Whether you are building a tennis or game court for residential use or any other facility, the decisions you make should not be taken lightly. The investment in a court is substantial; however, a well-constructed court, properly maintained, can provide years of playing enjoyment. To get the most out of your investment, be a smart consumer. Do your homework before you begin construction.

• Are you interested in hard courts, cushioned courts or soft courts?
• How much time and money is available for court maintenance?
• Will courts be used for competition or for casual play?
• Are you building for year-round or seasonal use?
• How much can you afford to spend?
• Do you need a completed facility now or can you wait for landscaping, court amenities and other finishing touches?
• Do you want a first class facility regardless of cost, or is cost a limiting factor?
• Are you absolutely certain about a given surface, type of fencing, or specific site? Are you willing to consider substitutions?

There are many types of courts available today, and surface technology is constantly changing. No one type of court is right for every installation. There are tremendous variances in cost, durability, playing characteristics, maintenance needs, weather resistance and other factors.

Developing a budget may be the most difficult step in the construction process. You may have to make some concessions, but in order to make informed choices, you should know what is important to you. Working within a budget involves considering various alternatives and making choices, but choices don't have to mean compromising the end result.

Tennis/Game Court Maintenance

Regular cleaning is an excellent way to minimize any repairs needed to an outdoor acrylic game court surface. It's a good idea to keep the court clean at all times by to minimize the amount of dirt ground into the surface by foot traffic.

Common problems: Asphalt courts may suffer from cracking and upheaval -- due generally to construction miscues, improper sloping, poor maintenance, inadequate draining, sub-base problems or poor soil conditions. Court repair specialists categorize seven different kinds of cracks -- from "alligatoring" to "ravelling." Solutions range from patching to major reconstruction of the court.

A "birdbath" is a minor depression in which water settles on a non-porous court surface after a rain or flooding. A method of determining a birdbath is flooding the court, and waiting an hour in minimum 70-degree temperatures in sunlight. If the remaining water covers the thickness of a nickel, it's considered repairable.

During the tennis season the courts should be hosed off with water periodically (once a month) and allowed to dry. Don't use a stiff bristle broom . Soft nylon or hair types are best for sweeping. Use normal water pressure for hosing. Should there be any stains on the court, they may be removed by application of a mild cold-water detergent and scrubbing with a hair-type scrub brush.