Are you an avid tennis player who is looking for the ultimate convenience in terms of stepping out your own backdoor to play a game? There’s nothing better than being able to enjoy one of your favorite sports from the comfort of your own backyard! But when it comes to tennis court installation, there’s a lot of important factors you need to know. Installing a playing surface of your own gives you the advantage of being able to play whenever you want, but there are also many other benefits. For instance, you’ll have a brand new, uniform playing surface that lasts for years to come.
Important Considerations Before You Install a Tennis Court
Before you install a tennis court, there are a few important considerations you’ll need to think about, including:
- The location and/or size of your desired tennis court
- The surfacing system of your desired tennis court
- The color scheme of your desired tennis court
Once you’ve given some consideration into the points above, it’s time to find an experienced contractor to help you with tennis court installation that’s in your price range. When you’re talking to a contractor about installing a tennis court, they’ll go over the following with you:
- Size: A regulation tennis court designed for doubles play is 60 x 120 feet. It’s important to allow for additional space around the court perimeter, in order to ensure the contractor building it is able to work adequately. You also want extra space for landscaping, drainage, and fencing. If you don’t have much space, you can go with 56 x 114 feet -giving you enough room for one-on-one games.
- Drainage: You don’t want the water to remain on your court whenever it rains. You need a proper slope to ensure water drains away from the court – keeping your investment safe and sound. The ground should be reasonably level. In fact, it’s nice to have your court higher than the adjacent ground. You may need to consider an underground drainage system or perforated drain lines surrounded with stones.
- Orientation: Are you someone who likes to play tennis in the early morning or late afternoon? Do you have a preference? The time of day you prefer to play will determine the right orientation to install your tennis court at. For instance, a north-south orientation will be perfect to allow for early morning games as the sun won’t be facing directly into your eyes.
- Surface: As mentioned above, you want to think about the surface you’d prefer before meeting with a contractor. This will have long-term effects as some surfaces require very little time and effort to maintain while others require far more time and effort. You might even be restricted to a certain court type, depending on any regulations in your area. A hard court may be best if you’d prefer to minimize maintenance in the long-run.
- Condition of soil: Lastly, you’ll need to ensure your soil is optimal for acting as the foundation of your tennis court. You can find out more information on your soil conditions by hiring a qualified geotechnical engineer. They’ll perform an in-depth soil analysis to find out if there are any problems in terms of high organic material content, high groundwater conditions, and more.
If you’ve been dreaming of owning your own tennis court, you can turn that dream into a reality. But remember, you want to ensure you’re working with a contractor who knows what they’re doing. You should feel confident knowing you’re getting high-quality materials and court components. This will lower your expenses in the long-run.
What About Regulations Relating to Tennis Court Installation?
Another important consideration is regulations relating to tennis court installation. Your contractor should be able to help you ensure your tennis court is built following the proper requirements. Zoning can affect whether or not you’re able to build a tennis court, as well as any specific court surfaces you’re able to use. Some areas only allow grass tennis courts while others allow all sorts of tennis courts.
In addition, you may face restrictions in terms of fencing and lighting. This is important to be aware of ahead of time. The last thing you want is to build a costly tennis court in your backyard- only to end up with a fine later on. Your contractor should help you look into regulations pertaining to your specific community before you start building.
Ready to Build Your Dream Tennis Court?
Now that you’re aware of the important considerations to think about, as well as the regulations relating to tennis court installation, it’s time to get started! If you love the game of tennis, why not bring tennis to your backyard with a tennis court that’s built to suit your specific needs? You’ll enjoy playing whenever you want with friends and family.