Want to add a tennis court to your yard? That can be the perfect place to get exercise, entertain guests and have fun. But before tennis court construction can begin, you need to make a few decisions. Here are some of the essentials you need to consider.

1. Type of Court

One of the first things you need to decide is the type of tennis court you want. If you don't mind taking care of grass, you may want to opt for a grass court. If you want something a bit less maintenance-intensive, concrete is an option. For a compromise between the hardness of concrete and the softness of grass, consider clay or acrylic. Most tennis court installers can help you with all of these options.

2.  Rules and Regulations

Depending on where you live, you may have to deal with a number of different rules and regulations concerning building a tennis court in your yard. Your property owners association may have rules on developing your yard or you may need to get permission from them.

Some communities have setback rules on how close you can put structures to property lines, and on top of that, you may even need a building permit in some cases. If your tennis court installer has worked in your area before, they may be able to advise you on all of these issues.

3. Excavation and Drainage

In some cases, installers will take care of both of these steps for you, and in other cases, you may need to call in additional professionals. Talk with your installer so you know what to do. To level the area before putting in your tennis court, you may need excavation services.

Once the area for the court is level, you need to prepare the drainage. Typically, you need a layer of crushed stone or gravel beneath the court. That helps the water to drain more effectively so it doesn't pool on your court. You may also want the ground surrounding the court to slope away from it.

4. Versatility

You should also think about whether or not you want to integrate some versatility into your tennis court. For example, if you opt for a grass court, you may want to arrange the fencing so you can place soccer nets on either end of the field as desired. If you are going for concrete, you may want to paint shuffleboards or pickleball lines onto the surface so you can play other games as desired.  

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