Making your dream of home tennis court come true requires careful planning and professional installation. Many factors should be considered such as location, orientation, soil conditions, fencing materials and accessories such as backboards, nets, windscreens and lighting to name but a few.
As with any court, it’s essential that the surface is selected carefully. Grass offers flexibility and ball bounce but requires regular watering and mowing services to remain healthy and safe for play.
Decide on a Location
Location is essential when choosing where to locate a tennis court for a number of reasons. It will have an effect on your yard layout, possibly necessitating retaining walls, as well as determine how much landscaping work must be completed around the courts. Construction costs also are affected by location; courts built on sloped terrain may need drainage solutions and require retaining walls which add to total project cost.
Consider what type of tennis court surface would best meet the needs of you and your family, including budget considerations. While synthetic courts tend to be popular among many players, others might prefer grass or clay surfaces instead. You should decide what would work best for your family and budget when making this decision.
Visit both public and private courts to gain an idea of your preferences, what works well, and what doesn’t work as well. Speaking to people with their own courts can provide helpful insights into what has worked well in terms of designing their backyard courts.
Once you have an idea for how your court should look, use Google Image Search to gather images that you can save for later when drawing up plans. When starting out, consider all possibilities before scaling back ideas so they fit within your budget.
Prepare the Ground
Preparing the ground for your court is an integral step, depending on its type and soil composition this can be a complex project. For best results it’s wise to hire a contractor with extensive experience in tennis court construction who will guide you through this process while providing advice regarding potential issues like trees with large root systems that might migrate and cause surface damage, irrigation systems that cause moisture drainage issues, as well as regional factors unique to where you reside.
Once a site has been chosen, contractors will dig a hole of a specified depth and install drainage. If a particular site is known for having drainage issues or is located in an area with significant rainfall, additional drainage systems should be installed throughout the court area as well as 3-4 drains within it.
Base stones are layers of material designed to act as stabilizers for courts. You should select materials compatible with whatever surface will go over top of it, and once in place tamp and level the stones. They should measure at a minimum 2.5″ thick; laser levels and surveying graders should be used every 7-8 inches for accurate leveling and leveling of any levelling requirements. In certain situations, where existing ground conditions are very stable, 1 or 2″ of screening may suffice as stabilization layers.
Frame the Court
If you plan to use your court regularly, proper framing will be essential. This involves installing a subbase made of dirt and gravel or concrete; and making sure the ground slopes towards the edges of the court so as to prevent water pooling on its surface and causing damage; for this step it is vital to hire an experienced contractor.
At this stage, it is wise to consult with local officials regarding your plans. They can inform you if your property is zoned for tennis courts and what permits may be necessary – saving both stress and money should the project not go forward as planned.
Once your court is constructed, it’s time to consider which accessories it requires. These may include energy-efficient lights, quality tennis nets and fencing as well as seats for spectators. In addition, privacy screens or backboards that help improve game play might also come in handy.
Next, determine what surface will make up your court. Options include grass, asphalt and clay surfaces – with grass being the traditional option because of its soft surface that’s easy on joints; however it requires regular mowing and watering to remain effective so it should only be installed in mild climates.
If you prefer something more durable, asphalt or clay might be an ideal choice. Both offer fast play with minimal maintenance required compared to grass. Though their costs are usually higher than grass alternatives, asphalt/clay can last for over 40 years before needing replacing.
Pour the Court Surface
Step three is where your home tennis court begins taking shape. Your choice of surface material can have a dramatic impact on playability, maintenance and cost; therefore it is vital that you know exactly what type of court size and surface type will meet your requirements prior to beginning construction.
The type of soil should also be taken into consideration as this will impact how well a court holds up over time. A geotechnical survey should be completed before starting construction to provide advice about compaction, drainage and stability issues at sub base level – plus foundation requirements for fence posts or light poles (if applicable).
Once your ground has been prepared, the construction of your court can commence. When building, make sure it slopes towards its edges in order to drain water away quickly and prevent pooling that can damage surfaces; The American Sports Builders Association recommends an average slope of 4-6 inches for tennis courts.
At this stage, it is also important to determine whether you want your court oriented north-south (this will maximize playability), and what lighting scheme will suit it best. There are various accessories you can install onto a tennis court as well, such as fencing, windscreens for privacy and shade, scorekeeper units and replacement parts, among many more – each must be considered when calculating costs and designing how it fits into your yard space.
Install the Accessories
Dependent upon your court usage, accessories like energy-efficient lighting, fencing, windscreens and seating may become necessary. Furthermore, complying with regulations will necessitate installing backboard and net for safer playing experience and more fun experience for you and others on the court.
Grading and prepping the ground for a tennis court installation are among the first steps in building one, which should be undertaken by professionals to avoid costly complications later on. Grading takes time and requires considerable dirt removal from existing surfaces.
As soon as grading is completed, fill dirt must be brought in to prepare the surface. A professional should perform this step to ensure a long-term surface. Keep in mind that an ideal court should have some sloped areas around its center and edges to prevent water pooling and damaging its integrity.
And finally, it is time to select a color scheme for the court. This decision lies solely with its owner; however, here are some general suggestions: darker colors help players see better due to less sun glare; while lighter hues absorb less heat while reflecting less sunlight back onto them; two-tone schemes may also work if that suits your personal preferences better; ultimately though, choosing quality court colors will have lasting impacts both playability and durability wise.