There are several things to consider when deciding to build a tennis court in your yard. Slope, sub-base, surface material, lighting, and fencing are all factors that must be taken into account to deliver 5-star results.
The first thing you must realize is that it will take up quite a bit of space, so plan ahead and make sure there’s enough room for the court before you get started. Also, it’ll take several days to complete construction and several more weeks for the concrete to fully cure, so be patient with the process.
Plan out your location
This may require removing trees or widening an existing open area if these dimensions don’t work with your yard. Make sure there is access to electricity and water, in case you need to install these utilities in the future.
The dimensions of tennis courts are defined by the International Tennis Federation, which is a non-profit corporation founded in 1887. Tennis courts come in a variety of sizes, and most are the same size as an average playing court (about 100 by 68 feet). Tournament-size courts have extra space for judges and players alike.
A tennis court should be at least 120 feet long and 60 feet broad, for a total area of 7,200 square feet.
How much dirt should you remove for your new tennis court?
It’s important to have a flat surface before you start building, so your ground needs to be clear from rocks and debris that could damage the court. Your soil should also be hard enough to withstand heavy use without compaction.
Be prepared for some serious upheaval in your yard when it comes time to excavate! You need an area at least 12 inches deep and the same across for a concrete slab, though 18 to 24 inches is recommended if you want to install a complete drainage system (which prevents flooding and standing water).
This doesn’t include the depth of footings that go beneath the slab or extra room to accommodate fencing. Asphalt tennis courts require 4 feet of packed gravel under the asphalt and a total of 10 to 18 inches of soil.
Placing artificial turf over existing grass will require the same amount of space as concrete or asphalt court, but you should remove any rocks or other debris beforehand. It’s also crucial to ensure there aren’t any drainage issues so water doesn’t seep up through gaps in the surface.
How much surface will I need to prepare?
Your material should be at least 12 inches deep, but the more you have the better. If you are putting down artificial turf or adjusting your sub-base, make sure it goes all the way up to the edges of your proposed court.
The amount of material needed depends on where you’re creating your court and what surface you want. You can cover a 7,200-square-foot area with just under 8 cubic yards of concrete, 4.5 cubic yards of asphalt, or 5 cubic yards of gravel, mulch, or dirt.
Finish concrete base
There are several ways to complete the concrete base, including stamping it, coloring it, or leaving it plain. This is something that will be done by your court owner (the end-user). Check with them for specifics about this step. You can do a few things like smooth out any rough edges and remove excess water from the rain before letting the concrete cure for a month or two. A final leveling with a laser leveler can also be done at this time to make sure everything is perfect before moving on to the next step.
Install tennis court surface
Court surfaces come in all different forms nowadays, from short-pile turf to full-on clay courts. It’s difficult to describe specifics due to the infinite number of options and designs. For the sake of this example, we’ll assume you’re installing a colored, short-pile polyethylene court. The surface is laid out next and cut/tucked around any borders or obstacles to ensure it fits properly. On top of this you’ll install the actual playing surface which consists of 5 layers: the base layer (gravel), interlocking tiles, leveling sand, color coating, and finally another layer of gravel as a cushion between the two.
Finish electrical connections
Be sure you hire professionals for any electrical work. If you do not know what needs to be done here please consult with our team of tennis court construction experts as it varies from place to place. In most cases, they can wire up a GFI plug in an accessible location if needed later on. Have a registered electrician install a junction box for this if nothing else.
Install lighting
If you’re installing lighting, now is the time to do it. It’s best to leave as much room as possible between poles so you don’t cast shadows on the court itself and impede playability too much. The pros will need ample light due to decreased visibility at night so place these close to center court if possible.
Finish border/fencing
Now your contractor can finish any brickwork around the outside of the tennis court or build a fence with a gate (if required locally by law). Place fencing along both sides of courts near public areas that random pedestrians might wander into while playing. A good rule of thumb is 20 feet from the backcourt line to the fence.
Be ready for play
We hope you’ve created a beautiful tennis court at this point and your contractor has done everything to be ready for play.
Keep up maintenance
One last word about upkeep: make sure you keep proper records (photos/videos) in case anything ever gets damaged or vandalized. The same goes for any warranties you may have – take photos of the court work itself and retain receipts for anything purchased to make sure this stays covered under warranty. The final step, other than play, is to inspect your tennis court every few months during the first year.
Don’t forget to enjoy it!
Congratulations, you now have a beautiful place to play some tennis on those hot summer days! It’s only up to you and your family/friends now as to how much use it gets. If all goes well, hopefully, this will be a big part of your life each year so we wish you the best of luck with everything.
Get In Touch With Our Team For Reliable Tennis Court Construction & Installation
Our experienced team of specialists is standing by ready to guide you through the next steps so do not hesitate until you contact us right away! For any further advice or information on this topic feel free to contact North State Resurfacing or call at (919) 365-7500 and we’ll help answer all your questions.