OP has left the building without more info we are done IMO.

Here is an indoor full court. You see it has a 2-story-ish ceiling. Why? Because when someone shoots a half-court shot, the trajectory of the ball will take it up far higher than the normal 1-story size ceiling. And if you are building a full-court, don't you want to actually be able to play the game?

That's why I said, just build a half-court. Full courts are for TEAMS of players. Half courts are for practicing. So if you want to host TEAMS, then you need hardwood. There are no TEAMS that play on anything but hardwood!

In fact, while I'm at it, even if you have a half-court indoors, it needs a huge, tall ceiling. I don't know the height. But I'm sure it's possible to calculate the trajectory of a half-court shot and do it that way.

^^^^^^^^, that is why basketball courts are typically in an auditorium or gymnasium, unless it's an area of course.

Hi all ,

Sorry for the confusion. @booty bums is correct. The building will be a dual use as garage/workshop also to shoot from hoops on. I want to build a garage workshop but figure might as well design it tall enough so I can play basketball inside because we have 4 months of snow per year. Not sure how this turned into an education contest of who knows more about basketball surface?

I disagree that one needs to play on hardwood. I'm not trying to build a full size gym here. When I was a kid, I'd be happy enough just to find a hoop and large enough concrete space to play. I don't know why suddenly we need a regulation size court with nice wood floor. Is everyone here multibillionaire who have a dedicated space for everything? Inhaling fumes from cars in garage? I'm not sure if you are serious but if you let the garage door open for a bit, any fume dissipates.

I'm actually surprised some people are being negative here for no reason. I'm simply asking what if I missed any major cost here to get to an empty 2 story shell with concrete floor, roof, and siding. I don't need exact cost estimate. I listed cost items and don't know if I missed any. Hoops/equipment/etc not included as I was only asking for an empty shell.

such a wide range depending on location, site, and materials that a baseline estimate would be essentially meaningless?

Hi Isabella, I think you got everything. Once you have a design you will know more certainly that you don't have something left out. You did mention door, not sure if you meant garage overhead door or service door, but you would probably want both. One thing to be aware of is how easily a basketball could damage things inside as well as the door/windows/lighting.

The reason I asked about the height was to give you some input re: structure, which impacts costs. A 20 ft. tall building is not typically supported by wood stud walls. And yes there are some people who have been inside too long on this forum.

To OP's question and list, I'd add Driveway and Sidewalk. You'd also want to consider any underground utility services to the structure and include floor drainage.

JM$.02W

Isabella, I apologize if I came off negative. I was commenting without sufficient information.

I suppose I didn't understand the question. I still don't understand whether you need a "full court" meaning hoops on each end. And I have no idea what your budget is (nor would I speak to that anyway, since I'm not a builder). So, I jumped to "Isabella wants a full basketball court and others are telling her it can be a 2nd story on top of a lower garage". I apologize for jumping to that.

To others: I certainly don't need to be lectured about what outdoor basketball courts are used for, since I know very well. But in most cases where I live, people building indoor basketball courts are building. indoor. basketball. courts., and for that purpose, I was trying to advise that they need a tall ceiling.

I still don't understand whether you need a "full court" meaning hoops on each end.

But in most cases where I live, people building indoor basketball courts are building. indoor. basketball. courts., and for that purpose, I was trying to advise that they need a tall ceiling.

I don't know why you are so confused.

The OP is NOT building a basketball court.

They are building a garage with high ceilings, and plan to hang basketball hoop(s) on the wall. It's that simple.

A court is 94x50. Add at least 10’ all around if you don’t want crashing into walls injuries to happen. So 114’x70’. Might as well say 120’ x70’, as that’s a standard size. Clear span. No posts in the middle. No pole barn structure will work. It also needs 25ceilings. That will neeed steel framing and steel trusses both. You’re in commercial structure territory. Lighting a structure that tall needs commercial lighting as well. You’d better be in a warm climate for an inexpensive slab foundation. 8400 square feet of steel clear span is not residential construction. Start at 500K as an unrealistically cheap ballpark.

