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First world problem but it’s a distraction from politics and we like a good project.
FIL has an old tennis court that he’s asked me to ‘look into, but on a budget’ (meaning he’s tight and I’m broke).
It’s currently ‘carpet’ and I reckon last resurfaced 30 years ago - it’s a slightly sloped squishy mossy nightmare where the lines are ‘raised’ so you get the comedy bounce when the ball hits one - it’s playable, like if you put a net across a field is ‘playable’.
The kids are pre-teen so could get use of it so my first thought was ‘resurface it, perhaps DIY’ but if I go down this route and I’ve bitten off more than I can chew then the FIL will be judging me forever more (yes there is the option of treating it as a large ‘patio’ in that case’). So if this is the best plan has anyone done similar? can i mix my own tarmac and hire a road-roller for a day? or are there tiles or a new carpet I can buy? ideally I don’t want to ruin the planet whilst I’m doing this. I obviously need to look at what’s underneath so do i rip up the carpet and stare for a few days at the mess I’ve uncovered and come back here with my next post, or do I forget it all and tell him to pay a professional £30k+
Alternatively do I just suggest we hire a digger and rip it all up and rewild it all? am sure this is probably more sensible but it then makes me think is there something a bit more imaginative we could do with a tennis court space that’s not being used.
So, long story short - derelict tennis court - what would you do?
Pump track with a foam pit 🙂
If theres kids on the scene, I wouldnt worry too much about it being specifically a Tennis court - however, a fenced off, flat, safe play space should be ace for Tennis/Bike Riding/Footie/Parties/Paddling pools/RC car racing/a multitude of other things!
Mini Ramp!
You can get second hand tennis court surfacing. The fancy places will resurface long before the material is dead. My former club had the old surface from the national tennis centre (IIRC), was plenty good enough for us.
ok thanks folks but I should add - it’s that ‘80’s’ look of being in the middle of the surrounding garden (why there?!) so could do with looking quite nice - it already is the utility play space (football mainly) but just looks awful so if that’s the best plan then I’d need to resurface it somehow (even if it’s back to grass).
on the pump track idea I can’t remember if I posted on this but I thought lockdown would be a good time to learn pumps and jumps and came off on the third day and broke my arm (NHS loved me) so not going there again!
cheers though ade
You can get second hand tennis court surfacing. The fancy places will resurface long before the material is dead. My former club had the old surface from the national tennis centre (IIRC), was plenty good enough for us.
ah that’s an interesting approach - I like it - if underneath is ‘not too bad’ (with some added bodge) then a ‘nearly new’ (how I sell it to FIL) resurface could work a treat - thanks.
Alternatively do I just suggest we hire a digger and rip it all up and rewild it all? am sure this is probably more sensible but it then makes me think is there something a bit more imaginative we could do with a tennis court space that’s not being used.
Get a digger and make a massive swimming/wildlife pond! 🙂
Not point resurfacing a tennis court if it's not going to be used, or barely used.
You've answered your own question - tell FIL to get the pros in as it's not a DiY job.
Zero experience of building tennis courts, but as long as the slope isn't too big, and as long as the underlying surface is concrete, presumably you could use a self leveling screed to make it flat? Obviously the world tour doesn't have concrete courts, but it'd be fine as long as you're not throwing yourself on the ground.
DIY tarmac is a non starter, pothole repairs are easy, big areas would be impossible.
Self build house?
If there is a level base, it seems like you can buy porous rubbery floor tiles - sports tiles etc. Maybe that is a goer...?
Raised bed planters with a load of gravel thrown down in between for path surface. The tennis court surface should keep weeds down and you could grow a load of veg
Nice big pond?
Fine for helicopters. just need to paint a big H.
HTH
Some quick googleing
https://amss.co.uk/tennis-court-resurfacing/
To be fair if you went to a resin driveway company I bet it would be similar prices.
build a padel court on top of it.
thanks all - if I abandon the tennis court (or variant) plan then a big pond is a very good call
on the resurface option the link
is good - I’d seen it before and was broadly where my £30k+ thinking came from - so looking for a cheaper option if there is one (second hand surface from above is worth a shot - as is asking around the family for tarmac contacts)
thanks again folks
Would the current carpet surface clean up with a pressure washer? Might give you a workable surface if it does.
Continue the search for Animal Chin
current carpet is beyond repair - tried everything - annoying as it just needs a surface but not worth £30k to do
and
had a caballero deck in my youth - broke my ankle on a rustic half-pipe in the woods in wales - there’s a theme with me and dangerous pursuits…
also I think the tiles (suggestion above) aren’t cheap and tend to look rubbish in 5+ years
Jet wash the carpet and see how it looks.
Then if no good AstroTurf it
the problem with jet washing is that the carpet seems to be sat on a bed of sand (on top of what I don’t know, no weeds come through tho) so when you jet wash it more sand comes out and makes the depressions even worse - it’s why the white lines stay higher/rounded - they are done in some 80’s vicious paint and no water got through to wash the sand away so they’re still at the original level of the tennis course - the rest of it has sunk
Been through resurfacing tennis courts with tarmac (needs big machines and really skilled rolling) and more recently carpet (comes in massive rolls and needs mega epoxy type glue).
Whatever you use, it isn't a job you can really bodge and get a worthwhile outcome that has an even bounce and doesn't twist your ankles.
If your base isn't absolutely level and draining right your end result will be a disaster.
If your family doesn't have a passion for tennis I'd be ripping it up, getting a few tonnes of topsoil, and turning it into a 'croquet lawn' that can take a marquee for occasions.
