Surfacing is one of the most critical steps in constructing a tennis court. It affects the quality of the final layer that you get and use for recreational activities. Surfacing and curing an outdoor tennis court is quite manageable in favourable weather conditions. The sun's heat and the wind blowing directly over the court's surface accelerate the curing process. However, you cannot be sure about the same results when working on an indoor tennis court. It would help if you took some precautions to guarantee proper cutting for your indoor court. Here is a detailed discussion of the drying problems you might encounter:
Water-Based Resurfacing Medium
Constructing some types of indoor tennis courts requires a water-based medium. A good example is an acrylic tennis court. These indoor courts must have water to enable you to apply top layers using a squeegee and a tool with smooth, rubber blade for controlling the flow of the fresh construction material. The water medium is responsible for the even surface you desire to have by the time you finish working on the project.
The water starts to evaporate immediately after you lay down the top layer, and this could mark the start of all your problems. You need good ventilation in the room; otherwise, the air above the court will trap the rising vapour and slow down the drying and curing process. The end will be an indoor court with a marble-like finish with patches of dark and light-coloured areas.
- Solution: Make sure all your vents are open to let in as much as possible. Keep them open until the court cures fully.
Qualities of the Surface
Initially, there was mention of outdoor conditions providing the perfect environment for a tennis court to dry. Indoor tennis courts do not enjoy any of the right conditions created by rain and wind. These two elements play a crucial role in blow debris from the surface of the court. For indoor courts, there is a tendency of dirt and sand remaining on the top surface. The impurities reduce evaporation and drying. They also make the surface extremely smooth and difficult when you want to coat them with paint.
- Solution: You can prevent this by applying multiple coats of resurfacers to eliminate the effects of the impurities. Do this in cross-direction of the existing layer to ensure that the corrective resurfacing counters the effects of the layer underneath it. In the end, you will get the texture you desire for your tennis court.
To get help with a tennis court construction, contact a contractor in your area.