This is why people put play hoops outside. On the driveway. Because putting it inside is stupid expensive.

Why not build a conventional 2-car garage with room for a beer cooler, big screen TV a couple of overstuffed La-Z-Boy recliners and Wi-basketball running in a continuous loop? Mark, have you got a stock plan that can be tweaked?

In my experience - this kind of dual purpose won't work. You'll have associated garage stuff in the garage (tool, garbage cans. lawn equipment, shoes, gardening things, possible extra storage, etc and it will be way more garage than b-ball center. Also - if you want to use it in the winter - you'll want to heat it. And where will the cars be? outside in the freezing cold? Usually that's why you want a garage. So - you bring in the car, all the snow and slush melts off of them creating a disaster for a sports surface, etc.

I can see the wish - I just worry that reality will create a bunch of unanticipated complications that may have you wind up with something that functions poorly as both and doesn't get used much.

" . . . play basketball inside because we have 4 months of snow per year."

Heating.

Can you even play basketball while social distancing?

Yes, but it is not as fun.

A state - can't remember which one - is opening public basketball courts. In an interview I heard, the governor - can't remember which one - said of course social distancing would be observed. When pressed on how that was possible, he stammered around and said, well, people can play horse.

This was just last night. I did start laughing.

Take up cross country skiing for the cold months and build a standard 60K garage instead.

I could've been a contender....

maybe some of us here didn't grow up playing on their own properties? when I was a kid, our little driveway was also a roller rink and a tennis court. we totally understood that it was not regulation size. if the cars leaked oil, it was scrubbed. there were no fumes because generally people don't let cars sit idling all day long.

I get what the op is trying to do. a garage that can sometimes be a casual playspace for kids, not NBA hopefuls. somewhere they can be more boisterous than they would be in the house.

In my experience - this kind of dual purpose won't work. And where will the cars be? outside in the freezing cold? I can see the wish - I just worry that reality will create a bunch of unanticipated complications.

It amazes me people can continue to take a very simple issue and turn it into an absurdly over-complicated problem. The OP want to hang a basketball hoop or two in a garage with high ceilings, so her kids can play basketball occasionally when the weather is bad. That's it, nothing more! This isn't rocket science...

Kids - Want to play basketball

Parents - Back the cars out into the driveway

Kids - Done playing basketball an hour later

Parents - Pull cars back into garage

This is why people put play hoops outside. On the driveway. Because putting it inside is stupid expensive.

It is only "stupid expensive" if the OP wanted to build the ridiculous full court indoor arena you described. And had you actually read the posts, you would know that your feedback is completely irrational and nothing like what the OP is proposing.

People play hoops outside because it is easy, simple and cheap. Stick a hoop on the front of the garage and play in the driveway. The OP is proposing doing the same thing, but simply putting up the hoop inside the garage, since they have 4 months of winter.

If you can play outside on a 20'x20' driveway, why on earth do you think the OP needs to build a 120’ x70’ commercial structure to play some hoops indoors occasionally???

My next door neighbor did something similar to what you are doing. They basically used a commercial steel building which he attached to his house. It is not being used as a garage (although it easily could have been), but it has an indoor basketball court. The guy played college ball. He uses it for his kids and teaches some of the church kids basketball. I think he said it cost around $50K, but I think that included HVAC. Here is a pic of it from the outside. (We are not wild about the view.)

Here's the indoor court a basketball fan in our town just finished:

"Call me on your cellphone...."

And MJ's. Lounge and locker room not shown.

Math.

Basketball is played on outdoor paved courts (and in driveways -- also not hardwood) all over the country, Mrs. S.

