Tag Archives: standing water

Drainage Problems, Pickleball Court Surfaces, Tennis Court Surfaces

Puddles and Standing Water on Athletic Courts & Coating Damage

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.

Puddles on Pickleball Courts

 
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.

puddle on edge of tennis court

 
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.

Tennis Court Repair

How Do You Get Rid Of Puddles On A Tennis Court?

So, how do you get rid of puddles on a tennis court?  Puddles on a tennis court are a nuisance for many reasons.  Either you wait for the water to evaporate before you play, or get a court dryer to move the puddles off the surface.  Puddled areas, or low spots, can also be a trip hazard if they have sunk enough to effect the players footing.

But what about adverse effects on the acrylic surfacing?  Acrylic tennis court surfaces are very durable, and designed to have good wet adhesion and resistance to the elements.  However, if water sits on the surface for prolonged periods of time, it will shorten the coating life and begin to break it down.  Plus, when water puddles in those areas, dirt and debris tends to accumulate in the water.  This creates a sandpaper-like friction on the surface from play and scuffing of tennis shoes.  The bottom line is, none of this is good for the tennis court surface.

Removing Low Spots and Puddles with Acrylic Patch Binder

The American Sports Builders Association maintains guidelines for puddles, or “birdbaths” on a tennis court surface.  A hour after a rain, or flooding the court, any area where standing water is measured at 1/16″ (2mm) is in need of patching.  This is usually measure by placing a U.S. nickel in the center of the puddle, and if the water covers the head of the nickel, it is deep enough to require leveling.

Acrylic Patch Binder is a 100% acrylic binder that is job-mixed with portland cement and specifically graded silica sand.  This creates a slurry that can be poured into the puddle area and screeded in with a steel or aluminum straightedge.  If done properly, this will bring the low, puddled area back to level and allow the water to flow off the court (with help from the court’s 1% slope).

Post by SportMaster Sport Surfaces.

Is Tennis Court Patching a DIY Project?

Leveling birdbaths and patching tennis courts can be very tricky without proper experience.  If not properly done, you can easily create a dam on your tennis court surface.  We would highly recommend seeking a qualified tennis court contractor to do this the correct way.  Feel free to contact us and we will be happy to provide you with experienced and affordable sport surfacing professionals.
Here is a short video demonstrating mixing and application of SportMaster Acrylic Patch Binder on tennis court puddles: