Looking after a Macadam Tennis Court:
Macadam is by far the UK’s most popular tennis surface in domestic gardens and at clubs. The structure consists of a permeable foundation of broken, graded stone, on which the asphalt base-course and wearing course (or playing surface) are laid. This is then coated with spray applied coloured paint coatings in a two-tone colour scheme & white playing lines.
The resulting tennis surface is fully porous, hard-wearing, can be played on throughout the year and requires relatively little maintenance.
The maintenance procedures are designed to ensure that:
The playing surface is kept clean.
The free drainage of surface water is maintained throughout the life of the court.
The court looks attractive and well cared for.
The court has a reasonable, useful life span.
These objectives are achieved by:
Sweeping or blowing off leaves and other detritus from the surface.
Killing moss & algae.
Occasionally cleaning the surface.
Keeping the Surface Clean
Leaves, tree flowers, pine needles and other detritus should not be allowed to remain on the surface for any length of time. If this happens they will rot down and settle into the pores of the tarmac, reducing drainage and providing a growing environment for algae and moss. Regularly removal using either a leaf blower or sweeping from the surface is recommended.
Algae & Moss Treatment
Moss & algae will grow on porous macadam tennis courts that if left un-treated and allowed to establish can become a serious problem. Pro-active maintenance once or twice a year will control this growth, particularly on shaded parts of the court. If moss & algae continue to grow, the court will eventually become slippery and professional cleaning may be needed.
Any good proprietary product should be satisfactory, provided that it is not oil-based. The manufacturer's instructions should be closely followed. In the case of severe moss growth, a specilaist maintenance contractor such as ourselves should be consulted.
Surface Cleaning
Periodical surface cleaning will keep the surface interstices clean and free-draining, but is also essential for maintaining a good foothold.
Courts near busy roads are particularly susceptible to becoming coated with “traffic film”, while those near trees may become coated with “honey-dew” from aphids. The resulting black film from either can make the courts very slippery after rain.
If the water pressure is reasonably high, washing can be carried out with a domestic hosepipe. Even more effective are cold water pressure washers, which must be used with care with the greatest attention being paid to ensure the process does not dislodge the coloured surface coating or stone.
Please do not hesitate to contact TLC Courts on 07376 379257 / info@tlccourts.co.uk if you would like further infomation or to discuss maintenance to your court.