Maintaining your sports surface is a positive commitment to make to an investment that has a lot of longevity. Your sports surface is designed to be durable and hard wearing but it may also need a little help to sustain this. Maintaining a sports surface is a simple, straightforward process that will ensure you continue to get the most out of the pitch for years to come.
What are the benefits of maintenance?
- Safety is obviously a key priority when it comes to your sports surface. It’s vital to have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re doing everything you can to make this the safest possible surface on which to play. Regular maintenance will ensure that the surface is meeting safety standards and properly supporting those who are using it.
- Performance is another key reason to sustain maintenance on your sports surface. When the surface is properly maintained it means that everyone is able to perform to their optimum level.
- Getting the most out of the pitch. Regular maintenance throughout the year will help to avoid a situation further down the line where the surface is so damaged that it requires repair or replacement. So, regular maintenance can help keep costs down and ensure that the pitch can always be in use.
What type of maintenance do you need to consider?
- The condition of the surrounding area. This could be anything that might affect how your sports surface can be used, such as the condition of fencing or kick boards. Does this need repairing or replacing or is it still in good shape?
- Clearing debris. It’s not enough to simply move piles of debris or leaves off the main area of the sports surface and pile it up at the edges – this kind of material should be taken off the sports surface completely. If it’s not then you run the risk of dampness in wet weather and this can be responsible for moss and algae that can spread and cause some pretty expensive issues. So, regular maintenance should always include total debris removal.
- Base work. If you have a sports surface like artificial turf then regular maintenance might include logging and monitoring any problems that are arising, such as creases or diverts in the surface. The purpose of this is to deal quickly with any issues so that they don’t have the chance to escalate and turn into trip hazards or standing water, for example.
- Surface-specific maintenance. For example, infill levels in artificial turf can require ongoing maintenance as it can get flicked up into the shoes of those who are playing on the pitch. As a result, infill levels should be checked as part of regular maintenance so that it never runs too low and creates issues.
From safety to protecting the investment that you’ve made in sports surfacing, these are just some of the benefits of regularly maintaining an area to ensure that it’s available all year round.