Outdoor Athletic Court Maintenance

It is crucial to take care of your athletic court so that you get the best possible performance and longevity from it. Regularly inspecting the sport court is vital to detect any signs of damage or wear before they escalate into problems. This includes checking for cracks, low spots and other imperfections on the surface and assessing sports equipment for any potential damage. Regular maintenance is key to ensure that the surface remains safe, playable, and visually appealing. In this article we will explore key points of a typical athletic court maintenance routine and provide guidance on how to keep your court playing in optimal condition.

By following these maintenance guidelines, you can increase the lifetime of your sport court for years to come.

Cleaning: The initial step in maintaining a sport court is keeping it clean. Regularly clearing away debris like leaves, sticks, and small rocks is vital to maintaining a surface that is free from hazards and material that can damage the court. Additionally, promptly addressing any stains or spills that may occur on the court’s surface so that you have a higher probability of being able to get such stain off your court without having to resurface it again to cover the stain(s).

Full Resurfacing: If your athletic court becomes excessively worn, begins peeling, or is just not playable anymore, a comprehensive process called resurfacing is most likely necessary. A full resurfacing can differ depending on the state pf the court being resurfaced. For example, an athletic court which needs a full resurface because its existing sports surface is wearing down excessively due to age, but is not “failing” involves floor sanding, pressure washing, and a new primer before resurfacing with multiple color coats. However, if the court that needs to be resurfaced is “failing”, such as the court surface is developing cracks, additionally to the previous resurfacing prep steps mentioned before, the court also needs to be patched. On another scenario, a court may have its sport surface peeling off, in which case floor sanding is not enough to remove the full sports surface down to bare concrete, so surface blasting is required first. Overall, a full resurfacing process is done to renew the sports surface state of a court with a previously unsatisfactory surface. Typical resurfacing is done every 2 to 7 years, depending on amount of play and damage a court has.

Maintenance Resurfacing: To maintain a vibrant appearance of your sport court, periodic maintenance resurfacing is necessary. Over time, the paint on the court fades due to exposure to sunlight, rain, and other weather conditions. Maintenance resurfacing is a less intensive version os the resurfacing process, consisting of only one coat of paint per color with no patch repairs. It is done on courts that are in a good condition and only need a touch of “life” to make them look nice and vibrant. The frequency of maintenance resurfacing for a court just depends on how “nice” the court owner wants his/her court to look. Typically, those who want to keep their court looking fresh constantly resurface every 2-3 years.

To ensure the safety of players on a court it is important to inspect and assess the condition of nets, net-posts, hoops, and any other sports equipment on the court. Any damaged or excessively worn parts should be replaced.
Proper drainage is another crucial for keeping a sport court in good condition. It is essential to ensure that water drains efficiently from the court to prevent any standing water which can result in bodily injuries or sports surface damage. This can be achieved by installing drainage channels and ensuring that the court slopes away from buildings and structures.

Have you seen the person in the video below cleaning a tennis court after it rained? Performing maintenance tasks like this after a storm can significantly extend the lifespan of your court. Check it out!