If you think tennis court surfacing is as easy as painting a house, think again. It is a delicate job that requires proper planning and execution. Above all, it requires you to work on the right materials and equipment.
For one, tennis court surfaces can affect the game in many ways. They can even make or break your match.
A poorly-prepared surface will not only be uncomfortable for players to play on but also could lead to injury. On the other hand, a properly finished and maintained tennis court will save you tons of maintenance costs and repairs over time. In fact, the best tennis courts can last for decades with minimal upkeep!
So, how do you go about surfacing a tennis court the right way?
First things first; it starts with some planning and deciding what type of tennis court you'd like to have.
Deciding on your tennis court surface.
Soft Surfacing.
Grass and clay tennis courts belong to this category. Grass courts are notorious for being slippery and sometimes being uneven. Clay courts are similar, only that they can significantly decrease the speed of the ball and make it bounce higher.
Hard Surfacing.
In comparison to soft courts, hard courts are far more common. Hard surfaced courts are often made of asphalt, concrete, or similar material.
The great thing about using hard surfaces for tennis courts is that they are often even and thereby give a more predictable “bounce” to tennis balls. The most popular choice for hard courts is concrete because it is durable, affordable, and easy to maintain. Concrete is also very versatile and can accommodate different kinds of games. In most cases, it doesn’t require some extra care and maintenance.
If you’re looking for an alternative to concrete, consider asphalt tennis courts. Asphalt is generally less expensive upfront but may require more frequent maintenance than concrete.
If, at this point, you've decided to choose a concrete or an asphalt surface, then keep reading because we'll talk about the steps involved in prepping and finishing your new tennis court.
Prepping your tennis court.
Good finishing relies on a sturdy base, which is why, before applying finishing coats, you must ensure that your tennis court is well-built and free from defects that could affect the surface.
To begin with, you should look for cracks, holes, and other structural problems that could compromise the structural integrity of the court.
Next, take note of any drainage issues. A tennis court without proper drainage can cause water Accumulation, eventually leading to mold growth and other forms of damage.
If you find any such problem, you must fix them immediately. Otherwise, you might end up having to pay for costly repairs later. Once you've checked out your tennis court, you can proceed with the next step.
Surface Preparation.
Surface preparation is an integral part of any project. For tennis courts, this includes cleaning the surface of dirt, debris, and all kinds of loose materials. Repairs must also be done to pavement surface defects such as puddles and cracks.
If you find such problems on your court, use the TCS Acrylic Crack Filler, TCS Patch Binder, or any of our 100% acrylic crack fillers before adding a finishing coat. Also, don't forget to ensure that the repairs are flushed and smooth to adjoining surfaces. Feel free to add the TCS Court Resurfacer w/ Sand to hide surface repairs later on.