If you have an indoor court, you can use it all year round, but such is not the case with outdoor courts, not here in Utah, anyway. Whether or not you can use outdoor courts depends on the weather. As such, it’s no surprise that the best time of year to get court surfacing is also weather dependent. 

If you live in an area that stays sunny and balmy all year round, then the best time of year to get court surfacing could be pretty much anytime. For other climates, though, the best time of year to get surfacing depends on the temperatures and weather.

Here is what you need to know about when the best time of year to get court surfacing is and why this is the case. 

The Best Time Of Year To Get Court Surfacing Is:

Not during the winter!

It is best to get court surfacing done in the spring, summer, and fall months. It is not recommended to try to get court surfacing done during the winter months. Of course, if you live somewhere like sunny California or somewhere else that is temperate all year round, this recommendation may not apply to you. 

It’s advised against getting surfacing in the winter because the temperature must be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and rising prior to application. The mixture must not be allowed to freeze. The temperature must stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 24 hours. You should not get court surfacing done when rain is imminent or forecasted. 

In fact, many court surfacing companies close down during the winter months and reopen come spring. This is due to the fact that the weather often prevents them from being able to do their job. 

What Happens If You Try To Get Court Surfacing In The Winter

If you try to have court surfacing installed when the weather drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, this will lead to failure. The surface will need to be removed and reapplied in order to look good. Drying will take longer when the temperature is in the 50s or 60s or the court is in a shady area. If the court is in the sun and it’s in the 70s or higher, the court will dry faster. 

Most courts are installed in the morning when it’s warm but not too hot. This gives the courts plenty of sunlight to dry and keeps the workers safe from overheating. 

How To Prepare Your Court For Surfacing

Prior to application, the court surface must be cleaned entirely of all dust, dirt, and debris. If it is a new asphalt court, the asphalt must have been allowed to cure for at least 14-30 days prior to application. New concrete courts must cure for at least 28 days prior to application. 

If you are getting court resurfacing, all repairs to the court surface must be taken care of before application. Cracks and depressions and other defects must be repaired and the court surface must be smooth and flat. 

What Surfacing Consists Of

Standard court surfaces have the base, the resurfacer, the color coat, and the line paint. We here at Pickle Court Surfacing use SportMaster products to ensure that our clients have the best quality courts possible. The SportMaster cushioned system has the base, resurfacer, CushionMaster II, CushionMaster I, color coat, and line paint. 

Each coat must be allowed to dry completely before the next coat can be applied. Coats take an average of 30 minutes to 2 hours to dry completely. How fast they dry depends on the temperature, weather conditions, and ventilation. 

Ensure that you allow your new court surface at least 48 hours before you open it up for play, to ensure that it is completely dried and ready for use. 

Remember that the construction of your court plays a significant role in how long it will last and how long your court surface will last between resurfacing jobs. You must also ensure that you are taking good care of your court. Check out our previous blog: How To Maintain A Court: Essential Steps, to learn more about how to maintain your court.

Do You Need Court Surfacing?

Pickle Court Surfacing provides state-of-the-art surfacing services in Northern Utah. We specialize in pickleball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, and multi-purpose courts. Contact us today for your free estimate or for more information about our services.

Courts last an average of 9-25 years depending on the materials they’re constructed out of, how well they were built, the type of use they see, and how well you maintain them. In order to ensure that your court lasts as long as possible, ensure that you know how to maintain a court properly. Without proper maintenance, you’ll need to get court resurfacing done more frequently, costing you more money in the long run.

Here is what you need to know about common court issues that maintenance can help with and what you can do to maintain a court.

Common Issues With Courts

When you take all the necessary steps to maintain a court regularly, you can delay the onset or worsening of some of these issues and prevent others. Even with regular maintenance, some of the following issues may still occur as a simple result of aging and wear and tear.

Some common issues with courts include:

• Rusting
• Algae
• Mold and mildew (especially if the court is under tree cover)
• Birdbaths
• Cracks (these can happen from ground movement, age, and the weather)
• Fading (this is more of a concern with outdoor courts)
• Bubbles/blisters

Some issues, like birdbaths, may still occur over time, even when you routinely maintain a court. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you aren’t doing a good job maintaining your court. Issues like depressions in court surfaces (aka birdbaths) can occur due to regular wear from players’ games, as well as from ground shifting and settling. 

How Much Maintenance Do Courts Need?

Not much! Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to maintain a court. You want to clean them regularly, but you don’t need to be obsessive about it. The exception to this is if the court is used professionally. Professional courts must be pristine and perfectly smooth at all times. Recreational courts, on the other hand, can handle only being cleaned when you see dirt. 

How To Maintain Your Court

There’s a lot you can do to maintain a court. While listed all at once like we’ve done below, it may seem overwhelming, maintaining your court isn’t a daunting task. For example, some of the ways you maintain a court you only need to worry about every 4-8 years, like resurfacing. 

Maintenance needs vary depending on whether you have an indoor or outdoor court. You must bear things like landscaping and drainage in mind for outdoor courts. 

Here is what you can do to maintain your court.

• Sweep regularly. You only need to sweep when you notice dirt and debris on the court. Once a week usually suffices, though your court’s needs may vary depending on where it is and how much use it gets. 
• Check for mold and mildew. You especially need to do this if your court is outside under tree cover or your area regularly has wet or humid conditions. Check shaded corners and areas where organic debris tends to accumulate.
• Clean regularly. Ensure that you use the correct cleaners. No not use acid-based cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, or full-strength strippers, as these can damage your court surface. Clean any food and spills right away, as they could cause stains. Scrape gum off. Shoe marks can be cleaned with cleaners.
• Maintain the surrounding landscape. This prevents water from pooling on your court and causing damage. 
• Use the correct equipment. When you clean your court, use soft-bristled brushes, never hard-bristled brushes. This is because hard-bristled brushes could damage your courts surface. 
• Remove standing water. While proper drainage should prevent standing water, it can still occur due to improper drainage or landscape blocking drains. Remove it promptly to prevent issues like mold growth.
• Set rules for damage prevention. You can put up a sign by the entrance to your court with your rules. Common rules to maintain a court include: no marking soles, no food or drinks on the court, no dragging things across it, and no rollerblading/skating/bikes.
• Repair as needed. When you address any issues sooner rather than later, you prevent further damage to your court. Fill any cracks before they get the chance to grow. If you’re ever uncertain about whether your court can be repaired or if it would be best to have it resurfaced, don’t hesitate to ask your local court resurfacing company. 
• Resurface as needed. Even the most well-maintained court will need to be resurfaced every 4-8 years.

State-Of-The-Art Court Surfaces In Northern Utah

We here at Pickle Court Surfacing use SportMaster court surfaces. SportMaster recommends cleaning your court once a month, as a general rule. We’re here to provide you with stunning court surfaces, and are happy to help you learn how to maintain a court so yours stays in good condition for as long as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our court surfacing services.