How much does it cost to resurface a tennis court?

Reviewed by Adam Graham remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

If you have a tennis court currently installed on your property, then you know that no matter how well you maintain it, it requires resurfacing after several years. Resurfacing a tennis court is a necessary process to keep the top of the court in good condition, prevent further damage, and maintain the bounce and ball play you have come to expect. Resurfacing is a two-phase process. The first phase repairs the damage to the court, and in some cases, the problems that led to that damage. The second phase involves installing the new top surface and restoring your tennis court to its optimal condition.

The national average cost for resurfacing a tennis court is between $8,000 and $12,000, with most people paying around $10,000 to repair and resurface a concrete court. At the low end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay $3,600 to resurface a clay tennis court and have the lines painted. Costs vary for resurfacing depending on what type of court you have, how much damage it has, and whether you want to upgrade colors, surface texture, or cushioning. On the high end, the cost of resurfacing an asphalt tennis court is around $20,000.

Cost to Resurface a Tennis Court

Tennis Court Surface Repair Cost by Type of Repair

Before your tennis court can be given a new surface, it needs to have any issues addressed first, with the cost of surface repair averaging between $300 and $8,000. Issues that contractors address will be cleaning the surface, fixing cracks, filling in depressions, and any other significant repairs that need attention. Both concrete and asphalt courts are subject to many issues, which is why resurfacing needs to be done every few years. The repair phase is what makes the costs vary so tremendously in the project.

Cement Skim Coat

Cement skim coats range from $300 to $3,000 depending on the amount needed to fill cracks and depressed surfaces. Larger cracks are filled with sand, foam backer rods, or cement first to minimize the use of crack filler. An acrylic patch binder fills in larger cracks in concrete and asphalt of an inch or more. Uneven spots on the court can be filled with an acrylic liquid binder mixed with concrete or sand. After the mix is applied, contractors smooth it out with a straight edge.

Water Damage Repair

The cost to repair water damaged courts ranges from $300 to $8,000, with repairs being as simple as filling depressions to as complex as replacing drainage systems. One of the most common forms of damage on a tennis court other than cracks is water damage. Standing water leaves mineral deposits that cause depressions on the court surface. This water should be removed immediately after it accumulates. The depression in the pavement should be filled and leveled to prevent further damage to the court and injury to players.

Tennis Court Crack Repair

The average cost of crack repair fillers ranges from $400 to $500. Most cracks on the tennis court are cosmetic, meaning that general wear from changes in the season from hot to cold causes them. Concrete and asphalt repairs include crack repairs and depression repairs. However, if there are structural issues, repair costs can be thousands of dollars higher. The contractor cleans the affected area of dirt and debris, lets it completely dry, fills the crack with a crack-filling compound, and sands the areas smooth so that it is level with other areas.

Tennis Court Drainage

The cost to repair drainage systems can cost $4,000 to $8,000. Water on tennis courts causes problems for players and turns the court into a soggy mess, especially on clay courts. A proper drainage system needs to be installed to keep tennis courts dry. There are many types of systems, including subsurface and surface drainage. Subsurface drainage uses drainage systems to redirect water from the court. Surface drainage uses systems to collect water off the surface and move it off the court to an outlet or channels.

Cost to Resurface Tennis Court by Surface Type

The cost to resurface a tennis court averages from $2,000 to $80,000 depending on the type of surface. Many other factors increase the cost of your resurfacing project such as the type of tennis court you have. Another critical factor is how much repair work your tennis court needs. Keep in mind that the resurfacing phase of the project can begin only after the repair phase is completed.

Rubber Tennis Court Surface

The cost of resurfacing a rubber tennis court ranges from $2,000 to $10,000 and should be repainted every four to eight years. The low range is the cost per coating for the rubber court. The contractor may apply between five and seven coats of rubber coating for the tennis court resurfacing. This type of tennis court is ideal because it minimizes shock absorption to the knees and ankle, minimizing injury. The rubber coating is less likely to chip and scar like other traditional coatings.

Resurfacing Clay Tennis Court

The cost of resurfacing clay tennis courts ranges from $2,500 to $3,000 and should be resurfaced every four to eight years. The court needs to have the line tape removed and the top layer removed by scarifying it. The material is added to the court and leveled according to specifications. The court is then watered to the appropriate moisture level, and then the surface is rolled. The top dressing for the clay tennis court is added. The surface is rolled again before contractors add the line tape according to specifications.

Acrylic Tennis Court Surface

The cost to resurface an acrylic tennis court surface ranges from $4,000 to $10,000 and should be resurfaced every four to eight years. This type of court has a base of asphalt or concrete. To resurface acrylic, cracks must be filled in, and any depressions need to be leveled. After the repairs are made, the contractor mixes the acrylic with silica sand to minimize streaking and prevent tennis ball fuzz. Then the contractor applies several coats of acrylic on top of the base before finally painting on the lines.

