Court Flooring FAQ - Your Questions Answered

4. Is having a backyard Sport Court a good investment?

We believe a court represents a solid investment for your home, but even more so for your family.

5. What do families and communities appreciate about their courts?

There are multiple reasons families and communities opt for installing an outdoor game court. Here are some prevalent ones:

• A Sport Court provides a secure area for children and families to engage in play. Many parents wish their home to be the favored spot for gathering—allowing them to bond with their kids and their friends.
• It serves as a fantastic alternative to screen time. Playing on a court is not only fun but also promotes health and wellness across all ages.
• You have the convenience of practicing or training in your backyard or at your community court.
• Installing a court can transform an underutilized space in your yard into a functional, low-maintenance play area.
• Whether setting up a new court or refurbishing an existing slab, a Sport Court offers an excellent gathering space for families and communities.

6. What is the installation process?

We are a full-service contractor, capable of managing as many project aspects as you need, depending on your location. There are several phases:

• SHOWROOM MEETING: We typically commence with a meeting at our showroom (by appointment only). Here, you will learn about various sports, sizes, layouts, surface types, and equipment options. We can provide an itemized quote based on your preferences (excluding site preparation).
• SITE MEETING: If necessary, we will conduct a site visit to assess preparation needs and associated costs.
• FINALIZE DESIGN: Our custom designs allow personalizing your court's colors and layout.
• SITE PREPARATION WORK: This phase entails everything required to prepare a flat area for the court, including clearing, excavation, leveling, retaining walls (if applicable), drainage and irrigation modifications, etc. Note that this stage's costs are always site-specific and are NOT included in the listed budget ranges.
• FOUNDATION: We either pour a concrete slab or install our SportBase material. At this stage, essential equipment anchors and sleeves are embedded in concrete footings.
• SURFACE AND ACCESSORIES: The exciting part! The equipment is constructed, the surface is installed, and the playlines are painted.
• GET PLAYING: Finishing touches are completed, and your court is ready for enjoyment for many years!

7. How can we customize our court - is it possible to select multiple colors?

Customizing your court is an enjoyable process. Beyond size and layout, here are aspects you can tailor to make it distinct:

• COLORS: Whether reflecting your school colors or a palette that complements your home, yard, or personal taste, you may select from our extensive array of standard colors. Custom color matches are also available upon request (additional fees apply).
• GAME LINES: Design the court to incorporate playing lines for all desired sports and games.
• CUSTOM LOGOS: Personalize your backyard court by adding your favorite team's logo, school crest, or your family name. Moreover, community courts can feature personal or sponsor logos (additional fees for customizing colors and logos may apply).
• ACCESSORIES: We offer adjustable height center net systems for various sports, as well as basketball hoops, tetherball, futsal goals, hockey goals, and dasher boards. You can also add fencing, rebounder walls, and lighting options for playing after dark.

Refer to our Design page and explore our Gallery for additional inspiration.

8. Where do you provide services?

We are the exclusive Sport Court distributor for Washington State, Northern Idaho, and Alaska:

• Surface and Equipment installation: Throughout the entire region.
• Foundation/Concrete work: Up to a 2-hour drive from our Kirkland location.
• Site Preparation work: Up to a 45-minute drive from our Kirkland location.

If your location falls outside these areas, we can collaborate with local contractors to ensure your court is expertly completed.

Okler contains further products and information you may require, so please check it out.

9. What is the installation timeframe for a court?

Once we commence work on your project, the installation time may range from a few days to a maximum of one month, depending on the scope.

10. Is a permit required to build a backyard court?

Possibly. Some communities may necessitate specific permits or variances before constructing your backyard/community game court. Criteria such as size, proximity to property lines, drainage, fencing, or lighting might extend restrictions. Please note, obtaining all necessary permits is the responsibility of the homeowner.

11. What surfaces can the court be installed on?

Sport Court surfaces can be placed on concrete, asphalt, or our SportBase material. Installation over crushed rock, dirt, or grass is not permissible.

12. What is SportBase?

SportBase, developed by Sport Court, serves as an alternative to conventional pervious concrete. Traditionally utilized for smaller half court/shooting courts (averaging roughly 850 sq. ft.), we have also installed several multipurpose courts using this material.

SportBase presents several advantages:

• SAFETY and FORGIVENESS: Enhanced head impact rating and shock absorption.
• DRAINAGE: Designed to be highly pervious, reducing runoff, drainage needs, and potentially avoiding restrictions on impervious surfaces.
• ECO-FRIENDLY: Constructed from 100% recycled (and recyclable) materials, offering a more environmentally friendly option compared to concrete.
• FLEXIBILITY: While our game courts are generally permanent installations, their modular design grants portability. The court can be resized or relocated (or even sold) if necessary.

