BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. We are many things – your pickleball court construction company, pickleball court contractor, pickleball court builder, and pickleball court installation company. We will work with you to give you a sense for your pickleball court cost. We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your backyard pickleball court project.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. The courts are much smaller than a tennis court, so there is much less running involved. The smaller court makes pickleball easier to learn. Pickleball is a low impact, fun and social experience.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America.
The courts are much smaller than a tennis court, so there is much less running involved.
The smaller court makes pickleball easier to learn. Pickleball is a low impact, fun and social experience.
We are many things – your pickleball court construction company, pickleball court contractor,
pickleball court builder, and pickleball court installation company.
We will work with you to give you a sense for your pickleball court cost.
We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your backyard pickleball court project.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America.
The courts are much smaller than a tennis court, so
there is much less running involved.
The smaller court makes pickleball easier to learn.
Pickleball is a low impact, fun and social experience.
We are many things – your pickleball construction company,
pickleball court contractor, pickleball court builder,
pickleball court installation company, and pickleball court builder.
We will work with you to give you a sense for your pickleball court cost.
We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your backyard pickleball court project.
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT VIDEO
Our customer George loved his new backyard pickleball court so much, he decided to film a short video of a game with some friends. This is a modular tile pickleball court. We also build hardcourt pickleball courts. The small court size of pickleball makes it a very social experience.
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT PHOTOS
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT DIMENSIONS
The court size for your pickleball court will depend on the space you have, obstructions, type of court usage, and many other factors. Pickleball courts have the same dimensions as badminton courts (20′ x 44′). Four pickleball courts can fit inside one tennis court.
Therefore, young players or players needing a low impact sport can play pickleball with ease. As your local pickleball court contractor and pickleball court construction firm, we will work with you to make your court as large as the space you have to build on. However, here are some guidelines to help you.
The court size for your pickleball court will depend on the space you have,
obstructions, type of court usage, and many other factors.
Pickleball courts have the same dimensions as badminton courts (20′ x 44′).
Four pickleball courts can fit inside one tennis court.
Therefore, young players or players needing a low impact sport can play pickleball with ease.
As your local pickleball court contractor and pickleball court construction firm,
we will work with you to make your court as large as the space you have to build on.
However, here are some guidelines to help you.
The court size for your pickleball court will depend on the space you have,
obstructions, type of court usage, and many other factors.
Pickleball courts have the same dimensions as badminton courts (20′ x 44′).
Four pickleball courts can fit inside one tennis court.
Therefore, young players or players needing a low
impact sport can play pickleball with ease.
As your local pickleball court contractor and pickleball court construction firm,
we will work with you to make your court as large as the space you have to build on.
However, here are some guidelines to help you.
Pickleball court size
suggested by USA Pickleball
30’W x 60’L
court size for backyard courts
34’W x 64’L
court size for competitive play
(as shown above)
Reduced pickleball court size
28’W x 55’L
minimum suggested size
for a backyard court
50′ long court would likely require stepping
off the court to play a ball. Less than 50′ long court
would result in non regulation court lines.
28′ x 50′ as shown above
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT CONSTRUCTION
There are only two industry recommended ways to build a pickleball court – with an asphalt base, or with a post-tension concrete base. Asphalt bases are common with older tennis courts. Asphalt bases are cheaper to build. However, asphalt courts tend to start cracking after about 10 years or less. After cracks start to appear, they will get wider over time, and cracks may appear in new areas. Eventually asphalt courts will not be repairable, and may require a complete replacement.
Post-tension concrete is growing in popularity as the superior alternative to asphalt courts. While the pickleball court cost is higher, post-tension concrete courts have an expected lifespan of 25 years or more. When evaluated over the expected lifespan, post-tension courts have a lower total cost of ownership when factoring in asphalt repair costs and potential need for complete court replacement.
Standard 4″ rebar reinforced concrete is not a recommended method to build a pickleball court. This type of concrete requires control joints on the surface. The joints are weak points which even after being filled, will likely lead to cracks on the court surface. Furthermore, standard concrete has none of the crack resistant benefits of post-tension concrete.
We specialize in post-tension pickleball court construction. Our post-tension cables come from a plant which is certified by the Post-Tension Institute. We are proud to be one of the only pickleball court builders in Northern California who can offer this superior method of pickleball court construction.
BENEFITS OF POST-TENSION
PICKLEBALL COURT CONSTRUCTION
- Durable – post-tension courts have an expected lifespan of 25+ years, as compared to 10 or less for asphalt courts.
- Minimizes and controls cracking – the cables keep the concrete under compression, preventing cracks from forming, and preventing any cracks that do form from expanding after being filled. Asphalt has no resistance to cracking. Any cracks that do form leads to moisture intrusion which further damages the asphalt.
- No control joints – post-tension courts do not require control joints, which means there are no weak points which would likely lead to cracks.
