Whether you are playing a little solo dribble-and-shoot, a one-on-one, or a competitive game of basketball on an outdoor surface, you want to avoid having your basketball behave unpredictably because of cracks and bumps. Besides having a bruised ego, a cracked and bumpy court can increase the risk of injuries. A flat and level playing surface is crucial in maintaining a safe environment. Whether you are an apartment complex, a school, a public park, or a private residence, you want to ensure that your basketball players are protected from injury due to the court.
So, how long does an outdoor basketball surface last? The answer to this question is that the longevity of a court’s surface depends on the materials used, (heavy or light), and the weather it is exposed to. At North State Resurfacing, we have more than 30 years of experience resurfacing all types of outdoor courts. In this article, we will shed some light on what you might expect in terms of the length of time your surface can last.
Acrylic Surface
At North State Resurfacing, we recommend a textured, non-skid, heavy-duty surface coating called Novaplay® that is ideally suited for use on basketball courts. With this surface, you can get an attractive color surface that stands up to a lot of abuse. The Novaplay® surface is formulated with a harder acrylic emulsion than a tennis court for example. It is free of lead, mercury, asbestos, and formaldehyde. It withstands a lot of traffic and harsh weather conditions so you don’t have to worry about cracks and bumps developing over time.
Generally, a court needs to be resurfaced about every 5 years. If your court gets heavy usage like on a college campus, you may need to resurface sooner or you can stretch the time frame out if the court has just a few people shooting baskets.
Concrete
Even though a concrete court can last up to 40 years if installed correctly with vapor barriers and rebar, a concrete surface is unforgiving. It may be great for the basketball bounce, but not so much for your knees and ankles absorbing the shock of landing when you run and jump. And, if you fall on concrete, watch out. You can get in serious trouble with a concussion. A synthetic court offers more safety than a concrete one. Concrete can withstand harsh weather conditions, but it is prone to surface imperfections, chips, and cracks. If you have a concrete court, consider resurfacing with a surface like Novaplay® which will hold up to a lot of use for many years.
Asphalt
An asphalt court is long-lasting, strong, and resilient to weather just like concrete. Compared to concrete, however, an asphalt court lasts half the time, maybe 20 years. It is less expensive to install than a concrete court, which can be as much as 4 times as expensive. Still, just like concrete, asphalt requires regular maintenance and annual resurfacing to avoid holes and cracks.
Contact Us at North State Resurfacing
Regardless of your basketball court’s surface material, our team of experts can help you determine when you should resurface and what type of material is best suited for your needs. Give us a call today at 919-877-6972 or fill out the form below for an estimate.