If you’re looking to install a tennis court, have you considered the true cost of a tennis court installation?
Actual tennis court costs depend on a number of factors, including the size and location of the court, the type of tennis court surface you choose, and the company you hire to do the work.
However – in general – you can expect your tennis court building cost to be anywhere between £170 and £190 per square metre.
If you want a more elaborate tennis courts construction, such as a professional-grade court with lighting and other specialist equipment, you can expect to pay closer to £80,000 and upwards. Of course, if you’re simply resurfacing an existing standard tennis court, your costs will be much lower. (This is before looking into legal considerations such as planning permission!)
To help you know what sort of tennis court build costs to expect, we've broken down the typical tennis court installation costs in more detail – including construction, surfacing and maintenance costs – so that you can plan ahead and budget accordingly.
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If you were to pay for professional tennis court builders to install it, you’re likely going to be paying more money than if you did it yourself because of the cost of labour and also due to the complexity of the task.
However, it’s important to remember that a professional tennis court builder will have more experience and knowledge installing a tennis court than you're likely to have, meaning there's less chance of any mishaps or problems popping up during the installation process. Plus, they should get it done quicker than if you attempted it yourself.
On average, however, it’s thought that a tennis court construction will cost between £35,000 and £55,000, depending on all the other additional factors – some of which we've discussed below.
There are certain instances in which you’ll need planning permission for your tennis court construction.
For example, if the property is a listed building or it’s located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, chances are you’ll need some form of planning permission from your local council. Make sure that you contact them before getting construction underway; otherwise, you may be hit with hefty fines and might have to stop construction altogether.
This is an important part to consider when you build a tennis court, as it allows for the prevention of flooding on your playing surface, keeping it clear and minimising water damage.
The costs will include a good drainage system and a drainage connection point, all of which can cost you between £5,000 and £10,000.
There are many different ways that you can fence off your tennis court. Whether you’re looking for an expensive, sturdy fence or a more affordable tennis court surround system, this can be costly.
Having fencing around your court is very important, as it will reduce the number of tennis balls being lost in the surrounding area and protect players from the wind. Plus, it provides a barrier that can double as a security measure.
During tennis court construction, and indeed afterwards, it is important to have good vehicle access to your facility. Construction vehicles bringing materials will need to get as close as possible, as well as any excavation vehicles too.
Not only that, but it’s also important to have good access once the court has been built, as maintenance vehicles may need to be able to get close, and people using the tennis court will also need somewhere to park their cars.
As well as vehicle access, during construction, you may also need to ensure that you have security in place to protect vehicles and expensive materials.
Keeping the area fenced off with security barriers and even installing mobile CCTV cameras can be very beneficial. Anti-vandalism measures can also help protect the court from any potential damage.
There are many different types of surfaces you can choose for your tennis court, from traditional lawns to more modern hard courts. Choosing your surface is not only influenced by cost and aesthetics, but it also impacts the way in which your tennis matches will be played and, therefore, is influenced by your play style.
A grass court will allow players to play faster games, yet the surface will never be as consistently even as clay or hard courts. This means that the ball can be more unpredictable and require much more focus and quicker reactions. Whereas a clay court surface will provide more bounce and a slower ball for longer rallies.
There's no right or wrong choice for your type of court surface, it really depends on how you play tennis and your preferred style.
There is nothing stopping you from choosing a new surface in the future or revitalising one that you already own. In fact, it's very likely that you'll have to resurface your court surface at some point in the future, so taking into account your tennis court resurfacing costs is important too.
On average, a tennis court resurfacing project will set you back around £17,000, so ensure you’ve put plenty of thought into your choice first.
Purchasing a quality tennis net for your court is important, too, as these are obviously an integral part of the game. Buying a poor-quality tennis net will increase the risk of that net breaking or degrading much faster than one made of sturdy materials.
A net will cost you between £100 to £250, and your tennis posts can be over £2,000, depending on your choice of material and size.
The more you invest in all areas of your tennis court building costs now, the more likely you’ll have a long-lasting court that won’t require too much maintenance in the future.
A professional will be able to mark the lines on your court accurately, but it’s also possible to do this yourself, and it's not too difficult, provided you have the right tools, such as a wheel transfer line marker and line marking paint too.
You’ll also have to make sure you measure accurately and carefully, as even the smallest of mistakes can set the whole court out of balance and alignment.
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Now that we've considered the major tennis court building costs, you’ll need to follow certain steps to ensure a quality build when it comes to your tennis court installation.
To help with this, you should follow this checklist to ensure that you’ve taken the necessary steps:
Once your tennis court construction is complete, that doesn't mean the work stops there!
Keeping your tennis court well-maintained is essential if you want to keep the surface safe and comfortable to play on. Not only that, but the surrounding fences, nets, posts, pitch dividers and court lines will also need to be taken care of too.
You can do this yourself, but you can also pay for professional treatment, which may cost you upwards of £500 depending on the tasks that must be completed.
Tennis court maintenance really is an integral part of owning a court – any damage left too long could become even more expensive or render your court unusable.
Ultimately, it can be quite costly to install and maintain a tennis court, which is why it’s important to not take on a project such as this on a whim. Be certain as to what features you want for your court as well as the materials you intend to use to minimise any high costs.
Making sure you invest in your tennis court construction from the get-go is key – the higher quality the materials, the more you’ll be able to get out of your court in terms of longevity.
The average cost of a tennis court is around £45,000. But many of these costs will depend on certain factors of your tennis court, like the type of surface, the features and equipment, as well as the location.
You can most certainly do this, but you will require the skill and access to tools and materials to effectively and without issue. Hiring a professional is the recommended course of action to ensure your tennis court installation is done correctly and safely.
To install a tennis court windscreen, you will need; a tape measure, a level, a drill, 3/8" diameter jigsaw with a 3/8" diameter blade plus a 1/2" diameter jigsaw with a 1/2 " diameter blade, a utility knife, a hammer, 1/4" diameter x 3" long lag screws with washers, 3/8" diameter x 6" long lag screws with washers, 1/2" diameter x 8" long lag screws with washers.
There are a few things to keep in mind when installing tennis court lights. First, make sure you have the proper permits in place. Next, choose a location that is free of obstacles and has good drainage. Finally, hire a professional electrician to connect the lights to your power source.
The four types of tennis courts are hard courts, clay courts, grass courts, and synthetic courts.
Hard courts are made of concrete or asphalt and are the most common type of court. Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone, or brick and are slower than hard courts. Grass courts are made of grass and are the fastest type of court. Synthetic courts are made of artificial materials and are usually slower than hard courts.
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