However, SportBase does come with some compromises:

• SETTLING: As a modular system, settling may occur if the ground/subbase sinks due to excessive fill being required for site preparation. If this happens, it can be easily addressed and will settle over time.
• BALL REBOUND: Due to the modular and forgiving base, the ball's response may be lower and less consistent than a traditional concrete court. This is typically less noticeable with high-energy balls like foam or air-filled types (though we recommend inflating basketballs to their maximum psi). It should be noted, however, that plastic pickleballs tend not to bounce well on this surface—we advise using indoor/foam pickleballs instead.

For more information, please visit our Products page and watch a video about SportBase. We can assist you in determining if SportBase aligns with your court requirements.

13. Can we handle our site preparation ourselves?

Absolutely. If you have a landscape contractor you prefer to work with or if the court is part of a larger backyard/landscaping project, you may prepare the court area according to our specified guidelines.

For projects that are remote from our office, or larger and more complex installations, we typically do not conduct site preparation. In such cases, using a local contractor is generally more practical and cost-effective.

14. Is it possible for us to manage the concrete foundation ourselves?

While we prefer to handle the concrete work for quality assurance, if you're outside our service area or wish to work with another contractor, you can complete this stage in-house. Note, however, that this phase is critical for court surface performance—keeping the subsequent considerations in mind:

• Ensure that the contractor you choose is proficient in performing the work according to our recommended specifications. If concurrent concrete projects are underway, it may be cost-effective to use one contractor for all tasks—yet ensure they have the expertise for this type of work.
• The contractor handling the concrete must set the equipment anchors and sleeves (hardware and instructions will be provided).

15. Can we retrofit a Sport Court surface onto an existing slab?

Yes, we can. Our modular surfaces are designed to be retrofitted onto old concrete or asphalt slabs. Although our modular surface essentially disguises most flaws in the existing slab, some cleaning and possibly repair work may need to be done beforehand.

16. What surface options are available?

We offer a variety of modular surfaces, as well as a heavy-duty acrylic coating alternative.

Please see our Products page for additional details.

17. Do you paint lines on bare concrete or on existing coated/acrylic courts?

No. We do NOT perform line painting on bare concrete or on existing coated/acrylic courts.

18. Do you recoating/repainting services for tennis courts?

No, this service is currently not available.

19. Why is a Sport Court surface significant—can’t we simply play on concrete?

No other outdoor sports surface can rival the combination of shock absorption, ball response, traction, and playability that our outdoor modular flooring provides:

• SAFETY: Our patented Lateral Forgiveness and vertical shock absorption mitigate the risk of injury and reduce joint stress for both children and adults. Learn more about our safety features.
• DURABILITY & LONGEVITY: Our surfaces exhibit high durability and extreme longevity, backed by a 15-year limited warranty, enabling usage for any sport or multipurpose area without concern for damage.
• LOW MAINTENANCE: Maintaining your modular court surface is simple. With minimal upkeep, it can maintain its excellent appearance for many years.
• LOW LIFE CYCLE COSTS: The surface does not necessitate reapplication or repainting. When paired with its durability and simple maintenance, the overall life cycle costs are lower compared to alternative sports surfaces.
• PLAYABILITY / DRAINAGE: Sport Court game courts facilitate year-round recreational enjoyment. The open grid design allows water drainage, maximizing your time on the court.
• FLEXIBILITY: While most installations are permanent, if needed, our surfaces can be disassembled and stored, relocated, or even sold.

20. Is the surface slippery when wet?

Our SportGame PB surface exhibits significantly improved wet weather traction. Nonetheless, any surface—whether grass, artificial turf, concrete, or asphalt—becomes more slippery when damp. Sport Court's open-grid structure expels water quickly, allowing you to return to play sooner than on other surfaces. You can enjoy your court year-round, yet we recommend adjusting your play according to the prevailing conditions.

21. What is the expected lifespan of our game court?

Sport Court game courts are built from premium, durable materials and come with an industry-leading warranty. Coupled with over 40 years of installation experience, we anticipate your court will provide safe, enjoyable play for decades for family and community.

22. How should we maintain our game court?

The durability and low-maintenance nature of your game court is among its outstanding features. Regular upkeep is simple: keep the surface clean from debris using a broom, blower, or hose. Since water drains swiftly through the open grid, your court becomes ready for play shortly after cleaning or inclement weather. For deeper cleaning, we offer annual service with a crew for subsurface cleaning (additional fees apply).

23. If the sports surface sustains damage, how challenging is it to replace?

Our surfaces are made from resilient polypropylene. In the rare event of damage, replacing a section or a single tile is affordable and straightforward due to our patented interlocking flooring system.

If you seek further details, please visit Modular Basketball Court.