Tennis Court Cleaning Explained
Macadam tennis court cleaning and maintenance
60% of the UK’s tennis court surfaces are made of macadam (tarmac). These courts are so popular because they are low maintenance and relatively low cost to build. This article explains what a regular tennis court cleaning regime for a macadam hard court should look like throughout the year.
Keeping your tennis court surface clean
Depending on your court’s location, you may see growth of green algae, lichen, fungi and moss in the most shaded parts and near the court edges where plants and debris is blown in from the surroundings. You may also see a general build-up of a dust forming a dirt film on your court surface over time.
Dirt film and green matter damage your court in two ways. First, moss and algae damages the tennis court paintwork. Second, broken down debris will help keep moisture on the court promoting even more growth. In severe cases even weed can grow through cracks and damage the surface.
A dirty court can also be dangerous. Even slight moisture can turn a court covered in dirt and moss into a slippery surface risking players fall and injury.
Once moss or fungi become established it is much harder to get rid of. Keeping your court clean from the beginning is therefore paramount.
Tennis court cleaning best practice
During the dry months of the year regular removal of leaves, debris and dirt is all that is needed. Tennis Court Supplies offer a range of court brushes for this purpose. Our court brush STANDARD with softer, natural Arenga bristles is perfect for the job. It is available in either 1.5m or 2m width.
During the wetter months we recommend applying algae and moss killing products. Depending on shaded and whether there are surrounding shrubs or trees, apply these products once or twice every year.
We at Tennis Court Supplies recommend the specifically formulated BRESTOLA Green Stop Pro to keep your court free of algae and fungi etc. BRESTOLA Green Stop Pro is not weed killer! It is biodegradable and odourless. BRESTOLA does not contain iron formulas and is free of chlorine. It is easy to use and does not require rinsing off. It keeps your court in pristine condition without damaging the eco-system.
Pressure washing
Even with a thorough tennis court cleaning regime in place, your court may still need a professional pressure clean every 3-5 years, depending on its condition.
Pressure washing, if not done correctly, can damage your tennis court quite badly. Too strong a jet will take the paint work off and will scar and degrade the macadam surface.
Although your court may look very clean after a professional pressure wash, this type of cleaning alone does not kill moss spores and fungi hiding in the surface profile and gaps. Therefore we recommend to always apply moss and algae killer after a pressure wash.
Summary
Although a tarmac tennis court is very low maintenance, you still want to keep it clean to avoid the surface turning slippery. Brush off dirt and debris regularly. Apply a (preferably eco-friendly) moss and algae killer once or twice a year. A professional pressure wash may be needed every 3-5 years.
Purchase all your tennis court equipment conveniently from one place at shop.tenniscourtsupplies.co.uk.
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If you are looking after a range of different tennis courts, you may also be interested in our article on artificial grass tennis court maintenance here.