What You Need to Know about Your Sports Court Installation Project

There are many reasons to consider installing a sports court on your property. Not only do they possess the power to draw your kids away from screen time, but they also inspire an outdoor lifestyle for you and your family. Whether you’ve been considering installing a basketball court, a tennis court or a pickleball court on your property, you’re about to amp up the entertainment level at home and maybe even throughout your neighborhood. But, before you proceed with the installation, it’s important that you acquire information and research that will lead you to installing the best project on your residential property. 

Here is what you need to know before hiring a New York or New Jersey paving company to tackle the project of installing a sports court at your residence:

How much does it cost to build a sports court?

The cost of your sports court will be determined by what you want. For example: what type of court? How big will it be – half court or a full court? Will you need outdoor lighting? To build a basketball court, it can range from $3 – $17 per square foot. This means that a low-end court may cost around $11,000, whereas a high-end court may cost about $76,000 for a size measuring 94′ x 50′.

Variables to consider when building a sports court

There are five primary components to consider when building a residential sports court:

1. Site: Remember that every site is unique. As a general rule of thumb, each site will require grading, shaping, engineering, construction, and knowledge of compaction rates to create access and to build a durable sporting court. A team of experts like Pavemaks will assess your site and grade it properly to ensure the slope and compaction is accurate for building a court. If the slope is large, you may need to invest more in the project. Similarly, if the project requires movement of a significant amount of earth, then it will need more grading, bigger equipment, compaction, hauling, etc. With more manual work, you’ll incur a higher labor cost and additional time will be needed to prepare the site. 
2. Base Material: The base material refers to the aggregate material under the foundation. Aggregate material depends on the soil reports on the type of soil, and thickness of base rock. Asphalt is an optimal base material for a sports court because it is durable as well as 100% reusable and recyclable, which helps to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. It’s also more affordable than other options and typically runs $3-$7 per square foot. Concrete is another option that boasts longevity, but that is typically more expensive than asphalt, ranging from $5-$10 per square foot. When determining the base material, we must first take note of the soil type, access to the site, drainage, environmental codes, and city ordinances. Ultimately, the cost of building your sports court will be dictated by the base material chosen. 
3. Performance Surface: Once the foundation is complete, we install the surface of your choice. Rubber is a popular option because it meets all of the standard safety requirements and boasts high elasticity. Plus, the flooring has shock absorption power that reduces the stress on players’ joints while enhancing their experiences. The actual cost of surfacing will depend on the price of the custom material you choose.
4. Accessories: It’s time to accessorize and add your family’s personal touch and personality to your sports court. The components may consist of an adjustable basketball hoop, containment netting, LED lighting, multi-sport nets, and poles.
5. Installation: Once you identify the additional components and accessories that you want for your court, it is time to install the court. Installation can take anywhere from 1 to 3 days based on the complexity of the customization involved.

 

The Pavemaks sports court installation process

Here’s a look at our process for installing New Jersey and New York residential sports courts:

• Grading: This is an important step to ensure your court is on as level a surface as possible. First, we sculpt an area of land for the needs of your basketball, tennis or pickle-ball court project. The goals of grading are to provide the desired aesthetics of the property, ensure proper drainage, and comply with any zoning and other regulatory restrictions and requirements.
• Draining & Drying: The draining and drying process prevents moisture intrusion in the base and foundational areas supporting the court.
• Gravel & Compact: We lay gravel as the foundation of your court and compact it to stabilize the soft ground underneath the court.
• Paving Court Layers & Compact: The size and depth of asphalt or concrete layers vary according to the dimensions of your basketball, tennis or pickle-ball court. As noted above, these layers usually include gravel or crushed stone, subbase, binder, top mix, and more aggregate. There may be some variation according to the type and condition of the ground itself. Our paving team will determine the right combination of each component to achieve smoothness, stability and structural strength.
• Lining & Coat Coloring: Once we complete the court paving, we will lay your color system. This typically involves applying a multiple-coat acrylic court flooring, which boasts all the necessary markings to orient players for a game.
• Hoop Installation: We take care of hoop installation for you so that you don’t have to worry about your hoop hole or pole interfering with any utility lines or placement/location obstacles. From digging a hole(s) and pouring concrete to raising the pole, attaching the backboard, and installing the rim & net, we’re here to ensure that every finishing touch is properly addressed and that your basketball, tennis or pickle-ball court paving project is seen through to completion.