Concrete Resurface

The average cost to resurface a concrete tennis court ranges between $4,000 and $10,000 and needs to be replaced every four to eight years. Once concrete tennis courts are installed, they typically require little maintenance. They need to be resurfaced if you see cracks forming on the surface or when puddles that won’t easily go away keep appearing. Contractors fill these gaps and depressions and apply an acrylic resurfacer and color coating to complete the resurfacing. Once the project is complete, the lines are painted on the court.

Asphalt Resurfacing

The range to resurface asphalt ranges between $20,000 and $40,000 and needs to be resurfaced every four to eight years. The cost of resurfacing this tennis court is much higher than others because asphalt tennis courts must be completely replaced and can not be resurfaced. Once the asphalt is laid on the court, the contractor paints the lines on the surface according to specification.

Synthetic Grass Tennis Court Resurfacing

When it comes to resurfacing synthetic grass tennis courts, the costs range from $25,000 to $80,000. This type of tennis court is expensive to resurface as the process involves the replacement of the entire layer of synthetic grass, as opposed to just adding new layers over the top of the existing surface. Resurfacing is required less often than for most other court types however, with synthetic grass replacement usually only needed every 12 to 20 years. Synthetic grass is usually installed right over existing asphalt or concrete. This type of court requires very little maintenance but wear that develops in certain areas due to game activity can be the reason for resurfacing it. The heavily worn areas of the tennis court can be removed and replaced with new rolls of synthetic grass. Once the grass is in place, lines are spray-painted onto the surface of the court.

Average Cost to Resurface Tennis Court

The average cost of tennis court repair and resurfacing for labor alone is between $2,000 and $4,000. Added to the labor cost is $6,000 to $8,000 for the average cost of repairs and resurfacing, making the total average cost range between $8,000 and $12,000. Before starting your tennis court resurfacing project, a tennis court contractor inspects your tennis court and looks for problems that need to be repaired or replaced before the resurfacing process begins. You must pay for repairs such as drainage problems, cracking (hairline and structural), and depressions before the resurfacing phase begins. The labor costs include repairs, resurfacing, and repairing or replacing tennis court accessories.

The repair and resurfacing should be done by professionals and takes approximately three to six days to complete. Once all repairs are completed, including drainage issues, the resurfacing phase begins. The contractor paints with a multi-layer paint system that seals voids and adds a cushioned coating system if you prefer. The final step is to paint the white lines on the court. After resurfacing is completed, the contractor adds any accessories you would like to have on your newly resurfaced tennis court.

Tennis Court Line Painting

The average cost of tennis court paint for lining the court is $300 to $600. The final stage is to paint the lines on the court and give it the final edging before rehanging the net and other structures. A contractor uses white acrylic emulsion paint with fine sand in it to paint the lines on the resurfaced tennis court according to specifications. After your resurfacing project is complete, always keep an eye on your tennis court lines years after resurfacing. Faded lines are usually an indicator that you need to have your tennis court resurfaced.

Tennis Court Repair Cost by Part

Additional tennis court repair costs range from $45 to $580. These repairs aren't necessary for the resurfacing process. However, if you have worn items like a tennis net or a damaged fence, this would be a great time to repair such things. Keep in mind that total replacement on some of these items is not necessary. For instance, if some sections of a net are still in good shape, you can keep them. You can repair only those sections that need it, not the entire net. Likewise, if your light bulbs are blown, you can replace them.

Tennis Court Net Repair

Repairing parts of the tennis net ranges from $6 to $300. In most cases, the tennis net does not have to be replaced unless it is frayed, dropping, or has tears in the net itself. Usually, the most common part of the net to replace is the headband which gets beat up quite often during games. Some of the other parts of the net that may need replacing are the center straps, posts, reel, and hooks.

Tennis Court Fence Repair

The average cost to repair a chain link fence ranges between $45 and $300. Chain link fences are most commonly used for tennis courts. This type of fencing keeps the tennis balls within the play area and enhances your tennis court's look. The typical color used in tennis is black, but other color options are available. Repairs involve fixing holes, rusted areas, pole issues, gate malfunctions, and leaning fences.

Repair Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor tennis lighting repair costs around $50 to $580 on average, depending on the type of repair required. If you only need a light bulb replaced, the cost can be as low as $50 whereas replacing the top portion of a lamp post, or replacing a lighting fixture entirely will cost more. If your court is fitted with flood lights, the cost of fixture replacement can depend on the height of the pole. Make sure that you use cost-efficient lighting, or it could increase your energy bills dramatically.

