The Truth About Resurfacing

Resurfacing a tennis court can best be compared to painting an exterior wall of your home. It’s a maintenance item that must be addressed by clubs every 4 to 5 years, and by residential court owners every 6 to 7 years. 

A common misconception is that resurfacing can remedy structural problems such as cracks and settlement. Resurfacing is, as it’s name implies, only a surface treatment that provides an attractive, textured, surface layer of paint for a consistant ball bounce and protection of the asphalt from the U.V. rays of the Sun. In addition, resurfacing addresses the symptoms often caused by structural problems (structural problems defined as those related to the foundation or earth beneath the surface of the court).

Unfortunately, those symptoms caused by structural defects will likely return, and the timing of their return is determined more by the region of the country and the severity of the problem than the quality of the resurfacing job. For instance, cracks repaired on a court in South Florida may never return, while the same repair in Atlanta, Georgia will begin to re-crack by late Autumn of that same year. Puddles that stand on the court may return if the ground beneath is still settling after the Resurfacing is completed.

Putty and paint on the walls of your home will not fix a settling foundation, and Resurfacing cannot be expected to repair structural defects in your courts.

Let us discuss with you all of your options before starting your next court project.