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*.

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.

*We build courts throughout Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding metro areas.