Eastern Construction & Supply
Typical construction methods used on long Island
There are three basic types of tennis courts constructed in Long Island.
All Weather Court
All weather is basically an asphalt court with an acrylic coating on the surface to seal the asphalt against the weather, and to give it color.
This is, what is known as a hard court. To soften the court we can add layers of cushion to the surface acrylic coating. This is still considered a hard surface - which is most difficult on the body.
The advantages of the All Weather Court is that it is durable, fast drying, and can be played on for most of the year. In fact, as long as there is no snow or ice on the ground, this court is usually playable.
Typically there is low maintenance on these courts, as they just need to be kept clean of leaves and other debris.
Clay Court
The Clay court has been around for many, many years. These courts are typically constructed of natural clays, found in the ground all over long Island.
Because of the use of natural clay and the varying thickness of this layer, no two courts are the same. Every clay court will react differently to rain, heat, etc. They are usually made of a thick layer of this clay. (Typically eight to twenty inches thick).
This layer of clay is graded with pitch to run off water, flattened, compacted and a layer of crushed stone is spread over it. The crushed stone (usually two to four tons of Har-Tru) is no more than 1/10” thick and acts as a sliding surface and gives the court its color and soft texture.
It is considered a soft surface, simply because you slide to a stop. This makes it easier on the joints and rest of the body, compared to an all-weather court.
This court’s advantages are it’s soft nature and it’s low installation cost. These courts need yearly resurfacing (done in the spring) and usually weekly maintenance. They must be swept (dragging a 7 ft’ wide broom across the court) after play, to keep the court even and maintain a true bounce.
Har-Tru Court
Har-Tru is a crushed naturally green stone. When this crushed stone is watered and compacted, it takes on many of the characteristics of natural clay, only better.These courts are typically constructed over a 3” layer of ¾ inch stone, graded. Then a 1” layer of crushed stone screenings are added and graded. Then a 1” layer of Har-Tru is added, watered and compacted. The stone layer under the court allows the court to drain quickly, which is why these are often referred to as Fast dry courts.
The advantages of these courts are their soft play and relatively quick drying time after a rainfall. . These courts need yearly resurfacing (done in the spring) and usually weekly maintenance. They also must be swept (dragging a 7 ft’ wide broom across the court) after play, to keep the court even and maintain a true bounce.
HydroCourt
How the HydroCourt system works:
HydroCourt as we know it today is a result of a simple, yet ingenious idea of building a tennis court on top of a controlled water reservoir. Cells of ballast stone are installed using the water itself as a leveling device. These leveled cells are connected to small control boxes placed outside the court which reflect the cells water level. A geo textile is then placed over the leveled cells, protecting the cells from contamination. A layer of special stone screenings is then applied, and HydroBlend surfacing is installed over the cells. The water level in these cells is maintained by a float valve inside the control box, operating like a simple toilet tank. Since the water is perfectly level under each cell area, evaporation and capillary action provide water to the top surface evenly. The only adjustment is the water level, and, once set, it is maintained automatically. An overflow tube controls any water buildup due to rain, making the system simple and reliable.