Pretty much every tv show set in the "inner city" eventually shows one.

https://www.google.com/search?q=inner+city+outdoor+basketball+court.&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2iKm6-InpAhXET98KHUWABXkQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1348&bih=648

https://www.google.com/search?q=+outdoor+driveway+basketball+court.&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjyiY28-InpAhUSBlMKHeshBisQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=+outdoor+driveway+basketball+court.&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoGCAAQBxAeOgQIABAeOggIABAIEAcQHlCu-AVYh5sGYKafBmgAcAB4AIABcIgBpgeSAQM4LjKYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=DoOnXvLKG5KMzALrw5jYAg&bih=648&biw=1348&client=firefox-b-1-d

Yeah, so add insulation and HVAC.

Is your lot sloped?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/449023025340464238/

My high school gym had a rubber floor.

Well, I have not made my point very well. If someone has enough funds to even ask the question about creating a combo garage/basketball area, then it is likely they do not live in the inner city. The OP never shared whether there is an HOA or aesthetic guidelines. I know basketball courts under dome shaped buildings, and I know a facility that has a quonset hut with courts in it. They have hardwood floors. Sure, with enough funds, one can build a garage so big and tall that basketball can be played in it. I didn't read closely enough, but I did read the OP wants "an indoor basketball court." A court is a court. A tennis court is not a wall to hit balls against. If someone wants a tennis court in their garage, what would you assume?

Why the lecture about inner city and outdoor courts? Why? You think I don't know what some kids face trying to get some recreation in? I actually know stuff about this, and I don't want to comment further about that. You might not be more enlightened than me about this topic.

An outdoor half-court sport court probably starts around $10-15K, but this OP wanted something more than that, an indoor facility. So she has funds, I was assuming, for some kind of construction. I think that's a reasonable assumption.

@suezbell yes, basketball is played in driveways. There's a family 2 on 3 game going on right now in my driveway. However, it's a sad substitute for wood courts, and it's not truly basketball. It's skills practice and noodling around. It's exercise. It's also hard on the knees of DH and oldest DS.

When our kids were younger, in bad weather, we took them to courts at the YMCA, the rec centers, the boys & girls clubs. No, I don't live in the inner city, but I certainly know people who came from there, from L.A.. They play pick-up basketball on local outdoor courts, but when they join teams, they played on full courts, indoors. You know. At school. I am not familiar with every single other part of the country. But when we respond to people's posts, we comment with our own experience, and I suppose we read into the information that may be missing. I acknowledged that above.

If the OPs kids are young, then the joint basketball/garage venture is an interesting idea, that is far from mainstream, for all the reasons others enumerated above. Someone thought the hoops could hang from the wall. Well. then the garage must go long-ways instead of driving in on the short side, because I don't see a convenient way of hanging a hoop over a pull-up garage door, on the interior. Maybe that's where you need an architect. But also, maybe that's why no one here seems to be able to point out any examples of garage basketball!

I wasn't going to say anymore about the idea of opening up the big door (after removing the cars), and allowing play to commence with the door open. But it seems obvious to me, that at that point, it's just cheaper and more convenient to devise a way to melt snow off the driveway so the kids can play out there, rather than build a huge structure simply for a temporary pastime when the kids are little, and that seems like a person who has money to spend.

Mrs. S -

Are you intentionally ignoring what the OP has said, and instead inventing your own alternate reality? This is what the OP has said...

Sorry for the confusion. @booty bums is correct. The building will be a dual use as garage/workshop also to shoot from hoops on. I want to build a garage workshop but figure might as well design it tall enough so I can play basketball inside because we have 4 months of snow per year. Not sure how this turned into an education contest of who knows more about basketball surface?

You are completely overthinking this.

But also, maybe that's why no one here seems to be able to point out any examples of garage basketball!

Are these enough examples for you...

