Bowling is actually a very enjoyable sport. However, it does have one drawback: you’ll have to make the trip to a bowling alley every time. But what if we told you we could teach you how to build a bowling lane in your basement?
This would be quite the game-changer, wouldn’t it? Imagine being able to bowl whenever you want without leaving your house!
You could even invite your friends over for a mini competition! Here, you’ll learn everything you must know about transforming your basement into a bowling alley.
How to Build a Bowling Lane in Your Basement
Building a bowling lane in your basement is quite a DIY project, so it’s important you do it systematically.
The first thing you’ll want to cross off your checklist is space. The question to ask yourself is, “How much space do I have in my basement?”
This is important because the type of bowling lane you’ll be able to build depends on how much available space you have in your basement to start with.
A regulation bowling lane’s dimension is about 60 feet and 42 inches. However, we recommend adding a couple more feet and inches to these dimensions just to be safe.
Of course, this isn’t the type of thing you can just assume, so grab a tape, and let’s get to measuring! It is possible that, after measuring your basement, you will find that you don’t have enough space. Not to worry though, we have an excellent solution for you!
With whatever space you have available, you can still opt to build a mini-bowling alley. However, this does mean you’ll have to scale down the measurements to size.
After measuring your basement, use chalk or painter’s tape to mark out the specific area you want to build your bowling lane.
Get the Right Materials for Your Bowling Lane
Any construction project requires more than just a readiness to build; you’ll need the materials to match. You should know that the quality of your bowling lane will depend on the quality of materials you use. So, you might want to take your time and select high-quality ones.
Also, it can be infuriating to start building only to discover that you don’t even have all the materials you need. This could waste your time and even leave you frustrated, and we don’t want that now, do we?
So grab your checklist and take note of the following essential building items:
- Plywood (at least 8)
- 2x4s (at least 14)
- Primer and paint
- Wax (for the bowling lane)
- LED lighting
- Assembly screws
- Bowling pins and balls
- Pinsetter mechanism
- Table saw
- Chop saw
- Personal Protective Equipment or PPE (This includes materials like eye protection goggles and masks.)
- Leveler
- Sandpaper or a sanding tool
- Optional: You could also consider getting maple laminate flooring if you want to give your bowling lane a professional touch.
So, with that, it’s time to start building!
Start by Building The Frame for Your Bowling Lane
The first step of actual construction work in building your bowling lane is to make the frame. To do this, you’ll need to make your two-by-four plywood of the right size with the table saw/chop saw.
You’ll need to be careful here because the frame needs to be super sturdy, as it will be supporting the entire lane.
Again, the actual length of your frame depends on your basement’s size. One thing to note, however, is that you have to make sure the lane size is long and wide enough for a regulation-sized bowling ball. To assemble the bowling lane, follow the steps below:
- Start with Plywood: Place a sheet of plywood on the floor where you want your bowling lane to form a base. You should ensure the plywood sheet covers the whole surface you need for the playing area, gutters, and pinsetter.
- Attach Side Supports: Next, take the 2x4s and secure them lengthwise along each plywood side. You should place the 2x4s such that there is space on both sides for the gutters.
- Edge Reinforcement: Add extra 2x4s along your plywood’s outer edges to strengthen the structure.
- Strengthen the Frame: Use the screws you got to fasten additional 2x4s along the length of your plywood base. This will make your structure more stable and sturdy.
- Top Plywood Layer: Now, it’s time to take care of the top surface. To do this, place another sheet of plywood on top of the entire structure. This will serve as the actual bowling surface where the ball will roll.
- Check for Evenness: Use the leveling tool to make sure the top plywood is completely flat and level. You wouldn’t want your throws to be affected by uneven bumps along your bowling lane.
- Optional Flooring: If you want a more polished look, you can attach maple laminate flooring on top of the second plywood sheet.
Build the Pin Housing and Pinsetter
You will need to build a pin housing because this is where you’ll keep the pins when you’re not bowling. To do this, follow the instructions below:
- Plywood Preparation: The first thing you’ll need to do here is cut some plywood. More specifically, you’ll need to cut four pieces of plywood to make the walls of the housing box. Note that all four pieces must have the same height; however, the width will depend on your pin size.
- Box Assembly: Once you have your four plywood pieces ready, use some screws (or nails) to connect them. This should leave you with a box-like structure.
- Ball Return Hole: Cut a large hole on the top of your plywood box. This hole is supposed to serve as the ball return hole, so you’ll want to ensure it’s large enough to allow it to pass through easily.
Once you’ve done all of the above, the final step is to attach the housing box to your bowling lane using some screws. Now, you’re ready to install a pinsetter mechanism. Your pinsetter could be a manual or automated system, depending on your preference and budget.
Add Finishing Touches to Your Bowling Lane
At this point, you’ve already finished most of the building you need to do. All that remains for you to do is to apply some final touches to make things perfect.
You’ll need to use your sandpaper to smoothen the gutters and then paint them. Note that the smoothening has to come before the painting.
One perk of building this bowling lane in your basement is that you get to decide what color you want to paint it with. Yes, you can choose absolutely any color you want.
Next, you’ll want to attach the LED lights to your bowling lane and check to see if they work. LED lights are the preferred option because they don’t produce as much heat as other lighting options.
If you want to enjoy optimal lighting, you may need to experiment with different placements till you find the one that really lights up the room.
Finally, give your bowling lane a test run. Check to see if the ball fits into the ball return hole and pin setter. Also, roll a ball down the lane and see if any points need more leveling.
Dos and Don’ts of Building a Bowling Alley in Your Basement
As you may have noticed, the process of building a bowling lane in your basement can be quite demanding. However, if done right, you’ll actually get to enjoy the process. With that in mind, here are some dos and don’ts you should be aware of:
Dos
- Plan: Building a bowling alley in your basement will take some time, so you’ll need to schedule a few days for the project.
- Exercise Teamwork: Building by yourself can be stressful and, sometimes, maybe even tiring. So we recommend you don’t do it alone. Call up your buddies or get your family members to help you out. You could even make it like a family bonding time/project.
- Build Adjustments: Everyone wants a regulation-size basement bowling lane. However, not everyone has the basement space to take one, and that’s okay. We recommend you build yours to the scale of your basement if you don’t have sufficient space available. Don’t worry; you’ll still have lots of fun with it regardless.
Don’ts
- Paint Before Sanding: As mentioned earlier, you should only paint your bowling lane after you’re done leveling and smoothening it. If you do it the other way, you’ll likely end up with bumps or an uneven surface, plus your paint won’t stick well.
- Get Discouraged: If this is your first time building a bowling lane in your basement, there’s a high chance it won’t be perfect. But here’s the thing: this is just your first time. You can always take it apart again and improve it.
How to Make Your Bowling Alley Feel More Personal
Now you’re done building your bowling lane; however, something feels a little off with the room, doesn’t it? The problem is your basement now has a bowling lane but none of the “feel” and excitement of a place that’s personal. Not to worry; we have some tips that can help you change that:
- Decorate the walls with paintings or posters you love.
- String up some lights in the basement to make it look cozier.
- Get yourself some custom-made bowling balls and pins that have your initials on them.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the ultimate guide on how to build a bowling lane in your basement. You can see it’s actually quite easy and fun to do. So what are you waiting for? Strap on some gloves, get that checklist, and let’s start building!