Tennis and Basketball Court Construction in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is known for its swimming pool backyards. But have you ever considered installing a basketball court or a tennis court on your property, or even a pickleball court? Believe it or not, it’s possible. By installing a concrete tennis/pickleball or basketball court you can ensure that you always have the home court advantage.

Concrete Vs. Asphalt Tennis/Pickleball and Basketball Courts in Los Angeles

When considering installing a game court on your property, your first inclination may be to install asphalt or blacktop. While this may be cheaper, it may cost you more in the long run. Why? Concrete is a far more durable material. With asphalt, you are running the risk of cracks and continual maintenance. Not only that, over time asphalt develops low areas due to settling soil or the base underneath. Concrete is not only more resistant to cracks, but it’s also low maintenance and more durable.

Not only that, but you can stain your concrete, so you don’t find yourself playing on the typical black top. You could stain your tennis court concrete green and never have to worry about repainting the main surface. `Want a reddish color to your basketball court? You can stain it while it is being poured.

Pickleball Court Contractor Los Angeles

We all know that pickleball is all the rage right now. But how many times have you gone to the park, only to find all the courts are taken? Worse yet, you have to make a reservation for a pickleball court. This is not fine dining. This is a pickleball game! Who wants to have to make a reservation for a game of pickleball?

Lucky for you, the solution is right in your backyard. A standard pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet. That’s a little bigger than a two-car driveway. If you figure that a standard backyard in California is 5,000 square feet, there is more than enough room for a pickleball court in your backyard. 

What kind of concrete tennis/pickleball or basketball court should I install in Los Angeles?

Once you’ve decided to install a concrete tennis or basketball court, you have to decide what kind of concrete to install. There are two types to choose from: reinforced concrete and post-tensioned concrete.

What is reinforced concrete?

You’re probably most familiar with reinforced concrete. This is concrete that has metal rebar installed before the concrete is poured. This makes the concrete more durable. In fact, a reinforced concrete slab can last up to 50 years! The rebar prevents small cracks from getting larger by preventing cracked slabs from pulling apart. This makes reinforced concrete a solid choice for your tennis or basketball court.

What is post-tensioned concrete?

An even better choice for your tennis or basketball court in Los Angeles is post-tensioned concrete. The American Sports Builders Association promotes post-tensioned as providing the best overall performance. 

Post-tensioned concrete uses steel cables, as opposed to rebar. The cables are tensioned in both directions and held permanently under stress while the concrete is curing. This means that the finished concrete is less likely to develop shrinkage cracks. Why does this matter? This means that contractors can build larger slabs using thinner concrete sections. Also, control joints, which may interfere with your game, don’t have to be installed. 

What to consider when installing a tennis/pickleball or basketball court in Los Angeles

As with any large home improvement project, there are many things to consider. 

• Size: Do you have enough space at your home for a tennis, pickleball or basketball court? 

  • Pickleball: A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long (about 880 square feet). If you’re going for regulation play, the minimum playing surface required by USA Pickleball measures 30 feet wide by 60 feet long, adding plenty of room to all sides of the court. 

  • Tennis: If you are planning to play doubles tennis, a regulation size court is 60 feet by 120 feet. You also need to give your contractor room to include the installation of drainage, landscaping and fencing. You can always downsize to a slightly smaller court.

  • Basketball: A full-size NBA regulation court is 94 feet long by 50 feet wide. Again, your backyard may not be regulation size. However, you can install a half court for some one-on-one games. What about extending your driveway to make way for your court?

• Orientation: Who wants to play with the full sun in their eyes? Check out your space to determine the right orientation for your court. A north-south orientation could be the best compromise between the early morning and late afternoon sun. 

• Drainage: While Southern California is known for our sunny skies, water drainage is still a consideration in every large home project. Getting the proper slope when installing your court is critical to allow water to drain away from your tennis or basketball court. The ground should be level or higher than adjacent land.

• Soil Conditions: Even the most well-constructed tennis and basketball court can fail if it’s built on an unstable subsurface. Consult with a geological engineer to perform a soil analysis to make sure the soil beneath your court is sturdy enough for your game court. 

Hard or Soft? What kind of play surface do you want for your tennis/pickleball or basketball court in Los Angeles?

So you’ve planned out your tennis/pickleball or basketball court. You’ve figured out where it will be placed on your property. You’ve planned for drainage and installation. There’s just one more thing to decide -- do you want to play on the hard concrete or install a softer surface on top of your concrete? After all, the court surface not only affects your play, but also your joints. 

Hard concrete surfaces will provide a fast speed of play for tennis, pickleball or basketball. But it also impacts your joints. If that’s not what you want, you may want to opt for acrylic color coatings and cushioning systems to adapt the court surface to your style of play.

Acrylic color coatings not only improve foot traction and more consistent ball bounce, but they can also protect your court from the elements and make your court more aesthetically pleasing. They are made from a combination of acrylic latex resins, pigments and silica sand for texture. You can tailor the coating to match your preferred speed of play.  

A cushioned surfacing system will take the edge off your joints even more. This system consists of one or more layers of cushioning material (usually rubber or plastic) that will give your court a surface with good traction and ball response. These are popular because they allow for longer playing time because the cushion absorbs impact while you play, and reduces your muscle fatigue.

Easier to install modular tile systems are also available. This system consists of 12-inch interlocking square tiles made of high-impact polypropylene. They sit slightly above the base surface to allow for better drainage. While these do cost a little more, they do offer a long service life and minimal maintenance.

How much will a tennis/pickleball or basketball court cost in Los Angeles?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $15 per square foot to $20 per square foot to install a pickleball, tennis or basketball court. That’s just for the court surface. The nets and hoops will be extra. That’s when you want to make a decision about whether you want to install in-ground posts and nets, or an in-ground basketball hoop. You may want the option of using portable nets and hoops.

When you hire a licensed concrete contractor, they will ensure that your court is installed correctly, to avoid immediate cracks in the surface. Your court site will be excavated, then roadbase (a layer of compacted rock) is installed before the concrete is poured.

All told, you can expect your court to be installed in as little as one to two weeks. The beauty of concrete projects is that they’re pretty simple and quick. 

Ready to play some hoops or swing the tennis racket at your house? Call the experts at Concrete Décor Contractor. Call (818) 722-8124 to schedule your first consultation. We’ll make installing a tennis or basketball court a breeze!

Check out our other services:

• Repairing Driveway Aprons and Sidewalks

• Installing Grass Strip Driveways

• Concrete Patios

• Concrete Porches and Steps