Court Design & Site Preparation Questions

Yes. Water that pools under or around the court erodes the base, causes the surface to heave, and accelerates cracking. Drainage is planned before the build starts, not added as an afterthought, because fixing it after the surface is down costs significantly more.

Erosion removes topsoil and destabilizes the sub-grade, meaning more material has to be brought in and more grading done before a base can be built. A site that needs minor grading today can need retaining walls or significant fill after a wet season, delaying raises the prep cost.

The court is graded to direct water away from the playing surface and toward existing drainage paths or a planned outlet. On lots where runoff volume is a concern, perimeter channels or French drains can be incorporated into the prep scope to manage flow during heavy rain events.

Occasionally, yes. Grading can reveal soft spots, buried debris, or unexpected soil conditions that weren’t visible at the surface. When that happens, the scope is reviewed and you receive an updated estimate before any additional work proceeds, nothing is added without your approval.

An on-site evaluation checks slope, drainage, soil stability, and available footprint before any work is scoped. Most yards need at least some grading or drainage work, very few are ready as-is. The evaluation identifies exactly what your site needs so nothing is assumed.

Sometimes, but the existing surface has to be evaluated first. An old slab is usable if it has no major cracks, adequate slope for drainage, and a sound sub-base. Gravel areas typically need to be excavated and replaced with a compacted base before any sport surface goes down.

The on-site evaluation measures the usable footprint and maps required buffer zones, typically 6 to 10 feet on each side depending on the sport. The layout is marked and confirmed before any grading begins, so the court dimensions and clearances are locked in from the start.

The layout is staked and measured on-site during the evaluation, accounting for sport-specific dimensions, buffer zones, fencing lines, and any setback requirements. You review the marked footprint before grading starts, so the position and size are confirmed before anything is moved.

The on-site evaluation checks compaction, drainage slope, and base depth against the requirements of the specific surface, acrylic, cushioned, or modular tile each have different tolerances. If the base doesn’t meet spec for your chosen surface, that gap is flagged in the written estimate before any surface work is scheduled.

Yes. The layout is worked out on-site to make the best use of the available footprint. Irregular lot shapes sometimes mean shifting the court orientation or trimming buffer zones where setbacks allow. The goal is a playable court that fits your space without compromising the sport dimensions.

Often yes. A gentle slope, generally under 2 percent across the court footprint, can usually be corrected with cut-and-fill grading rather than deep excavation. Steeper grades require more work, but the on-site evaluation determines exactly what your slope needs before any cost is committed.

Mature trees can limit placement due to root zones, canopy overhang, and debris drop onto the surface. Neighboring structures and setback lines also constrain the footprint. The on-site evaluation maps these factors so the layout avoids conflicts before grading begins.

Court construction requires specific base compaction tolerances, drainage slopes, and surface compatibility that general grading crews aren’t set up for. A crew that grades driveways or landscapes works to different standards, a base that looks flat to the eye can still be off enough to cause cracking or pooling within a season.

No, only the court footprint and its immediate buffer zone need to be graded, not the entire yard. Grading is scoped to the court area, with cuts and fills kept to what the surface and base require. Work outside that zone is left untouched.

Slope is addressed through cut-and-fill grading, retaining where needed, and establishing a 1 percent cross-slope on the finished base to shed water. The method depends on how steep the site is and which direction it drains, both are assessed during the initial site visit.

Clearing covers vegetation, debris, and any obstructions within the court footprint and buffer zone. Grading follows, cutting high spots, filling low ones, and compacting the sub-base to a consistent grade. Both are itemised in the written estimate before work starts.

A compacted aggregate base, typically crushed stone at a specified depth, is required under any sport surface. The exact depth and material depend on soil type, expected load, and the surface being installed. Base prep is scoped and priced in the itemised estimate.

Expect equipment access, soil disturbance within the court footprint, and spoil material staged nearby for removal. The surrounding yard sees limited disruption, but there will be tire tracks and loose material during grading. The site is cleaned up and compacted before the surface crew takes over.

Most residential site prep runs one to three days, depending on how much clearing, grading, and base work the site requires. Larger or more complex sites, significant slope, poor soil, or tight access, take longer. The timeline is included in the written estimate after the on-site evaluation.

Yes. Drainage is assessed during the initial site evaluation and planned before grading begins. Surface slope, perimeter drainage, and any catch or redirect features needed are scoped and included in the itemised written estimate, drainage is not treated as an optional add-on.

Yes. Expansive clay soils shift with moisture changes and can crack a surface from below, so they typically require deeper excavation and a thicker aggregate base. Caliche and limestone layers may need mechanical breaking before a stable base can be built. Both conditions are identified during the on-site evaluation.

The builder checks three things: enough space with run-off clearance on all sides, a slope of 1 percent or less across the court footprint, and a subgrade stable enough to hold compaction. If any of those fail the check, the preparation scope is adjusted before work proceeds.

Not always. Some sites only need targeted grading within the court footprint, while others need more excavation or fill work across a wider area. The on-site evaluation determines the actual scope based on existing slope and soil condition.

Yes. Standing water under the base layer causes the subgrade to shift, which leads to cracking and surface movement over time. Drainage path planning is a required step, not an optional one, especially given San Antonio’s heavy seasonal rain events.

Sometimes, but the existing surface still needs a stability and slope check first. If it fails either check, repairs, regrading, or a new base layer are required before the court can go in.

Cracking, settling, and pooling water are the most common results. Fixing those problems after the surface is down costs significantly more than completing the preparation correctly the first time. The site is not declared base-ready until it passes a flatness and drainage check.

Caliche and clay-heavy soils expand when wet and contract when dry, which can shift a poorly prepared subgrade. The builder accounts for this with a soil stability check before excavation and adds compacted gravel where the native soil needs additional support.

Yes. Cracks and settling almost always trace back to an inadequate base, insufficient compaction, wrong material depth, or poor drainage underneath. Proper sub-base preparation addresses all three before the surface goes down, which is the most effective way to prevent those problems from appearing later.

Yes. Drainage planning is built into the prep phase, not added after the fact. The base is graded to a consistent slope so water moves off the surface and away from the court perimeter, reducing the conditions that cause pooling, surface degradation, and slippery playing conditions.

If grading reveals conditions that affect the layout, a buried obstruction, unexpected soft soil, or a drainage issue, the plan is adjusted before the base is built. You’re consulted on any change that affects position, size, or cost before work continues.