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Know the Basics of Tennis Court Construction • • • Before building can begin, the site where you want the tennis court has to be evaluated and graded. There should be a buffer around the court site that is at least 5 feet. It’s important to landscape the area as well and to sterilize the soil so that plants won’t grow there and attempt to shoot through the tennis court material and crack the surface. The lowest point of the tennis court should be no less 6 inches. If possible, make sure there are no trees within about 10 feet of the tennis court site. If there are trees there or if you plan on planting more trees in your yard, it’s important to make sure that the trees are maintained regularly so that debris wont’ fall into the court and roots won’t change the shape of the tennis court. After you’ve worked with a tennis court contractor to accomplish these tasks, it’s time to prepare the base stone. This stone is put in place to make sure that the court doesn’t sink or shift. The depth and thickness of the stone should be consistent to keep the court level and to make sure that the court has proper drainage so that water won’t collect on or below the surface. If you’re building the court on very stable ground, it may not be necessary to have a base stone installed. However, you should work closely with your contractor to determine whether this is necessary. After you’ve determined if a base stone is necessary and the installation plans and processes have been set in place, it’s time for stone screening. This process helps to provide the surface of the tennis court with a reservoir so that the contractor can create a level base for the court. The materials that are used for screening should be able to hold moisture and stay compacted. If your tennis court will be made from clay, avoid materials like crushed shell or sand. Granite is usually the best screening material.