02 / BUILD GUIDE
Build in the right order.
A plain-language route from checking a lot to opening a covered court. Use each stage to brief and question the licensed local people who will design and price the real work.
Concept guidance only. No slab mix, reinforcement, footing size, roof member, fence height, or drainage slope here is a construction specification.
CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE
Eight practical stages.
Survey and check the ground
- Purpose
- Confirm the usable lot, levels, access, soil, and where rainwater can go.
- Key decisions and materials
- Confirm lot boundaries and usable dimensions, setbacks, zoning, safe access, utilities, rainfall path, and whether the 34 × 64 ft (10.36 × 19.51 m) clear play area plus roof, circulation, and amenities really fit.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Survey and site levels; topographic and geotechnical work; civil drainage input; architect and planning-office review.
- Question for the local team
- Have the surveyor and local design team confirmed the boundaries, ground conditions, and drainage route?
Prepare the base
- Purpose
- Plan earthworks, compaction, and drainage before the playing surface is built.
- Key decisions and materials
- Clear the site, set levels, plan earthworks, compact the designed base, and route surface and roof water away from the playing area and neighbors.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Earthworks, difficult fill or retaining, subbase, compaction checks, and drainage route or connection after site investigation.
- Question for the local team
- How will the engineer size the base and drainage for this ground and local rainfall?
Published court guidance discusses drainage, but the final slope and drainage route must be engineered for this site.
Build and cure the slab
- Purpose
- An engineered concrete slab provides the court substrate; curing and surface preparation affect the finish.
- Key decisions and materials
- Use an engineered concrete or asphalt court substrate, with foundations and joints coordinated with the roof and fence. Allow proper curing and surface preparation before coating.
- Get quoted or engineered
- A local engineer must calculate slab thickness, reinforcement, joints, footings, and ground preparation for the actual soil, loads, and public use. Ask the contractor for curing and preparation requirements.
- Question for the local team
- What site-specific slab, reinforcement, joint, foundation, and curing details will the design team provide?
Coat and mark the court
- Purpose
- Use a suitable sport-surface system and contrasting lines after the substrate is ready.
- Key decisions and materials
- Apply an acrylic sport-court surface system over the prepared engineered concrete or asphalt substrate. Measure the court and mark contrasting lines after the surface is ready.
- Get quoted or engineered
- A sport-surface contractor should price preparation, primer or repair needs, coating layers, texture, and measured line painting. Ordinary line paint alone is not the surface specification.
- Question for the local team
- Which coating system, surface preparation, drainage, and measured line layout will the contractor include?
Keep the run-off around the 20 × 44 ft (6.1 × 13.41 m) marked court clear for movement. It is not a strip of foam padding.
Install the net and posts
- Purpose
- Set out the regulation net and price a durable permanent outdoor system separately.
- Key decisions and materials
- Locate a permanent net and posts to the regulation layout. Confirm durable outdoor hardware and a safe method to tension and maintain the net.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Get a local quote for the permanent net, posts, sleeves or anchors, installation, freight, and maintenance; portable listing prices are different products.
- Question for the local team
- What do local quotes include for permanent outdoor posts, net, installation, freight, and maintenance?
Design the fence and gates
- Purpose
- The concept uses lower rigid mesh and upper sports netting for ball containment.
- Key decisions and materials
- The concept uses coated, corrosion-resistant rigid mesh at player level and sports netting above it toward the roofline, plus gates. Choose ball-retaining openings, protected edges, gate swings, and maintenance access.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Have a local structural engineer and fence supplier design posts, foundations, net connections, and wind loads for actual exposure. Confirm corrosion protection, especially near salt water. The published roof band does not establish this tall fence's inclusion.
- Question for the local team
- How will the local engineer address wind loads, post foundations, openings, protected edges, and corrosion?
Engineer the roof and gutters
- Purpose
- The roof concept covers the preferred clear area with an illustrative perimeter allowance.
- Key decisions and materials
- Place columns outside the clear play area. Develop a long-span open-sided roof with roofing, gutters, downpipes, and safe water discharge. Coordinate roof and upper fence/net connections.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Local structural and civil design for wind uplift and lateral forces, frame and footings, clear height, roof drainage, and any fence connection. Obtain a written roof scope.
- Question for the local team
- How will the roof height, frame, wind uplift, water discharge, and support locations fit this site?
Add lighting and public facilities
- Purpose
- Plan safe lighting, electrical supply, accessible arrival and restroom provision, and basic operations space.
- Key decisions and materials
- Plan lighting and electrical supply, accessible arrival and restroom, check-in or storage, clear signs, emergency contacts, and first-aid provisions for a paid public venue.
- Get quoted or engineered
- Local electrical, accessibility, fire, architectural, utility, and permit review; price restroom and other separate amenities as their own scope.
- Question for the local team
- Which accessibility, electrical, fire, and permit reviews apply through the relevant local offices?
MATERIALS TO DISCUSS
A small starting list.
This is a scope prompt, not a shopping list or build specification. Quantities and grades follow site design.
- Engineered compacted base and concrete or asphalt court substrate
- Acrylic sport-court coating system and contrasting measured line markings
- Permanent outdoor net and posts
- Coated rigid mesh, upper sports netting, protected edges, gates, and engineered supports
- Engineered open-sided roof, roofing, gutters, and downpipes
- Lighting, electrical protection, accessible route and restroom, signs, and first-aid supplies
Keep the 34 × 64 ft (10.36 × 19.51 m) preferred playing area clear of columns, fence posts, benches, gates, and other hard obstacles. The 38 × 68 ft (11.58 × 20.73 m) roof in the concept plan is an illustrative 2-foot perimeter allowance, not a published roof requirement.
GUIDANCE BEHIND THE SEQUENCE
Check the source and the local design.
Before you start construction
Take the lot and concept to the local building office and design team. The opening checklist covers approvals and daily public operation.