Design / Build & Construction

Clay Tennis Courts

Clay tennis courts are on the rise in Northern California. For 10 years Vintage has been at the cutting edge in the region, constructing and maintaining hundreds of clay courts and developing the most successful installation team in the west for subsurface irrigated courts. For specific details and specifications please contact Vintage Contractors.






Lee Fast-Dry/Hartru Surfacing


Pouring the material


Leveling the Clay


Final grading of surface


Laying out the court.

TENNIS COURT CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION

It is the purpose of this specification to provide construction techniques, if followed accordingly and in conjunction with the USTA & TBA.  Specification Sheet for Fast-Dry Tennis Courts will insure that proper tolerances are met.  Lee Tennis Products should approve any variation from these techniques or base materials used.

I. BASE CONSTRUCTION  (Assuming Laser Grading Equipment is Not Available):

Because of the strict tolerances required, the base should be fine graded by hand, using the T-Pin Method or similar screeding technique as approved Lee Tennis Products.  The larger stone may be installed and rough graded mechanically, but should be fine graded by the T-Pin Method to insure a tolerance of not more than +/- 3/8”.

II. LEVELING COURSES:

The Leveling Course should be installed by the same T-Pin Method or similar approved technique as mentioned under Base Construction so as to insure a tolerance of not more than +/- 1/8”.  It is also essential that the compacted base and Leveling Course elevation be no lower than 1/2” below the top of the perimeter curbing.

III. MODIFIED BASE CONSTRUCTIONS:

In the event of a modified (1 1/2” Stone Screenings) Base Construction as recommended for private and indoor courts the sub-base should be graded to a tolerance of not more than +/- 1/2”.  The screenings should be leveled by hand using the same T-Pin or approved method to a tolerance of not more than +/- 1/8”.  In all outdoor construction, the compacted elevation of the modified base should be no lower than 1/2” below the top of the perimeter curbing.

IV. SURFACE COURSE:

The Surface Course of Lee Fast-Dry should be installed over the Leveling Court or Modified Base at uniform rate of 100 pounds per square yard to a loose thickness of 1 1/2”.  The surfacing should be leveled using 1” Inside Diameter (approximately 1 1/2” Outside Diameter) pipe as screed strips and an accurate straightedge.  The surfacing material should be watered immediately to its full depth and Rolled with a 400-600 pound Hand Roller approximately 15-30 minutes after watering.  Three Rollings with a Hand Roller are recommended before using a Mechanical Roller.  The finished surface should not vary from grade more than 1/8” in 10’ and should be 1/2” above the perimeter curbing after compaction.  The Outside Perimeter of the court should be tapered to the curb.


Understanding the HydroGrid System

Your new HydroGrid Tennis Court System, we believe, is the best tennis court irrigation and drainage system available.  It is amazingly simple, yet thorough in its results.

There are 9 main components to the system:

  1. The Time Clock.
  2. Electric Solenoid Valve.
  3. Filter.
  4. Meters.
  5. Canisters.
  6. Laterals.
  7. Headers.
  8. Stone Screening Base.
  9. Moisture.
Time Clock & Solenoid:
The Time Clock controls the Electric Solenoid Valve to periodically supply the court with water.  Typically 30-90 minutes per night.

Filter:
To protect the system from solids.

Meter:
The Meter is used to determine overall usage.  Depending on your climate this should range from 300-800 gallons per day.  The Meter is also used to determine if there is adequate water supply (18-20 GPM per court is specified at 40 PSI).

Canisters:
The Canisters receive pressurized water through a float device and supply non-pressurized water to the Header.  The Canister also contains an overflow/drainage tube.

Laterals:
There are typically 5’-60’ Laterals in each 20’x60’ zone.  These Laterals allow irrigation water to flow into each zone and alternately allow surplus rainwater to flow back to the overflow/drainage tube in the Canister associated with that zone.  The Laterals are approximately 2” in diameter and are covered with a fabric sock.

Headers:
The Headers are the piping from Canister to Laterals and direct the water flow to five individual laterals.

Stone Screening Base:
The 6” Stone Screening Base is supplied separately from the manufactured HydroGrid System, usually it is located within 50-100 miles of your site.  This component acts as a reservoir or sponge beneath the Fast Dry Surface.

Moisture Barriers:
The Moisture Barrier consists of 2 layers of 6mil Construction Grade Polyurethane Sheeting.  This enables you to keep the Stone Screening Base moist without wasting water moisturizing the sub-base below the plastic.