The average residential lawn in the US is 10,871 square feet. Although, in contrast, a tennis court is just over 2,000 square feet, many homes across the US have enough space to add a tennis court to their home and enjoy the benefits of their tennis court. Of course, you can also opt for a slightly narrower court if it suits the space you have available better; it is, after all, your tennis court!
Of course, not everyone is a budding Olympic star or Grand Slam champion, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a tennis court installation at home. There are numerous reasons why it is a great idea.
Exercise
Tennis can be a lot of fun and, in the modern age, when time is limited, it’s an easy way to get some exercise. But, if you haven’t played for a while, you may be surprised at how energetic tennis can be and how much it will benefit you.
Don’t forget that research shows a strong link between regular physical exercise and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Increase The Value Of Your Property
A tennis court looks prestigious and will certainly boost the appeal of your home. It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of selling, want to show off to your neighbors, or are ready to refinance; your tennis court is likely to increase the appeal and, subsequently, the value of your property.
Best of all, tennis court installation at home is not as expensive as you may think; it could be the best investment in your property you ever make.
Practice
Naturally, having a tennis court in your yard means you’ll find it much easier to practice your game and even improve. This is great if you’re thinking of getting more serious about the sport, perhaps even trying out professionally.
It’s also a great idea if you regularly play tennis with friends or even your boss, you can quickly get good enough to beat them, wiping the smile off their face will feel pretty good!
Entertainment
A tennis court at home is also a great entertainment boost. You no longer need to invite everyone over for the elaborate pool party or croquet on the lawn. Instead, challenge everyone you know to a tennis tournament and get them to come to your court.
It’s fun-free, and you can even place a few bets on the outcome to make it even more amusing.
Tennis Court Installation Process
Having decided to install a tennis court, you’ll want to get started on the process as soon as possible. While you can do this yourself, it is better to leave it to the professionals; they have the experience and the tools to complete the process much faster than you can.
Before you start, you’ll need to consider the following.
Where To Install It
A singles tennis court, including a small area on each side of the court, is 130ft by 70ft. As mentioned, it’s your court; you can adjust the sizes according to your own needs.
Once you know the size, you’ll be able to decide where the best spot in your yard is for the court. Ideally, you’ll want to know where the sun rises and sets and when you are most likely to play; this will help you position the court facing the right direction.
It’s also worth considering where errant balls may end up; you don’t want to be smashing your windows or your neighbors; that’s more hassle than it’s worth.
Surface Type
There are several types of surfaces you can have when creating a tennis court. The cheapest option is grass. However, this does mean regular cutting and potentially a soggy surface during some parts of the year.
Synthetic grass is generally a better option and only marginally more expensive. Other surface options include clay, asphalt, concrete, or even rubber which is the most expensive choice.
The different surface types will affect the way the ball bounces, and you may want to visit a few courts first to decide which surface you prefer to play on.
Lighting
Your home tennis court installation doesn’t need floodlights, but you may want to add lighting; it all depends on when you like to play and how much use you would like to get out of the court.
As well as debating about adding lights you’ll want to check with your local planning office, you shouldn’t need permission to create a tennis court, but you may need to discuss the lighting with them!
The Right Contractor
Before you give a contractor the go-ahead, you need to decide which contractor is right for you. It’s essential that you feel comfortable talking to them and that they have a good reputation; you can check this by speaking to people on social media who have used the contractor before.
Feeling comfortable with the contractor is more important than price, although obviously, the cost plays a part in your final decision. Get solid quotes and make sure you don’t pay until the work is finished.
Installation Process
If you have any sense, you’ll leave this part to the professionals. The first stage will be digging the area out to allow the soil underneath to be compacted, this will allow it to be leveled, and new grass can grow or fake grass be put into opposition.
If you’re opting for a hard surface, the compacted ground will have hardcore added to it and then be filled with your choice of finish, whether that is concrete, asphalt, or even clay.
All hard surface courts need to be left to dry for30-60 days before an acrylic coat can be applied; you can’t use the court during this time! The acrylic coat also needs at least 48 hours to cure, and then you’ll want the lines painted on so everyone knows when the ball was in or out. This is also the time you may want to add fencing around the court and landscape any parts of your yard that have been damaged due to the construction process.
You can now enjoy your tennis court installation, although you may need to check if it must be declared to your insurance company.
