Keeping Your Tennis Court in the Best Shape Possible

Keeping a home tennis court in the best shape possible ensures that it can be enjoyed for years, potentially preventing injuries while players enjoy trouble-free matches. Acrylic surfaces are made to last up to eight years, but without proper care, the concrete and asphalt under this surface can begin to crack, swell or dip, causing damage and preventing owners from getting optimal use and enjoyment from their courts. With this in mind, owners should be vigilant about various issues and conduct specific maintenance tasks as necessary.

As with any other surface, water is the most prevalent destructive force. An owner should conduct periodic checkups of the court's drainage system, especially during periods of heavy rain. As soon as possible, the owner should remove any excess water pooled in the court and then dry-roll it with the appropriate tools. Pooled water can seep through the surface and cause damage to the layers underneath.

Courts should also be kept free of debris such as leaves and branches for the safety of players and to protect the surface from scratching and wear. The clean up can be accomplished with specialized water brooms that clear debris and remove grime and dirt from the surface layer. To make this task easier, lawns, trees or gardens surrounding the court should be kept neatly groomed and free of lighter items, such as small pots that may get thrown by a gust of wind and damage the surface.

To get the best use of the court, an owner should also make sure that items such as nets, net posts, awnings and cabanas are in as excellent working order as the court's surface.

While there is much a private owner can do on a consistent basis to make sure the tennis court remains in the best shape possible--including patching small cracks and repainting faded lines with the proper tools and material--it is best to leave the more complex jobs, such as resurfacing, addressing more serious water or tree-root damage and fixing large cracks to professionals.