A common enemy to the longevity and playability of 100% acrylic athletic court coatings is the seemingly innocuous standing water and puddles. Beyond the immediate inconvenience to players and game delays, the presence of water on your tennis or basketball court can lead to significant and costly damage to the playing surface.

Acrylic athletic court coatings, while durable, are not designed for prolonged submersion. When water sits on the surface, it begins to break down the acrylic binder, diminishing its adhesion and integrity. Even more insidiously, standing water can seep into the porous coating. As the sun’s heat returns and evaporation occurs, this trapped moisture is pulled back out, creating unsightly and damaging bubbles and blisters on the court surface. These imperfections not only detract from the court’s appearance but also create uneven playing conditions and can lead to further deterioration.

 
The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) provides crucial guidelines for proper court construction to mitigate these issues. Whether your court is built on an asphalt or concrete base, the ASBA emphasizes the importance of a well-engineered slope for efficient drainage. For asphalt courts, a typical slope of 1 inch in 10 feet (1:120) is recommended to ensure water flows off quickly. Concrete courts also require the same pitch to prevent ponding. Proper grading and compaction of the sub-base, along with a consistent and accurate surface slope, are paramount in diverting water away from the playing area.

While solutions like Acrylic Patch Binder patching mix can be used to level smaller, problematic puddles, they can imperfect and temporary fixes. The most effective and long-term solution to prevent ponding and coating damage is proper court construction and drainage from the outset. Investing in ASBA-compliant construction ensures your court remains free of standing water, protecting your investment and providing optimal playing conditions for years to come.

 
It is also important to maintain the area around the court edge and make sure to prevent grass and vegetation buildup.  This can create a dam on the edge of the court, especially the low edge of drainage.  Water or melting snow can create ponding that is held by the court edge obstruction causing coating damage.