How We Build & Resurface Sport Courts
A court is only as good
as the ground beneath it.
Every project runs through the same four phases: site analysis, structural repair, surface application, and finish. Here is what happens in each, and why we do not skip steps.
Four Phases
From survey to final stripe.
The same sequence whether we are building new or bringing an old court back.
Phase 01
Site analysis & civil prep
In Northwest Washington, drainage is everything. We begin with a laser-level survey to identify low spots and calculate slope, and make sure the sub-base — asphalt or concrete — is sound and planar before any acrylic is mixed.
- ✓ Laser elevation mapping
- ✓ Moisture vapor transmission testing
- ✓ Sub-base pressure washing & degreasing
Phase 02
Structural remediation
Cracks are structural vulnerabilities, not just eyesores. High-tensile membrane systems bridge cracks so they do not reflect back through the new surface during freeze-thaw cycles.
- ✓ Crack repair systems
- ✓ Acrylic court patch binder
- ✓ Birdbath (low spot) leveling
Phase 03
Surface application
Multiple coats of silica-sand reinforced acrylic. The sand gives the grip and ball speed needed for safe play; the pigmented acrylic provides UV protection and color.
- ✓ Resurfacer base coats
- ✓ Pigmented color coats
- ✓ Hand-squeegee application
Phase 04
Lines, nets & finish
Lines are masked and painted with textured line paint so they grip like the rest of the court. Then net posts and hardware go in, and the court is inspected and cleared for play.
- ✓ Masked line definition
- ✓ Textured no-slip line paint
- ✓ Net post & hardware installation
Standards
Materials and standards.
What goes on the court, and the specs it is built to.
Lines are pulled to the standard the court is being built for — USTA for tennis, USA Pickleball for pickleball — rather than approximated. Surfacing uses acrylic systems from established manufacturers including California Sports Surfaces and Plexipave, applied as a resurfacer base coat, two pigmented color coats, and textured line paint.
Cushioned systems are available where joint comfort is a priority, which is common on courts that will see a lot of pickleball or a lot of older players. There are more than ten color choices, and the combination affects perceived ball speed as well as how hot the surface runs in direct sun.
Timing
Working around the Northwest Washington season.
Weather, not labor, sets most schedules here.
Acrylic surfacing needs dry, warm conditions to cure, which compresses the usable season here to roughly late spring through early fall. Base work, excavation, and concrete can often proceed outside that window, but the surfacing itself cannot be rushed into weather that will not let it cure.
The practical consequence is that scheduling matters more here than in drier climates. A court decided on in July is usually surfaced that season; a court decided on in October is usually a spring project. Booking the site survey early costs nothing and keeps the option open.
Every year
Gentle wash
A low-pressure wash once a year removes the algae and moss spores common in Northwest Washington.
Every 5–7 years
Top-coat refresh
Keeps UV protection and play texture where they should be, at a fraction of the cost of full remediation.
As needed
Crack repair
Catching cracks early keeps water out of the base, which is what turns a small repair into a rebuild.
Questions about how we work
What is the first step in a court project?
A free on-site survey. We look at drainage patterns, sun direction, access for equipment, and how the court fits the lot. Nothing gets quoted accurately from photographs alone, which is why the visit comes first.
Why do you recommend post-tensioned concrete?
It resists the cracking that freeze-thaw cycles cause, which is the main way courts fail in this climate. Standard reinforced concrete and asphalt are both workable, but post-tensioned concrete is what we recommend when the goal is a court that still looks right in fifteen years.
What is a birdbath on a court?
A low spot that holds standing water after rain. Courts are built to a slope of about one percent so water sheets off; where settling or poor original grading has created depressions, we level them with acrylic patch binder before any surfacing goes down.
How often should a court be washed?
Once a year, with a gentle low-pressure wash. That removes the algae and moss spores that are a fact of life in Northwest Washington and that will otherwise make a court slick and shorten the life of the coating.
When should a court be re-coated?
Every five to seven years for a top-coat refresh. That keeps the UV protection intact and the play texture consistent, and it is far cheaper than waiting until the surface has failed and needs full remediation.
Do you do commercial and public works projects?
Yes. We take on prevailing wage and public projects alongside residential work, and we work with specified systems including Plexipave when a project calls for a particular manufacturer.
Related pages
- new court construction — if you are starting from bare ground.
- resurfacing and crack repair — if the court is already there and showing its age.
- multi-sport conversions — to add pickleball or basketball to what you have.
- all services — across tennis, pickleball, basketball, and sand volleyball.
We work throughout Northwest Washington — Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, and San Juan Counties — including Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Stanwood, Marysville, and Friday Harbor. Site visits are free anywhere in that range.
Ready to talk through your court?
Free on-site estimates across Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, and San Juan Counties. We come out, look at your space, and give you a real number.
Or call (360) 504-8647Licensed and insured in Washington. Lynden-based crew.