Types of basketball courts
The two main types of basketball courts are wood flooring or an acrylic paint finish. Wood flooring is most commonly used in indoor play areas such as gyms, while acrylic paint is mostly used on outdoor basketball courts.
Basketball court construction basics
The basketball court construction basics vary according to the type of court you want to build, either indoor or outdoor. Most of the basketball professional players use hardwood court surfaces. Basketball courts come in different sizes, they are:
- Under FIBA rules, the court is of 92 ft.( 28 meters) by 49 ft. (15 meters)
- For NBA & NCAA, it is of 94 ft. (29 meters) by 50 feet (15 meters)
- A high school court is of 84 ft. (26 meters) by 50 ft. (15 meters)
- Amateur basketball courts vary in a wide proportion.
Apart from the size, the recommended ceiling height is of 27 feet (8.23 meters) and also you can choose your favorite color for the basketball court you want to build from a wide number of color combinations.
Some construction tips to remember :
- Choose the suitable basketball court dimensions for your needs.
- Level the playing surface by transferring dirt from high areas to low areas.
- Make sure the concrete or asphalt is installed per ASBA specifications.
- When installing basketball goal footers, make sure they are the proper size for the goal.
- Paint the principal lines on your court with a line tape machine.
- For safety, insure you have a minimum runoff of 3 feet on the sideline and 5 feet on the baseline .
- The basketball court should be oriented from north to south in order to minimize the effect of sun glare while playing.
- Make sure that there are no low tree branches nearby that could interfere with shots or passes.
Factors To consider
Condition of land
- Condition of land is a crucial factor while choosing land to build a basketball court. So you must choose land which is geologically stable and flat to limit earth movements and support work as much as possible.
- Avoid highly reactive clays and prefer compactible soil.
- Hire a qualified geotechnical engineer to examine the soil for finding out some problems like expansive soils, high organic material content, and high groundwater conditions.
Building Permits
Building permits vary according to the location as there are different rules and regulations for different locations. Contact Ace surfaces for more information on building permits on your exact location.
Concrete vs. Asphalt
If we compare Asphalt with Concrete,
- Asphalt is an affordable option and comes with a lesser price range than the concrete construction.
- The installation process for asphalt is easier than the concrete.
- Material costs for asphalt is less expensive than concrete.
- If asphalt is improperly built, then it will not last as long as a concrete.
- Post Tension concrete, while more expensive, is typically going to outlast an asphalt surface.
Concrete play courts are more durable, low maintenance, and crack resistant than asphalt.
Sloping & Drainage
- Appropriate drainage system is necessary to keep water away from your court surface. Because if uphill water drains into the soil beneath your court, it can damage the court extensively.
- Proper slope (max 1%) is needed to allow water to drain away from the court.
- Choose a suitable water drainage system from a number of drainage types according to your court location.
Standard Acrylic Surface vs. Premium Acrylic Surface
If we compare Standard Acrylic Surface with Premium Acrylic Surface,
- Warranty for the standard acrylic surface is for 1 year where as premium surface comes with a warranty of 5 years.
- Life expectancy for standard surface is of 3-5 years but in case of premium, it is 20-30 years.
Premium surface provides less down time, more vibrant and long lasting colors.
Weather
Local weather must be checked while constructing the court because
- All acrylic surfaces are prone to damage under harsh temperature and weather.
- Too cold (below 50* F) or too hot weather conditions adversely affect the drying process.
- Overcast conditions also play a big role in preventing the surface materials from proper drying.
If you are pouring a concrete slab, check the weather to make sure the concrete will be dry before inclimate weather approaches. After concrete has been poured, wait for 36 hours to utilize the court and let the court settle a minimum of 30 days before applying acrylic coatings.
Cushion vs. Hard-court
If we compare cushion surface with hard-court surface,
- Cushioned basketball courts are the premium hard courts and are considered as the ultimate hard court.
- Cushioned courts are Easier on the body than a standard hard court.
Compared to a standard hard court, cushion courts play slower than a standard hard court.
How to build the best Basketball Court
Ace surface helps to build your dream basketball court from a wide variety of court options such as an indoor basketball court, an outdoor basketball court or a cushioned basketball court. If you are looking to build a basketball court or need a resurfacing and are clueless with what to do and how to answer the questions in your mind, we are ready to give you our best solution for your basketball court project. Ace Surfaces has partnered with Advanced Polymer Technology and Laykold creating Laykold Masters basketball court surfacing. Laykold Masters provides indoor and outdoor basketball court surfacing materials that provide durability, resistance to weather and resistance of fading to ultra violet rays with a 5 year warranty which is remarkable in the industry. You may also consider HARO Sports flooring for hardwood flooring. Whatever you want, we are the best in it.
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