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When considering the construction of a tennis court, it is important to understand the basic differences between asphalt and post-tensioned concrete courts.
Asphalt maintains its popularity in part due to its relatively low cost, readily available materials, and ease of installation. Designers and builders have attempted to make adjustments to the typical parking lot asphalt mixes to make them more suitable for tennis court applications, but these specialty mixes are costly and result in challenges to both asphalt producers and installers.
When considering the increased cost of specialty asphalt mixes and the challenges of controlling asphalt quality, post-tension concrete courts are a much more feasible option. A well-constructed, properly maintained post-tension concrete court can provide decades of recreational enjoyment.
Post-tension concrete courts are named after the process used to construct them. Concrete is poured over cables or tendons that extend from one end of the court to the other. These cables are mechanically tightened, slowly, as the concrete hardens. This process creates tension loads within the concrete, preventing the large cracks that eventually occur in asphalt tennis courts.
The primary benefit of post-tension concrete courts over traditional asphalt courts is longevity. If you’re lucky, an asphalt court will last about 10 years. Thermal expansion, UV exposure, and freeze-thaw cycles all contribute to asphalt surfaces degrading in quality over time.
Post-tensioned concrete is a rigid, reinforced concrete pavement. By design, it eliminates the jointing and cracking that plague asphalt courts. Post-tension concrete courts will last up to 25 years or longer.
Budgetary constraints are often a primary factor in selecting either asphalt or post-tensioned concrete. While asphalt systems have a lower initial cost, higher maintenance costs and an overall shorter lifespan is expected. Post-tensioned courts are more expensive to install initially, but require less maintenance over the life of the court, and have a significantly longer overall life expectancy. You will see a considerable return on that initial investment by avoiding costly court replacement.
The durability and lifespan of post-tension concrete not only means capitalizing on your investment and reducing ongoing maintenance costs, but it also means less downtime caused by repairs. You will lose access to asphalt courts for up to 90 days over that time to make necessary repairs, compared with just 12 days for post-tensioned concrete courts.
Poor drainage and unstable subgrade soils also cause poor surface conditions on asphalt courts. Because the concrete is held together with tendons, post-tension concrete courts are more durable than asphalt or other types of courts. This makes them a better choice if there are drainage issues or unsuitable soil in the location where you want to build the court. Regions of the country with expansive soils have been using post-tensioned concrete for decades, with great success in residential and commercial applications.
Asphalt courts can also develop low areas over time due to settling of the soil or base under the asphalt surface. With a post-tensioned slab, this area can be bridged and no settling will occur. In addition, concrete courts can often be installed on unstable soils where it would be cost-prohibitive to do extensive excavating and base work to support an asphalt court.
“It is vitally important to get the right design from the designer and/or builder and hire a builder who has a thorough understanding and experience with post-tension cables, concrete mix design, vapor barrier and site conditions for tennis courts.”