How to Repair a Basketball Backboard on Your Own

An unexpected crack in your basketball hoop base can happen at any time. Especially if it’s an outdoor hoop where it is exposed to the environment and weather. That doesn’t mean you have to throw it away and buy a new one.

There are ways to fix it. You can use heat, resin, caulk, or concrete to patch it – here’s how:

Heat 

What you Need

The first thing you will need is a polyethylene patch because of its ability to flex and distort quickly. The second thing is gloves; this is not an option, you will need them. Buy them from a store or online at Amazon. Thirdly, you will need a heat gun, or less ideally, a blow torch. Have a bottle of water next to you just in case you set anything on fire. Finally, have a putty knife or a large metal spoon and a pair of pliers.

How to Do It

Heat is the hardest but most effective method to patch a basketball backboard. Start with flaming the damaged base area by moving the heat gun over it. Stop every few seconds and repeat, or else it will burn. Keep checking until it starts melting. Then, blowout the fluid into the holes so that the patch is added to the damaged spot.

The next step is to ignite the gun after putting your gloves on. Keep the patch stable by using pliers at the corners. Use the gun to heat the patch to the point where it melts into a liquid form and creates a hole. Sweep the torch all over the base until it turns into a new color. The trick here is to work so fast that both the base and the patch remain hot. The last step is to hold the patch and press it into the base. Watch out as it can get hot.

Resin

What You Need

You will need fewer materials with this one. Most adhesives aren’t strong enough to hold fiberglass cloth, but there are new stronger ones on the market. You can give those a try instead of replacing the base hoop. If you’re curious about getting a new base hoop for your child, you can click here to find out more. There are different stores where you can buy base hoops of good quality.

How to Do It 

The secret here is to sand the surface of the base and flame the crack spot to repair it. Pass the torch on the base surface the same way as with the heating process, making sure the polythene melts. Afterward, you add a layer of adhesive over the crack, add a layer of fiberglass cloth, and then another layer of adhesive. Repeat until the base is stiff between both repaired and unrepaired areas. Drip the patch on the top of the damaged part on the exterior side, directly ¼ beyond the edges. Lastly, repeat the process on the other side. That way, the blackboard is protected against water and sandbars.

Caulk or Sealant

How to Do It

You will only need a fiberglass-reinforced caulk and a damp cloth.  Find all the cracks and leaks by pressing gently all over the base. Then turn the base around and drain it from all sand and water. Make sure there are no more sand particles or debris. Then clean it with a damp cloth and rubbing alcohol. Give it some time to dry completely. Fill the cracks or leaks with caulk and compress the caulk into the gap. Cover all the edges and press the caulk until it’s even and leveled. Wait an hour, then sand the caulk smoothly. If you don’t like how it looks, you can paint it to hide the patched spot.

Concrete

Concrete is easy and sustainable. All you have to do is pour it into the crack. It will surely last for a long time; it won’t leak, so that’s another good thing. You can add the concrete mix, then pour the water. It’s the perfect solution if you have a broken base, and it’s a very affordable solution. The only setback is that it will make your portable base hoop not very portable.

You will save a lot of money when you fix your base hoop at home. It’s a good alternative to buying a new one. There are plenty of materials to use that will do the job. The hardest and most unsafe process has got to be using heat, but it’s very effective, nonetheless. The easiest options are caulk and concrete. In both processes, you don’t need many materials and the patching doesn’t take long. In no time, you’ll be able to use the backboard again.