- Controls deflection – on expansive soils or on courts built on a slope, the strength and added stiffness reduces the amount the slab will bend and fail. This means that the concrete is less likely to settle at the corners and edges.
- Resists root damage – post-tension concrete is 5.5″ thick, as compared to 1-2″ for asphalt, and 4″ for rebar reinforced concrete. This makes post-tension concrete highly resistant to root damage. Root damage is one of the most common causes of cracking in asphalt courts.
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT RESURFACING
Pickleball court resurfacing is needed after some years of use. For frequently used pickleball courts, resurfacing is usually needed about every five years. For customers who have an existing tennis or basketball court, another common project is to add pickleball court lines.
For commercial tennis courts, up to four pickleball courts can be installed for each 60′ x 120′ tennis court. For backyard tennis courts, customers usually add one or two pickleball courts and one or two basketball court lines. Court lines can be different colors for better contrast. Assuming that white is the primary line color, black is often chosen as a second line color. Yellow is a popular third color choice.
The pickleball court cost may include replacing your old worn out net poles and net, and installing a new ball containment fence, or repairing/replacing an existing fence.
Many color options are now available other than the traditional green. We can do interesting colors such as lime green, brown, gray, black, teal, and red. We can help design your inner and outer courts with a custom drawing so you can see what your color choices would look like. As your local pickleball court builder and pickleball court contractor, we will guide you through the color options.
PICKLEBALL COURT REPAIR
Pickleball courts may crack over time, especially if the base was constructed with asphalt. Most pickleball courts can be repaired. The easiest cracks to repair are the cracks which are less than 1/2″ wide, and level on both sides. These small cracks can be filled, usually with good results. Cracks wider than 1/2″ are a bit more difficult to fill, and a different repair method is used. We typically use a slurry of cement and court patch binder to repair these sorts of cracks. The most difficult pickleball court repairs are the cracks over 1/2″ where one edge of the crack is not even with the other edge. These cracks may require demolishing a larger area. In some cases a court is not repairable. As your local pickleball court resurfacing company, we will give you an assessment of how repairable your court is.
Another common repair is to fill in control joints. Control joints are the grooves or channels that are wet tooled or cut into standard rebar reinforced concrete. A court with control joints indicates that the base was not built properly, as rebar reinforced concrete is not an approved base for a pickleball court. However, some customers will build a concrete base with control joints and ask us to surface it for pickleball. While we cannot guarantee against future cracks, control joints can be filled and covered with an overlay product to protect against future cracks. As your local pickleball court resurfacing company and pickleball court builder, we will recommend the most suitable product for your court.
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT FENCING
Most pickleball court installations have fencing, for ball containment as well as safety. No more chasing after balls that go over the fence! Fence heights range from 6′ to 10′. The recommended fence height depends on the location of the court, any nearby obstructions, and if it is close to a busy street. Pickleball fences commonly have a dropped middle section for better viewing. There are many options for fencing, including fence height, gate locations, style of dropped middle sections, and more. As your local pickleball court contractor and pickleball court construction firm, we will work with you to design a fence to fit your budget and desired pickleball court cost.
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT LIGHTING
Court lighting is specialized. Your lights should provide maximum brightness. Also, having lighting which covers your entire court is important. In addition, it is important to reduce shadows and glare. The best lighting setup for a standard size pickleball court is four pole mounted LED lights. However, not everyone wants that many lights. For your pickleball court installation, we can design a custom lighting setup to fit your budget and desired pickleball court cost. As your local pickleball court builder, we will design the best lighting setup for your home or facility.
PICKLEBALL HISTORY
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington by three friends: Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum. As the story goes, the three men were looking for a fun and entertaining activity to keep their families engaged during the summer. At first, they wanted to play badminton. However, they could not find the shuttlecock, so they used a wiffle ball instead. They lowered the badminton net to a height suitable for their backyard.
Pritchard and Bell’s families enjoyed the new game they had created. Soon they began changing the rules and equipment. They used paddles made of plywood, and a plastic ball with holes. This helped the ball move slower and allowed for better control. The name “pickleball” has an interesting origin. According to the story, the Pritchards had a dog named Pickles who would often run off with the ball. As a result, the players would often say they were playing “Pickle’s ball”. Over time the name was shortened to pickleball.
As the game gained popularity locally, it quickly spread to nearby towns and across the United States. In the following years, organizations and associations were established to promote and govern the sport. The USA Pickleball Association was founded in 1984 and has played a big role in the rules and equipment used in pickleball.
Today, pickleball has become a global sport, with players in many countries. The sport continues to grow, with pickleball tournaments, leagues, and clubs all over the world. Its social nature has made it a favorite sport for many.
CONNECT WITH US
If you like what you see so far, please consider liking or following us on your favorite social media! We regularly post photos of completed projects, as well as updates about the company.
Help us build a community of like minded court enthusiasts!
