The total construction depth (foundation plus surfacing) is critical for several reasons: The greater the depth the less chance of frost penetrating into the sub-soil, and the less chance of tree roots distorting the surface.

The thicker the foundation the less the court is affected by stresses on the surface. For example doubling the thickness will reduce the effect of stresses at formation level by a factor of four.

Using thicker foundations gives a greater load-bearing capacity. This can allow us to use heavier machinery that is more economic and provides a higher quality surface with better surface tolerances and more even texture giving more even ball bounce and longer life. We build to specifications that exceed the minimum standards laid down for the tennis court construction industry. We have set out below the process that is undertaken in the construction of an average sports surface.

The site is excavated by laser-controlled machine with a fall in one direction.

If necessary, a perforated plastic pipe is laid in stone to the perimeter to catch water coming from above and extract water from court base. A geotextile weed barrier is laid on the excavated base

Pressed concrete edgings are laid to the perimeter on concrete with stone under, to allow water out to the drain.

40 - 20mm Granite is rolled to consolidate at a depth of 150mm.
To clay sites a capping layer of gritty stone is laid to a depth of 100mm to stop the clay shrinking and moving.
Galvanised trapdoor lid net post sockets are set in concrete.

Holes are drilled in the ground and the fence posts are concreted all the way down. The edgings are then haunched all the way round so that the fence foundation acts as a pile foundation for the edge too.

A 40mm depth of 20mm play base macadam is laid and rolled. The next day a 6mm open textured play course is laid by our unique powered straightedges and rolled to a fine finish. An acrylic or polyurethane finish is applied on top of the macadam for Pladek, or carpets laid on top for Savanna or Sporturf.

The reason we lay one coat of macadam under carpet and two coats for Pladek is because we achieve the levels tolerances with one coat , it just does not give the even texture necessary to give a longlasting even bouncing tennis surface.