How to Fix Tennis Court Cracks

While tennis courts can last for years, cracks inevitably appear on all types of playing surfaces. Depending on the cause of the cracks, procedures to repair the court will vary, as will the time needed to finish the work.

The best bet when trying to fix tennis court cracks is to hire a qualified game court contractor. They are equipped and have the experience to notice the differences between various types of cracks and the best solution to repair them.

Why do cracks appear?

In hard courts, where the top layer is either asphalt or concrete, cracks can appear over time due to natural shrinkage. As asphalt ages, it oxidizes, shrinks, and hardens, producing ugly cracks that run along the surface. Meanwhile, cycles of heat and cold also pull more water from the layer, drying it further. A soft court (clay or fast-dry), on the other hand, will usually experience cracks where the surface layer gets thinner from use.

Resurfacing the court

If there are no large cracks, and most of the damage is only due to the asphalt or concrete drying out, the gaps can be repaired relatively simply. Resurfacing the court involves thoroughly cleaning the top layer, then pouring in a filling to seal the cracks. However, cracks fixed this way are not gone forever, as more cracks can appear later as the filled layer ages. While the court may still have an even surface and no large cracks, resurfacing can be done periodically to maintain it if there are no other significant issues.

Mid-level repairs

If the court has more problems than the obvious age damage, additional steps might be needed to repair it fully. This can include removing the top layer of the court, putting a protective geotextile membrane over the base layers, then covering the sheet with new asphalt or concrete along with a fresh acrylic coat to seal it in. The membrane removes the need to completely dig up the base of the court, as the geotextile layer can soak in the base's damage and movements before transferring it to the surface layer, extending the court's life.

Reconstructing

If the court shows severe cracking and unevenness, the only viable solution is to overhaul it completely. While reconstructing the court is costly, digging out or pulverizing the old asphalt is necessary to make a new court base. The choice between excavating or pulverizing the court boils down to how many courts are being worked on at one particular time. Excavating costs scale linearly depending on the number of courts, while the pulverizing equipment costs roughly the same, whether it's used on one or five courts. Reconstruction is the most long-term solution for cracks. More extensive problems may only be hidden temporarily by other less intensive methods.

Soft court conversion

If necessary, a hard court can be converted into a soft court. A soft court will rarely need total reconstruction due to structural differences in the top layer, making cracks less of a problem in the long term.

However, even with the proper maintenance, all courts will need occasional resurfacing to keep cracks in check and the surface even to ensure the best gameplay.

CourtMaster Sports specializes in construction, renovation, resurfacing and repair of tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and more. Palm Springs - (760) 548-3545 Las Vegas - (702) 825-8818