If you like what you see so far, please consider liking or following us on your favorite social media!
We regularly post photos of completed projects, as well as updates about the company.
Help us build a community of like minded court enthusiasts!
BACKYARD PICKLEBALL
COURT CONSTRUCTION FAQs
There are many public pickleball courts here in the Bay Area. However, they can get very crowded, especially on the weekends. The interest in pickleball is growing faster than the rate of pickleball court construction. You may have to wait in line to play. With your own court, you can play in the privacy of your home. And you do not need to drive anywhere or wait in line! Finally, a pickleball court is a beautiful amenity you can add to your home or facility.
The pickleball court cost is different for each project. The starting point is the size of the court. Are you looking for a regulation 30′ x 60′ court? How much site prep is required? If the court location is on a slope, then the excavation, grading, and dirt offhaul will add to the cost. In addition, access is very important. We dig with an excavator. If there is no access, then hand digging might be the only option. This would increase the pickleball court cost.
There are two ways to build a backyard pickleball court. One way is post-tension concrete. The other is with asphalt. While post-tension concrete is a higher initial investment, it has many benefits. It reduces the severity of cracks. This gives post-tension courts an expected lifespan of 25+ years. In comparison, asphalt courts will tend to start cracking after 10 years or less. Asphalt cracks easily because it shrinks over time. Also it cracks due to the weather. Also, asphalt becomes more brittle as it ages. After asphalt courts start cracking, the cracks will tend to worsen over time. This will likely require constant repairs over time. As a result, asphalt courts may eventually need to be completely replaced.
In contrast to asphalt, post-tension concrete reduces or even prevents cracks. Post-tension concrete is built with steel cables. The cables are tensioned after the concrete is poured. This keeps the concrete under compression in both directions. This greatly reduces cracks. As your local pickleball court contractor, and pickleball court installation company, we focus on post-tension concrete. Post-tension concrete will give you the best quality pickleball court. Also the cost of ownership is lower when you factor in the lifespan of the court.
The best surface for pickleball is an acrylic hardcourt. This is identical to a tennis court surface, and offers the best bounce for pickleball. We also install modular tile pickleball courts, however the bounce is not quite as good or consistent.
That depends on the condition of your existing backyard pickleball court. Most older hardcourts will have some cracks in need of repair. If both sides of a crack are the same level, then it can usually be repaired. However, if one side of a crack is higher or lower than the other side of the crack, then those are much more difficult to repair. Low lying “birdbaths” which collect water can usually be filled. High areas are more difficult and costly to repair. Court repairs can easily cost more than the cost of the resurfacing. Every court is different and so repair costs will vary.
- Standard net posts. These are your traditional 3′ tall net posts, available in either green or black. They are in ground posts which are secured with a concrete footing.
- Height adjustable net posts. These net posts are 10′ tall, and are height adjustable for other sports like volleyball and badminton. These posts are available in black. These are in ground posts which are secured with a concrete footing.
- Ground sleeves – available for both standard and height adjustable net posts, this allows you to remove the posts when not in use.
Many pickleball courts have fencing, for ball containment. We install black vinyl coated chain link fence. Typical fence height is 6′, with an optional dropped middle section for less obstruction and enhanced viewing in the center area. As your local pickleball court contractor, we will work with you to design your fence given your preferences, and the available space of your home or facility.
Court lighting is specialized and is thus different from most other kinds of lighting. Court lighting faces straight down at the court. This is important for several reasons. Glare is minimized when lighting is downward facing. Also, this is important to ensure even coverage of lighting across the entire court.
The time to build a pickleball court is about 6-7 weeks. This is because we need to let the post-tension concrete cure for a full 30 days before the acrylic surface is applied. As far as the start date, that depends on you. We require a signed contract and deposit to add your project to our queue. We start projects in the order in which we receive a signed contract and deposit. So the sooner you make a decision, the sooner we can potentially start your project.
Every city has certain setback requirements. For example, one common setback is 10′ at the side of your home. This means that you can’t build a structure within 10′ of your property line. However, your city may not consider a court a structure. The answer will vary from city to city. The answer might even vary from person to person within a city building and planning department. This is not construction advice. Please call your local building department.
However, there is an important consideration. In most cities, counties, and CC&Rs, (for HOAs) the height limit is 6′. If your fence height is above 6′, then it might not be legal to build the court within the setback. In some cases it may be possible to get a variance. A variance is an exception to the setback rule. These are granted on a case by case basis. They are only granted if you can show an unreasonable hardship if the variance is not granted. Variances usually require a public hearing and take up to 8 weeks, plus an appeal period.
If you are planning on court lighting, those are subject to permit and restrictions as well. Many cities do not allow pole mounted lighting. Again, it is best to check with your local building department. Another possible restriction include easements for utility companies like PG&E. These easements often exist if your property has a service pole.
