“ Those friends who live on the west side of the lake will often boat over to play ,” Steve says . “ It ’ s roughly a 10-minute trip . Otherwise , it ’ s a 20-minute drive around the lake .
“ We had the court painted to match the house ,” he notes . “ We used dark beige and brown for the kitchen and border .”
The painter told Steve he ’ d never in 15 years seen a pickleball court those colors .
“ These were not popular colors ,” Steve acknowledges . “ But we love the matching look and would recommend it to anyone looking to do something a little different .”
Steve , 61 , is a vice president of information technology for a large eyewear supply company . Wendy , 63 , is a registered nurse . Their main home is in Rochester , 30 miles away .
The court ’ s construction had a few obstacles . It began in April 2020 and wasn ’ t completed until a year later . Located 100 miles from the Canadian border , there was the usual rough winter weather plus supply chain shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The builders ran out of bricks and other materials .
“ We built the court into the side of a steep hill without a lot of room around it , so we had huge mounds of dirt everywhere and it all had to be hauled out in small truckloads ,” Steve adds .
Two 4-foot-high retaining walls were a significant part of the $ 30,000 cost for the court surface , which is 30 feet by 60 feet . Due to the heavy winter snows , the surface is blacktop . The hardscaping surrounding the court was $ 35,000 .
Steve says he ’ s between a 4.0 and 4.5 player and Wendy is a 3.5 . They play on their lakefront court between April and September . “ We play three or four days a week , and every day when our adult children are in town . We always invite guests and rotate partners .”
And afterward , some of the guests get on their boats and cruise back home .
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EXPERT TIPS ON BUILDING A BACKYARD PICKLEBALL COURT
Brent Poss , experienced court builder and president of CourTex Construction Inc . in Spring Branch , Texas , gives some pointers .
Space Needed : A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long , with a total playing area of 30 feet by 60 feet , but 34 feet by 64 feet is preferred . That is court space . You typically need about 3-5 feet extra all around for construction space . Have a plan for spectator viewing , seating and shade . After all , pickleball is a very social sport . Extra space is rarely a negative . Too little space can be a huge negative .
Court Position : Courts should be built predominantly north / south . This way , the sun goes left to right over both sides of court and not straight into the eyes and straight over the heads of players on both sides . The exact orientation depends on geographic location . Sun angles change throughout the year , but the general rule is north / south ; avoid east / west .
Permit Requirements and HOA Regulations : Check the local municipality for permit requirements . If you live in a community with a homeowners association , check approval rules , property setbacks and easements . Consider proximity to neighbors due to the noise pickleball will create .
Surroundings : Think about the surroundings of your court prior to building , including drainage , landscaping , tree removal , etc .
Court Builder : Search for a quality local court builder who has been in the business for many years with many positive reviews . Do not expect a pool builder , landscaper , or general contractor to build a quality court . Do your research . Contact others to get feedback on what they wish they had done differently .
Sub-Surface and Surface Materials : For subsurfaces , post-tension concrete is the best for court construction . Rebar reinforced concrete would be second , and asphalt third . Site preparation is important too , especially with rebar reinforced concrete and asphalt . The most common playing surface is acrylic . Cushioned acrylic is more costly but adds some comfort to play . There are a couple of modular tile surfaces by well-known manufacturers that are designed for pickleball . Those are mostly for beginner or recreational players , not for advanced players . They offer excellent cushion but play differently than acrylic , which is more durable and long-lasting . Be cautious of new products or ones you have not seen in person and / or played on .
Building Time : A court usually takes two to three months to build . Concrete must cure 28 days before it can be surfaced , and asphalt is 14 days .
Cost : Professionally built courts range from $ 30K-75K depending on location , lay of land , and construction variables . •
— Matthew Schwartz
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 | MAGAZINE 33