How to Install a Backyard Multi-Sport Athletic Court – Basketball, Tennis, Training, and More By admin | Published on November 29, 2019September 10, 2024 Ready to turn your yard into an eye-catching court to dribble, serve, and assist on? Play, Inc. and Practice Sports offers complete backyard multi-sport athletic court installation services. We do everything from ground-work excavation and concrete to basketball hoops and netting. Building a court requires many steps and precision. Keep that in mind as we walk you through one of our completed installations*. Client's Yard Prior to Backyard Multi-Sport Athletic Court Installation Job Site Preparations First, we evaluate for slope to identify the scope of work. This client wanted a 70′ x 30′ concrete court, which required several inches of excavation and leveling. Additionally, the existing patio radius arcs were cut and removed to allow for a bigger court. After marking utilities and staking the footprint, a transit level identifies elevation grade. Excavation Next, we broke the patio’s radius arcs to make more room. The basketball court footprint was completely excavated and “spoils” were removed and disposed off. Foundation Next, we added crushed rock (aka “roadbase”) to give the ground stability and allow for proper drainage under the pad. In Omaha, Nebraska, we typically build a 4-8″ sub-base of compacted aggregate due to extreme temperature changes. Without this, the soil directly under the concrete becomes saturated. Furthermore, during freeze/thaw cycles, the ground heaves up and down causing cracks on the concrete surface. The majority of all concrete cracks are due to poor sub-base soil, and not because of bad concrete or improper pouring. We level and compact crushed rock to give it structural stability. Wood Forms Once a solid foundation is setup, wood forms are added. This process created grids to identify the pour areas. Concrete pads were poured in iterations which allows for relief joints so the concrete could flex/shift while settling (otherwise cracking would occur). Retaining Wall Then we added concrete blocks to create a retaining wall in the area of the steepest slope. Without a retaining wall, the soil caves in over time due to the stress of water run-off and erosion. A professional concrete pad can’t happen without proper retaining wall installation. Retaining walls are a tedious process. Yet, we make sure it’s precise. Throughout the process, we pull out the level to ensure a stable and stunning outcome. Expansion Joint Then we used heavy-duty rubber for the expansion joint material and added it between the crushed-rock base and the wall. This allowed for the concrete to flex during settling without colliding with the block wall. When concrete meets block, bad things happen and the concrete usually loses. Wire Mesh To prepare for the pour, we added a wire mesh on top of the crushed rock. The mesh gives the concrete stability, and covers the block retaining wall so it’s not splashed with concrete mix. Now the fun yet grueling labor part – the pour. Let’s get dirty! Basketball Hoop Installation As soon as the concrete’s dry, we’re ready to install the basketball hoop. Lastly, we confirm the hoop is level. If not, we adjust the pole at the base until it’s exact. This backyard multi-sport athletic court is complete and ready for action. Our Basketball Hoops are top-of-the-line in quality and durability. Play, Inc. is a first-class concrete and specialty construction company. With a focus on details, we commit to completing every job safely and effectively. Contact us today for a fair bid on a complete backyard multi-sport athletic court for your backyard, business, school, or park! *We build courts throughout Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding metro areas.
chad March 15, 2021 at 9:58 am Hi Casey, Thanks for reaching out about a sports athletic court for your backyard. Can you please email us at info@practicesports.com or call 402-592-2000 to discuss in more detail? Thanks again! Chad Schneider PSI Reply
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