Like any sports surface in frequent use, tennis courts need some care and attention every now and again. Resurfacing your tennis courts can feel like quite a task but you’ll make it much easier if you know when is the best time to do this. If you want to get the most out of your tennis courts it’s going to be important to make sure they are always in good, usable condition and provide the best possible playing area. That’s why we’ve put together our tips on when it’s best to resurface your tennis courts.
- Choose your season carefully. Unless you’re in the southern hemisphere, winter is likely to be the best time to resurface your tennis courts simply because they will be getting less use at this time of year. You’ll be able to avoid major disruption to games by opting for a month when we tend to play less tennis. With that in mind, the worst possible time to resurface tennis courts is likely to be the summer, especially during the months of big tournaments like Wimbledon. So, plan to get your resurfacing work done well in advance of this. This needs rewording – it’s correct in the sense there is less disruption, but poor weather and cold temperatures mean through winter mean that polymerics cannot be installed for example. Early spring is probably the ideal time before heavy use and temperatures are increasing.
- Know how often you should be resurfacing a tennis court. Most tennis courts will need to have a new surface every four to eight years. This is the optimum time period in which you can ensure that the playing surface will still provide everything the players need.
- What kind of surface do you have? This will also have an impact on when it is best to resurface your tennis courts, as different surfaces have different benefits and challenges and will require a different resurfacing process. Each surface will also show different signs of wear, tear and the need to be replaced. If you have synthetic turf then signs such as reduced surface grip or fibre deterioration may indicate that a replacement may be required, or some maintenance is due to be carried out, which should be a continuous process throughout the year. If the surface is a polymeric, then the colour coating will gradually wear down and you’ll notice less grip as well, this could mean a replacement or a respray is required to give it a new lease of life. And finally, porous macadam surfaces need to be re-done if you notice loose debris, stones or undulations in the court marketings.
- What’s the process involved? Working with a professional company will mean that you don’t necessarily have to go through a whole replacement process just to resurface your tennis courts. For example, this can be done without complete replacement of shock pads or sub-base layers. The entire process of resurfacing your tennis courts can take: from as little as a few days to a matter of weeks depending on requirements and size, depending on the court itself and what your goals are for the project.
Tennis courts need to be looked after in order to provide the ideal playing ground and regular resurfacing is a key part of this process. Aim to resurfacing your court every four to eight years and follow our recommendations in terms of picking the ideal time to do it.