Windscreen Repair

The cost of tennis court windscreens ranges from on average $100 to $400. Often old or damaged windscreens will need to be replaced entirely, which makes this process more costly than a simple spot repair job. Windscreens help keep out noise, minimize distractions for players, and help to control the wind. The price fluctuates based on whether it has a unique design on it or how opaque it is. If you prefer dark, dense windscreens, these will be costlier. If your windscreen is tattered, it’s best to replace it.

Tennis Court Maintenance

The average cost of maintenance for a tennis court is $1,800 per year. Resurfacing should be done every 4 to 8 years for most types of tennis courts. However, if you practice proper care, you can extend the resurfacing life of your court. Every tennis court surface has different maintenance requirements. You can keep synthetic grass courts tidy by blowing dirt and leaves off the surface. You can also use a sweeper specially designed to remove leaves, pine needles, and the like. Avoid using hard-bristled brushes on synthetic grass. Each month do a thorough cleaning to remove any excess dirt or debris.

Clay courts are incredibly easy to maintain, but they require care daily. For about ten minutes a day, brush and water these courts. Regularly watering clay courts keeps them in good shape for players and keeps them from eroding. Once you have watered the courts, you need to roll them so that the top dressing remains firm. Keep in mind that some clay courts don't need to be rolled.

Acrylic, concrete and rubber require very little maintenance. You can sweep them regularly to get rid of dirt, twigs, and other undesired debris. Use a mild detergent to clean the surface at least once a month to ensure mildew or mold doesn't develop. Check the court after the rain for standing pools of water because this may indicate that resurfacing is needed. Use a squeegee to remove water puddles before using the court.

Tennis Court Colors

Changing the color of your tennis court may add $500 to $1,000 to the final costs. Various colors are available to choose from for tennis courts. Some surfacing companies offer the option for premium colors, such as Tournament Purple or Orange. Color options may be limited depending on whether your tennis court surface is grass, clay, concrete, acrylic, or rubber. This color change is one of the benefits of resurfacing a tennis court.

Tennis Court Layers

Another aspect of tennis court resurfacing involves adding different layers. Additional but optional layers added to a tennis court surface are the tennis court acrylic resurfacer which goes underneath a coat of colored paint to smooth the surface. You can opt to include an additional layer of tennis court acrylic resurfacer to ensure that the tennis court surface is leveled.

While a standard tennis court surface has at least some degree of resiliency, many people opt to add a cushioning system when they resurface. Adding a multi-layered cushion system is helpful for older players to minimize achy joints after playing. The cushioning system is applied after the repair work is completed but before the final surface coat. It consists of several layers of rubber-added acrylic, with most systems using five layers.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Multi-Use Tennis Courts

A multi-use tennis court cost $5,800 to $17,800. This tennis court is helpful for families that play other sports besides tennis, including basketball and volleyball. If this is the case, some resurfacing companies allow you to add additional lines so that you can mark out different courts. This may increase the project's cost, depending on how many lines, the complexity, and the size of the court.

Tennis Court Cleaning

The cost of cleaning a tennis court ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the severity of the problem and how much cleaning is needed. Tennis court contractors must have the tennis court cleaned during the repair phase before fixing the cracks. Many courts that develop cracks may have mold, moss, or other types of fungus on their surface and in the cracks. A pressure washing service cleans the court of dirt and debris to prepare it for the repair process. Once it is cleaned, it has to dry completely before contractors start filling cracks.

Tennis Court Accessories

For new tennis court accessories, you can expect to add anywhere from $100 to $10,000. When resurfacing a tennis court, this is an excellent time to change your old accessories for new ones. Accessories include nets, benches, fencing, and windscreens, but you can also get general maintenance equipment, such as water brooms, that are helpful to keep water puddles off the court.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Foundation issues. If you have foundation problems with your court, you may want to consider hiring a geotechnical engineer to survey the area and make suggestions before proceeding.
• Tennis courts in bad condition. Resurfacing costs will likely be higher if the court is in bad condition or has not been properly maintained and resurfaced regularly.
• Regular recoating. Once the court is resurfaced, it needs additional coats of color every two to three years to maintain playability.
• Drains. Regularly inspect, clean, and repair the court drains to prevent water penetration, one of the biggest causes of asphalt court deterioration.
• Tennis court specialists. Always use a tennis court asphalt paving company and not one meant for driveways. Tennis court construction and resurfacing is a specialized area and requires special equipment and an experienced crew.
• DIY. Tennis court resurfacing requires many steps and an immense amount of precision that only tennis court contractors would know. This project is not recommended as a DIY project.
• Insurance. When it comes to tennis court insurance coverage, your homeowner’s policy will likely cover it. The amount and type of coverage depend on where the court is located.
• Estimates. Tennis court repair companies charge different prices for varying stages of repair. Before starting your project, get three estimates from three different companies, compare what each estimate includes, and go with the best option.