 

Primary benefits of installing a sports court

Here’s a quick look at some of the primary benefits that installing a sports court offers:

• Convenience – no need for a gym membership to shoot around or hit with a friend, you have everything you need just steps away.
• Availability – there aren’t specified rules and regulations about when you can access a court or register for a time slot (well, we’ll leave that up to the family!).
• Physical fitness – it’s hard to be a couch potato when you can perform one of your favorite hobbies right on your own property.
• Build social skills – it’s no fun playing alone, text a friend and start that game of “Horse” or to play a quick match. You’ll build memories and friendships that may last a lifetime!
• Strengthen family bonds – a sports court gives the entire family a chance to come together and participate in an activity. Who doesn’t love a dose of friendly competition?
• Stress relief – Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries, which may help to reduce depression and anxiety, too. 
• Eco-friendly – When you don’t have to drive your kids to as many activities because you have access at home, you’re doing good things for the environment!

 

Sports Court Maintenance Tips

You’ve now installed a sports court and now it’s time to ensure that your investment is properly cared for and maintained. Here are some maintenance tips to keep in mind to ensure durability and reliability of your sports court:

• Clean your court regularly: At the very least, clean it once per month. This means watching for mold or mildew in shaded areas, and in corners where organic debris tends to accumulate. 
• Remove standing water: Nature’s elements can help to clean your court, i.e. rain water; however, beware of dirt accumulating in standing water, leaving stains and piles of debris. If you have an irrigation system surrounding your court, try to ensure it does not spray on the court.
• Remove foreign matter / natural elements: Leaves and pine needles have the potential to stain your court as well as to act as a breeding ground for mold and mildew. So, remember to remove those leaves in the fall and to keep your court free from debris in the winter.
• Use the right equipment: Soft nylon or hair-type brooms are best for scrubbing your surface. If you scrub too hard with a harder type of bristle, you can damage the surface. If you use a pressure washer, limit the pressure and do not hold the tip too close to the surface as this can damage any coating or line striping. 
• Be proactive about damage prevention: Put up signage around your court with some rules. These rules may include wearing only a certain type of footwear on the surface; refraining from biking, rollerblading, chewing gum and eating on the surface; avoiding the use of lawn furniture on the surface; etc.
• Be prepared for winter in the Northeast: Snow and ice are part of our lives. When removing snow or ice, make sure not to use hard or sharp tools that can damage the surface coatings or pavement surfaces (i.e. spud bar, scrapers, etc.). If you must use a plow, ensure that shoes are used on the equipment to prevent direct contact of the blades and the surface. We do NOT recommend using snow or ice melt chemicals, or salt as it can create extra abrasion on the surface, which can potentially shorten the life of the surface.
• Drainage: Excess water that flows back onto the court surface or beneath the court can cause problems. When you have a properly installed drainage system, this will divert water away from the court and should be inspected from time to time. Make sure to check regularly for any evident damage to structures and drain pipes, especially after storms.
• Landscaping: You likely invested in your sports court for a specific function, but they are meant to be aesthetically pleasing as well. Make sure that grass and other vegetation isn’t spilling over onto the court’s surface; blow or sweep any walkways surrounding the court to remove the potential of debris invading the area; don’t over-water around the court as this can increase moisture beneath the base and lead to blistering or bubbling on the court surface.
• Repair & Resurfacing: Have your court professionally inspected on an annual basis to assess for and address any potential issues. In the Northeast, it’s best to have this done in the springtime to identify any winter damages that your sports court might have endured. 

 

Have questions about a sports court project you’re planning? At Pavemaks, we’re here for you. Reach out to us for a free estimate or to speak to someone directly about our sports court installation projects.