There's plenty of inside garage basketball courts to be found:

https://www.google.com/search?q=inside+garage+basketball+hoop&sxsrf=ALeKk012gW9kNBZ8hrajfPfTDlXOM2Yazw:1588042092914&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=pM8RRNe0Gp95oM%253A%252Cq9BjBeYn1GX7lM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSJHn4P6yYstKnBX_x2n408sIJuFQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSgdjmjYrpAhXhB50JHUfACeQQ9QEwA3oECAkQIg

OP, I'm sure your wish can be accomplished. You just need to talk with a local builder and/or architect about what you're wanting to accomplish and he can advise you about what is possible and realistic within your budget. Good luck! An inside casual bball court sounds really nice :)

I do think that it might be a cheaper option to control the snow on the driveway - with heat - than to make this structure work. And when I say cheaper, I am including the energy costs too.

OP - have you considered how cold this garage will be being 2 stories and living in snow country. Assuming no HVAC of course. And if HVAC, how much that will cost?

I have lived in snow country but not for a ton of time. Never had a garage when I lived in real snow country but I can imagine that depending on the wind, opening the garage door is going to let in a lot of snow piled up on the door. And that will be wet. And in fact, the floor will be pretty wet and grungy from the cars. Sure, that can be managed but not super easy.

Those pics above show what to do with the door tracks - none of it looks super cheap or easy.

I personally think a lot of information can come from spirited conversation. I learned a lot about the issues - and if everyone had to be agreeable all the time, would they enjoy posting as much?

I'm curious why my post, showing examples of basketball hoops in garages, disappeared.

Mrs. S couldn't find any examples of garage basketball, so here are several...

Building restrictions/codes permitting, one idea worth considering might be a metal building -- or at least a roof for one -- with a concrete floor and use a metal house siding rather than a siding with a more commercial look.

You might also consider building a "barn" -- Gambrell style roof over 10' or more downstairs -- building, especially if you need height in the middle but not around the sides and if you don't need a floor to create an "upstairs" over the garage floor.

In my "neck of the woods" a lot of churches built recreational buildings with concrete floors that could double as a garage/basketball court. I suspect there may be some difference between the strength / thickness needed for the concrete to also use as a garage but the building sides and roof likely should work the same. Ventilation issues would likely need to be addressed as well.

https://www.rhinobldg.com/recreational-buildings/

There is such a thing as metal siding with a "log cabin" look.

https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=images+steel+log+siding&client=firefox-b-1-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjugMCFhYzpAhUFTt8KHYHKCm8QsAR6BAgEEAE&biw=1348&bih=648

Have you checked with local authorities to see if you can get a permit for a dual purpose building or are you just going to build the "garage" with a concrete floor and add the rest later?

Would your "garage" need to conform to specific building codes or subdivision rules for BOTH a garage and a recreational building -- potentially likely at least as to plumbing and electrical if it is to be used as both.

Does your building exterior appearance need to conform to some specific rules?

Good luck with your project.

I agree with Jani on this one.

"In my experience - this kind of dual purpose won't work. [...] I just worry that reality will create a bunch of unanticipated complications."

Most of the time spaces intended for dual use become dedicated to a single use and less efficiently than they would have been were they just constructed for that single use.

My "dual use" wood shop and auto shop has high ceilings because I wanted to make sure I could get a vehicle lift in and still have plenty of room. In reality, I have a wood shop that is cold in the winter because my heat is hanging around in the great open expanse above my head that I have never used.

It amazes me people can continue to take a very simple issue and turn it into an absurdly over-complicated problem. The OP want to hang a basketball hoop or two in a garage with high ceilings...

This assumes that high ceilings are not themselves a complication. Sure, if you are building a garage for an R.V. or an auto lift then the marginal cost for adding basketball goals is small. However, if you are building a 10' tall standard garage and suddenly want to extend it to 20' tall, that is a complication, and that complication may represent significant additional costs.

I am planning a dual use garage as well so the person that posted. Once you learn more and have pictures please do share. That would be great to see how you handled the winter months with cars coming in and out and the HVAC and etc and what type of floors you think will work best for this.

All the extra discussion beyond your questions is just white noise.

I am in the same boat thinking about this from every angle to ensure it comes out right.