Rodeo ?
I read that as hardcore bike polo court. I assumed some mad max element to it. I'd be in.
I believe someone who’s garden I visited a week ago decided having somewhere to park the Missus London commuter was more important than playing tennis…
We had a tennis court when i was a kid. Bloody great fun, but a lot of maintenance. Currently looks like this on Google Maps.
I think you should put tiny houses on it and invite people experiencing homelessness to sleep there.
Parquet?
Impractical, get rid of it because you'll find that love means nothing to a tennis court
HTH 🙂
Petanque area.
Golf driving range with nets.
Pump track.
Wild meadow.
I like the idea of a pond but if the idea would be a tennis court-sized one, wouldn't there have to be a water table consideration (I am asking this as a complete novice) because surely you couldn't tank something of that size and just digging a hole and filling with water won't work if it is in an elevated position.
squirrelking
Free Member
I read that as hardcore bike polo court. I assumed some mad max element to it. I’d be
It's great fun. And you aren't far off. Generally Like for like contact is acceptable stick on stick bike on bike and body to body.
Perfect for short tall steep old 26ers too.
Maybe rent it out on one of those "rent your parking space" apps. Should be able to get 20-30 cars on a tennis court - quids in if you're near an airport.
Or stick a couple of static caravans on it.
Keep the current carpet surface, sow lots of cress/chia?
Cover it in high quality 'fake' grass so it doesn't look too bad but keeps the hardpack base and then use it for whatever - rc cars, bike polo, helicopters etc
RC Car Race track? Lift the current carpet, re-profile ground underneath and relay for off-road use? Or lay tarmac for a road track?
then you just need a local club (or set one up) to come use it...
What is underneath the carpet? Easy to break up and remove?
If it's in budget I'd just want it covered in turf/grass, a big, flat lawn he can now it short and still play tennis or the Grandkids can charge about on it erecting tents riding bikes etc, good for BBQs with a bit of furniture and a pop-up gazebo for the easily burnt...
The value/uses of a big old boring rectangle of grass are often overlooked...
Let me create a small sculpture park?
Here is a sea horse as a sample of my amazing work.
[img] https://postimg.cc/bs8G266s [/img]
or perhaps I could modify this into a complete elephant?
[img] https://postimg.cc/Dm3Py3XG [/img]
Hmm, no images showing for me, possible for the best.
In all seriousness, I think the "turn it into a lawn" idea has real merit. Easy to maintain, versatile usage, minimal impact and effort. Just depends what's under the surface really.
Find a local quarry or something that'll supply an 8wheeler of topsoil (20t). You may want a professional to lay and seed it to ensure its level!
Let me create a small sculpture park?
Best check it has ambulance access first.
I worked at a school that had there courts renovated, yours sounds similar. A carpet on top of a sand bed
They first used a giant hoover to sook out all the old sand. It was on a quad bike thing and took ages. Then it was cleaned and then finally new sand was put back with giant brushes like car wash roller brushes. It was pukka when done but it took days so obviously a spendy process
But it can be done, is all
it is tempting to return it to grass but there’s already a lot of lawn and the FIL is after low to no maintenance.
We don’t have a helicopter unfortunately.
And WCA I checked with H&S and they said no I’m afraid.
@kormoran that is encouraging thanks - I do think I need a pro but if I can point them toward a refurb then we might have a plan.
Thanks all - all appreciated
Solar Farm
I don't think there is a cheap way of doing this whatever you choose, why not sell property and get something more manageable.
sell property and get something more manageable
Like a ping pong table?
Allotment, or weed farm
Wildflower meadow. Pull the astro up and recycle it. Dig some topsoil into the sand. Not too much as allegedly you are looking for low fertility to dissuade grass and give the flowers a better chance. Seed and leave. Low cost, low maintenance and bang on topic for singletrackworld.
.
it is tempting to return it to grass but there’s already a lot of lawn and the FIL is after low to no maintenance.
You cant have your cake and eat it though. I would imagine grass would take quite well on it as grass likes sand. He must have a ride on mower currently too?
Solar pannels is the other good solution, and probably the same price as repairing the tennis court?
the FIL is after low to no maintenance.
Concrete, then?
Concrete, then?
Would that need planning though, and in theory there is a maximum area you can cover in concrete ie drainage regs
Would that need planning though, and in theory there is a maximum area you can cover in concrete ie drainage regs
I've no idea, I wasn't being entirely serious.
I guess really, to my mind the question is "what does the FIL want?" if it's his property. It seems he's presented the OP with "this is a problem, make it go away" and it's now their monkey. Does he want a playground for the grandkids, something pretty to look at, a renewed tennis court, an area for wildlife, build a mancave, something else?
If the FIL's question is "I have this space, what can I do with it without spending any money?" then the answer is to put it in the **** It Bucket. Unless there's a clear idea of what he wants to do with it then what's the point when you're "on a budget"? (Spoiler: having £30k lying around to throw at a vanity project is not "on a budget.")
Once you establish a direction he wants to head in, we can worry about the How.
surely you couldn’t tank something of that size and just digging a hole and filling with water won’t work if it is in an elevated position.
Puddling. It how canals were made
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puddling_(civil_engineering)
http://www.gardeningmasterclass.co.uk/how-to-garden-ponds/puddled-clay-ponds/
I Like your thinking fasthaggis
🙂
Get it resurfaced and prepped so you can use it for rollerskating in summer and convert to an ice rink in winter!
charge the local youth to use it kerching!££€€$
MMA cage, pit grandad against the kids/pets sell tickets ££££