Pickleball Court Subsurface Construction

Pickleball Court Subsurface Construction

With your site prepared for construction, the next phase will require you to select the subsurface needed for your pickleball court. For outdoor projects, your selection of an asphalt or concrete subsurface will create unique specifications and considerations. 

Asphalt

Cushion

Asphalt subsurfaces should have a cushion layer of clean 5” granular A road gravel, compacted to 100% Standard Proctor Density.

Base

Hot-laid bituminous asphalt concrete, laid over the sub-base should be equal to 4 inches of thoroughly compacted crushed aggregate at a uniform thickness and density. The material should be compacted with an 8 to 10-ton roller, with a variance less than or equal to one-half inch over ten feet.

#4 asphalt mix or a suitable substitution with a maximum aggregate size of three-eighths of an inch, in accordance with asphalt institute specifications, should be constructed over the base course with a compacted thickness of not less than 2 inches. The surface should then be compacted with a powered steel wheel tandem roller between two and six tones. After compaction, the surface variance should be less than ⅛” inch over 10 feet in any direction.

Slope Requirements

All excavating, filling, compacting, grading, and leveling work required hereunder shall be performed so that the finished court surface slopes one inch (1") in every ten feet (10') on a true plane from side to side toward the drain. (6" drop on 60' of court width. Extreme care must be taken to insure a dead-level finish in the asphalt with no pockets to trap and hold water.

Curb

It is advisable to install a concrete curb around the perimeter of new asphalt courts. This provides a more secure fastening for the Mateflex. The curb should be twelve inches (12") wide and approximately six inches (6") deep and located within the fencing. 

Concrete

Cushion

Cushion material under paved areas shall consist of a clean 5" layer of granular A (5/8" road gravel) place-compacted to 100% Standard Proctor Density. 

Air Entraining Agent

An air-entraining agent shall be used to provide the concrete with entraining air of 6% for the total volume of the concrete.

Concrete

A 5" layer of 3000 psi concrete with a nominal size coarse aggregate not to exceed 3⁄4 inch.

Reinforcing

One (1) layer of 6/6 No. 6 steel wire mesh placed on compacted granular fill and pulled into concrete as concrete is placed. Mesh to 

be in the concrete slab.
 

Finishing

Surface to be Darby finished with a magnesium float and final finish with a corn broom for a semi-smooth surface.
 

Curing Slabs

The concrete immediately after finishing shall be kept continuously moist for seven (7) days by covering with continuously wetted burlap or building paper.

Expansion

Use 1⁄2" x 5" flexcell or fibreboard expansion joint material or saw cut with a concrete saw to a depth of 1". A combination of both methods will prove acceptable.

Fill saw cuts with elastomeric sealing compound.

All expansion joints must be in level plane with concrete surface. No Protrusions or recesses are acceptable.
 

Slope

All excavating, filling, compacting, grading and leveling work required hereunder shall be performed so that the finished court surface slopes one inch (1") in each fifteen feet (15’) on a true plane from side to side toward the drain. (4" drop on 60' of court width.) 

Extreme care must be taken to ensure a dead-level finish in the concrete with no pockets to trap and hold water.