If you’re one of those people who love a good game of tennis, but you’d like to play in the privacy of your home, you can achieve that by building a tennis court. If this idea sounds like a dream come true, let’s see which steps you need to take to ensure your dream doesn’t end up in a nightmare.

Learn about rules and regulations

The first step in any project is learning about rules and regulations. Are you allowed to build a tennis court in your background? Do you need permission or a specific permit? Are there any specifics you need to adhere to? All of these questions will save you a lot of time and stress. The worst thing that can happen is that you have to halt construction because you’re missing a permit. So, ensure your project is in line with rules and regulations.

The budget and the cost

Before you start, you need to have a budget in mind. To have one, you need to learn about the cost of building a tennis court. The cost can be as high as one hundred thousand dollars, so ensure you know the range cost. To determine the budget, write a list of things you have to do in terms of construction, material, accessories and manual work. You’ll have a rough outline of costs which you’ll later use to determine your budget.

Make a plan

Next, make a plan of action so you’ll know which step happens first. From finding the people who can supply you with everything you need to prepare the surface for construction, there are many steps you need to include in your plan. Since things don’t always go according to plan, at least you’ll know how to adjust your strategy to make room for the changes.

Measure

Can you even fit a tennis court on your property? The only way you’ll know is to measure your property. Before any construction work, you must ensure your space is big enough to accommodate a tennis court. You should also consider the terrain, the direction and the additional space around the court needed for benches and anything else that will be built in the future.

Make a list of accessories you’ll need

The planning process also requires you to think about all the accessories you’ll need. With the right accessories like the energy-efficient tennis lights, quality tennis net, fencing, seating area, seating area for players with appropriate shade, and the list goes on. Maybe your tennis court has to be shielded from curious eyes, so think about privacy solutions like windscreens. When you know how many accessories you’ll need, you’ll include these in your cost estimate and ensure your budget can cover them.

Choose the right lights

If you want to play tennis whenever you feel like it, make sure you have the right playing conditions. If you want to play in the evening or don’t interrupt your game just because the sun is going down, think about lighting solutions. Energy-efficient tennis lights are a necessity if you want to play tennis in different conditions and at times of the day. The best choice would be to get led lights because of their energy efficiency, fast lighting time and long service life.

Think about the sun's direction

First, you need to choose the area for your tennis court. Secondly and most importantly, you need to determine the direction of sunlight. If the sun’s direction creates difficult playing conditions where one player is under direct sunlight, you’ll have to change your initial spot. Ideally, the tennis court will be positioned from north to south, so neither one of the players will have direct sunlight.

Choose the right surface

Choosing the right tennis court surface is your next step. You may choose a surface based on your budget. You can also take into consideration the amount of maintenance it might need and the cost of installation. You can also make your decision based on the longevity of the surface and the warranty length. You may choose between real and artificial grass surfaces, hardcourt, clay surfaces and hard surfaces. There’s a variety of choices, so ensure you know the pros and cons of each one, the cost and the maintenance requirements.

Add appropriate barriers

You also need to think about tennis court fencing, because these provide a safe environment and also create a barrier. The only way to stop a ball from flying out in your neighbour's backyard is to install proper fencing. You may also consider installing windscreens, especially if you want to increase your privacy and prevent balls from getting stuck in the fence. Since fencing is the last step in tennis court construction and installation, you’ll have time to analyze your options and make the right choices.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a list of steps you have to take to ensure your dream of having a personal tennis court becomes a reality. It all starts with having a plan, researching costs, obtaining the right permits and teaming up with the professionals.

Guest Contributor: Mike Parsons