More About Tennis Court Construction & Resurfacing

1. More About Tennis Court Construction & Resurfacing

2. Synopsis 1. Know the Basics of Tennis Court Construction 2. The Importance of Tennis Court Resurfacing 3. Clay Tennis Court Installation and Maintenance 4. Selecting the Perfect Tennis Court Builders 5. Which Tennis Court Contractors Are Best?

3. Know the Basics of Tennis Court Construction • Before building can begin, the site where you want the tennis court has to be evaluated and graded. There should be a buffer around the court site that is at least 5 feet. It’s important to landscape the area as well and to sterilize the soil so that plants won’t grow there and attempt to shoot through the tennis court material and crack the surface. The lowest point of the tennis court should be no less 6 inches. If possible, make sure there are no trees within about 10 feet of the tennis court site. If there are trees there or if you plan on planting more trees in your yard, it’s important to make sure that the trees are maintained regularly so that debris wont’ fall into the court and roots won’t change the shape of the tennis court. • After you’ve worked with a tennis court contractor to accomplish these tasks, it’s time to prepare the base stone. This stone is put in place to make sure that the court doesn’t sink or shift. The depth and thickness of the stone should be consistent to keep the court level and to make sure that the court has proper drainage so that water won’t collect on or below the surface. If you’re building the court on very stable ground, it may not be necessary to have a base stone installed. However, you should work closely with your contractor to determine whether this is necessary. • After you’ve determined if a base stone is necessary and the installation plans and processes have been set in place, it’s time for stone screening. This process helps to provide the surface of the tennis court with a reservoir so that the contractor can create a level base for the court. The materials that are used for screening should be able to hold moisture and stay compacted. If your tennis court will be made from clay, avoid materials like crushed shell or sand. Granite is usually the best screening material.

4. The Importance of Tennis Court Resurfacing Most tennis courts are made from asphalt, but this can pose a problem in some areas. The material is very unyielding, which means it could crack or become brittle if there are extreme changes in the weather or temperature in your area. This can make it difficult to use the court on a regular basis, and can make resurfacing an expensive hassle. Using tile for tennis court resurfacing could be a suitable choice, since professionals can fit each piece into place with precision, and there are even some installation kits you can use yourself to make resurfacing easier. The tiles fit securely and could be more comfortable to play on for hours, since they are not as hard on the joints. Tiles also offer consistent ball bounce for continuous play and could keep you from losing the ball during games. Rubber granules and acrylic are also popular tennis court materials that you may want to consider. These materials can reduce the shock that you feel in your joints when you’re running across the court. This is ideal no matter your tennis skill level, and when it’s more comfortable for you to play the game, you’ll be more likely to visit the court often and perfect your skills. • • •

5. Clay Tennis Court Installation and Maintenance The land where the tennis court will be built should be leveled to at least four inches by boring. The boring process evaluates the sub-base material to make sure there are no tree stumps peat moss or roots in the way. It’s also best to have a professional check for possible water damage or intrusion so that the material of the tennis court will be kept intact. A stable sub-base is also needed, and should be put in place before court construction begins. Make sure that a professional does all the correct measurements for you before court installation. To properly grade the sub-base, you should be looking for one inch drop pitch for each 20 feet and 28 inches of run. Make sure that the pitch is along the shortest distance from two edges that are parallel to one another in the court. If possible, the pitch should be in the same line as the land’s natural lay or slope so there are no dips or caved-in areas of the court. It’s also essential to work with a professional to ensure that the sub-base has a 95% compaction, but if this is not possible, the compaction should be consistent throughout the entire space where the court will be constructed. The tennis court should also be constructed 22 degrees west from true north. This way, you can play during the sunniest hours of the day without being distracted by the sun’s glare. Be sure that all plants are removed from the court area and that the soil is sterilized so that new bushes and flowers won’t grow through the court and damage the surface. • •

6. Selecting the Perfect Tennis Court Builders One of the first things you should check is whether the company you want to work with is certified by the state you live in. This is necessary for the construction professionals to use certain types of equipment, and you’ll need to know that the team is proficient in the tools they are using. It’s perfectly fine to ask questions about this when you call for an estimate, so you may want to make a note for yourself so that you won’t forget to inquire about certification. This will also keep you from being liable if construction professionals are injured while doing work on your property. You may also want to take a look at the work that tennis court builders have done so you can decide if the style and expertise of the building team is according to what you want. If you want the tennis court to have special design accents like a family monogram or a special phrase in the center of the court, contact builders who are experienced in this area. If you want the tennis court to be a certain color or use a combination of hues to get the tennis court to look exactly the way you want, make sure that you’re choosing a company that can handle these special requests before you hire them for the job. Of course, reviews should be a very important aspect of your tennis court builder selection process as well. Ask friends and family members to give you referrals for tennis court construction professionals and look at the Better Business Bureau website to see if there are any negative comments about the company. If there have been disputes in the past, check to see that these issues have been handled in an expedient and professional way. This will help you determine whether you should patronize the business and lets you know what you can expect in terms of customer service. • • •

7. Which Tennis Court Contractors Are Best? Make sure that the contractor you choose is following the rules of laying slab correctly before installing the surface of the tennis court. There are guidelines set forth by the ASBA for post-tensioned tennis court and courts that are made from reinforced concrete. You should also ask the contractors about how to prepare the site for construction. This may include draining the surface of water or performing drainage underneath the surface to avoid damage in the future. It’s also very important that you don’t take any shortcuts when you’re having your tennis court installed, which means you’ll need to work with professionals who are committed to providing quality service. A stone base that is around 10 inches placed over geotextile fabric will ensure that the court foundation is strong. Limestone is also used in the construction of quality tennis courts because it drains moisture well, so this could definitely come in handy if you live in an area where there is lots of rain or snow. Don’t forget to ask tennis court contractors about drain tile as well so that water won’t collect on the surface of the court or underneath. When you have clear stone lifted around the court, the water that comes in contact with the court will drain quickly in case there is a heavy rain and moisture gets underneath the court. Ask the contractors if they use laser grading to make sure that the slopes in and around the tennis court are taken into consideration. You should make sure that the tennis court contractors that you’re using are using concrete at the right compressive strength and that ASBA guidelines are being met to make sure the slump is not more than 4 inches. This measurement is also necessary to ensure that your court stays intact during the colder months of the year, especially if you live in a place where the ground freezes and thaws repeatedly. • • •

8. The End For more details, please visit: http://crowall.ca/