| As most die-hard tennis players know, the
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| | with a vinyl cushioning material or a
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| investment in a backyard tennis court can
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| | colored acrylic paint mixed with sand for
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| be substantial, usually anywhere between
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| | texture, and can be much easier on the
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| $15,000 and $20,000. And resurfacing an
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| | players. Cushioned hardcourts are the
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| existing court can cost up to $8,000
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| | most popular surfaces for residential
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| depending on the type of material used.
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| | court construction and renovation. The
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| If you are considering your own tennis
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| | three types of synthetic courts are:
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| court, make sure you get the most from
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| | - Vinyl padding
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| your investment by choosing a court
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| | - Synthetic grass
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| design that bests suites your climate. A
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| | - Fast-dry materials (such as colored
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| well-constructed and properly maintained
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| | acrylic paint)
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| court can bring you years of playing
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| | In locations where watering is
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| enjoyment.
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| | impractical, the sand-filled synthetic
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| Selecting a Surface
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| | grass or indoor carpet surfaces should be
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| Although the dimensions of all tennis
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| | considered. If your area is subject to
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| courts are the same, their surfaces can
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| | freeze-thaw cycles, your contractor will
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| vary dramatically. There's nothing better
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| | probably suggest a cushioned hardcourt
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| than a natural grass tennis court, but
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| | for its longevity.
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| the functional limitations and upkeep
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| | Selecting a Contractor
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| make them somewhat impractical for most
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| | Tennis court construction is a highly
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| homeowners. At the other end of the scale
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| | specialized field, so it's important to
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| are the concrete courts, which tend to
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| | hire a professional individual or firm
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| hold up very well, even if the kids
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| | with extensive experience in the
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| skateboard on them. Several factors
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| | business. Select a contractor who is
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| including usage, soil, location,
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| | familiar with the type of surface you
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| available materials and climate will
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| | intend to have installed. You'll notice
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| determine the best court surface.
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| | that many surface products require
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| There are four main types of court
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| | installation by certified builders who
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| surfaces.
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| | have been trained by the manufacturer.
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| Hardcourts: Asphalt or concrete courts
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| | Don't be afraid to comparison shop. Get a
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| are durable and easy to maintain. Keep in
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| | list of clients and ask the tough
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| mind, however, that hardcourts tend to
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| | questions about their service after the
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| develop cracks after a few years of play,
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| | court was completed, and whether they are
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| and standing water can be a problem for
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| | experiencing any on-going problems. Look
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| the surface. Applying cushioning
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| | at courts that are at least two years old
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| materials to the top of the existing
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| | so you can evaluate the performance over
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| court is a good solution to renovate
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| | multiple seasons. Make sure you feel
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| damaged hardcourts. The U.S. Open matches
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| | comfortable with the mechanical systems
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| in New York are played on hardcourt
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| | that are proposed with the court. If
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| surfaces.
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| | possible, schedule a game on the court to
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| Grass: Similar to putting greens, grass
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| | get a feel for how the surface plays.
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| courts are fairly rare because of their
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| | Will Ferguson, a Certified Tennis Court
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| tremendous amount of upkeep. Only a few
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| | Builder with Empire Recreational Surfaces
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| private clubs can afford to maintain
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| | of Tennessee, Inc., suggests the best way
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| grass courts. The Wimbledon Tennis
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| | to find a qualified contractor is to
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| Tournament is played on a grass court.
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| | check with the professional associations.
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| Clay: Red clay surface courts are made
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| | The U.S. Tennis Court and Track Builders
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| from crushed brick that is packed to make
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| | Association (USTC&TBA) is a good starting
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| a good surface for tennis play. The
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| | point. "It's always best to hire a
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| French Open in Paris is played on red
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| | contractor who is a member of the
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| clay courts. Green clay is a natural
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| | association. That way you're assured of a
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| clay, which is packed to make a
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| | state of the art tennis court that will
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| subsurface, then covered with a topping.
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| | last," Ferguson says.
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| This is a highly popular style in the
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| | Here's what a certified builder will do
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| eastern and southern United States. While
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| | for you:
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| clay courts are considered "slow," they
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| | Determine the type of work needed
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| are much better for sliding into shots
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| | Plan the court
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| because the top surface is loose. Player
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| | Determine a budget
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| injuries are less frequent on natural
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| | Call for and compare bids on materials
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| clay courts.
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| | Oversee the work
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| Clay courts do require regular watering,
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| | A qualified contractor knows the latest
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| compacting and brushing. These courts
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| | developments and innovations in tennis
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| should be constructed in an area where
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| | court products and designs. Contractors
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| the humidity is high so they can absorb
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| | select surfacing products for ease of
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| extra moisture. Drainage is also an
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| | installation, performance and durability.
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| important. The latest subsurface watering
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| | According to Ferguson, homeowners should
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| systems help keep clay courts in playable
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| | never compromise quality of sub-base
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| shape at all times. A subsurface
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| | preparation in order to install a more
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| irrigated tennis court is watered from
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| | expensive surface. Always decide in favor
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| below the surface of the court rather
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| | of the climate for a court that will last
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| than above. Subsurface watering systems
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| | and rely on a qualified construction
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| cost between $3,000 and $8,000.
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| | expert for selecting the best surfacing
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| Synthetic: These are hardcourts covered
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| | products.
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