All weather asphalt sport surfaces that are colorcoated require very little maintenance. There are just a few basic tips that will help extend the life of your colorcoated surfaces.
Watch for the appearance of mold or mildew on your court. It is usually found in the shaded areas. This will make the playing surface slippery and will soften the colorcoating. The softening of the color will lead to premature wearing of the colorcoating products. Acrylic coatings do not support fungus or mold growth. This growth is usually caused from decaying matter, food or drink spills, or other materials on the surface which are feeding these organisms. Constant dampness encourages this growth. Do not have your sprinklers constantly wetting the surface of the court.
To remove mold and fungus below are a few solutions. You can scrub the area using a soft bristled broom with a solution of 2 parts household bleach and 1 part water. After a few minutes thoroughly rinse the area. If staining is present you may try scrubbing with a mild detergent always using a soft bristled brush. If mildew is present combine 4 parts water with 2 parts tri-sodium phosphate and 1 part household bleach, and then scrub with a soft brush and wash off.
When courts are usually built the trees are either removed or cut back. So there are very few branches close by. Over time new trees appear or old ones grow over the courts. The result is areas on the court become very shaded. The court surface may take days to dry after a rain storm due to the shade. This amplifies fungus and mold growth. Keep the trees around the courts pruned and cut back as much as possible.
Standing water will stain your courts as well. Dirt will accumulate in these areas which will stain the court or when the puddle is dry leave a pile of debris. When playing on this court the debris will act like sand paper wearing the coating down. The best solution is to remove the puddles from the court as often as possible and of course keep the court free of debris as much as possible.
It is very important to just clean your court. Leaves, pine needles, general debris all lead to problems with asphalt courts. Even during the winter months when not covered with snow keep your court clean.
When cleaning your court only use a soft nylon or hair type bristled broom. If using a pressure washer with water make sure you keep the pressure below 70 PSI.
Other hints to make your court last longer:
- The walks leading to the court should be kept clean. This will prevent abrasive materials like sand from tracking on the court. Do not blow dirt on the courts.
- Do not water landscaping too heavily along the edges of the court. This moisture may eventually go under the court which can lead to sun blisters.
- Weed killers, fertilizers and pesticides may cause damage to the surface, keep them off of the court.
- Keep the court from being overgrown with grass and weeds. Along with keeping tree branches trimmed.
- Most courts have a drainage system around them. Make sure it is always working and not clogged.
- Watch for long heaves appearing on the edge of the court surface. It maybe roots from a nearby tree pushing up through the asphalt. You want to stop this from continuing as soon as possible. You must have the roots cut from the outside the court or remove the tree.
- Watch for cracks appearing in the court. You want to address any cracking at the first appearance of them. Water penetrating into your court by way of the cracks will lead to more serious problems relatively quickly. This type of repair needs to be done by a tennis court professional.
- In the winter take your net down. If you are using the court loosen the tension on the net when not in use. The constant tension could help the frost in the ground to heave your net post foundation.
A typical colorcoating on a court being used lasts between 5 to 8 years. Depending on how much play the court gets and how it is maintained. I would recommend you have a tennis court professional take a look at your court every 2 to 3 years. The contractor may see something on your court that needs addressing to, that you were not aware of.
If you are in our service area of New England and want to know if we can help you with your asphalt court, please call us today for a FREE estimate! 1-866-556-3726
