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The project began with setting up site access and establishing controlled working zones. A 4-metre access route was put in place to allow machinery and materials to move freely throughout the works without disrupting the rest of the facility. Organised site access is a practical requirement at the start of any court project - it protects the programme, reduces the risk of incidental damage to surrounding areas, and keeps the works running to schedule.
The existing macadam surface required full preparation before any new material could be applied. Our team cut a perimeter chase around each court to allow for proper edge detailing, and all macadam arisings were removed from site.
The base was then pierced and prepared across all three courts. Piercing the existing macadam opens the surface structure to improve drainage and creates a mechanical key for the new overlay - both of which are important for long-term adhesion and reducing the risk of delamination over time. The new macadam 25mm tennis court 6mm open porous layer was installed using a paving machine to allow for even coverage over a wider surface area. The overlay was laid and compacted (rolled) to a consistent depth and fall across all courts. Consistency in level and gradient is important for uniform drainage and predictable ball bounce.
At this stage, six new risers were also installed to provide fixing points for net posts.
For projects where a fully hand-laid finish is preferred, STM can accommodate this approach. While generally more time-intensive and cost-reflective, hand laying eliminates the bay joint lines that can sometimes be visible on machine-paved courts
Once the macadam was fully cured, a double acrylic colour coat was applied to all three courts. A double coat means two full, separate applications of acrylic-based colour coating, each applied and allowed to cure before the next is laid.
Acrylic is the standard coating type for tennis courts assessed under LTA requirements and the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Court Pace Rating system. The ITF rates court pace on a defined scale, and acrylic surfaces can be formulated to meet specific pace band criteria. This allows clubs to bring their courts into compliance with the pace category relevant to their level of play - whether for recreational, club, or competitive use - and is a relevant consideration for facilities operating under LTA affiliation or seeking LTA venue accreditation.
For this project like all our Tennis Courts we used the specified SurfTech Tour which is a hard wearing pigmented acrylic coating designed for spray application to a wide range of sports surfaces.
We ensure new macadam is allowed to cure and oxidise for a minimum of 3 weeks depending on temperature. SurfTech Tour is formulated using the most up to date raw material technology incorporating high quality full acrylic resin, pigments, fillers and additives. SurfTech Tour conforms to the slip resistance standards laid out in the SAPCA Code of Practice for Tennis Courts.
The double-coat application improves on a single coat in several practical ways. Two full coats provide greater UV resistance, which extends the period before colour fade and surface degradation require attention. The additional coat also improves slip resistance and overall surface durability, which reduces the frequency and cost of cosmetic maintenance over the court’s service life.
The colour scheme applied was blue inner courts with green surrounds. This two-tone combination is widely used on tennis courts and is recognised within LTA court standards. It provides clear visual demarcation between the playing area and the run-off zone, which is relevant for player orientation and meets the court marking requirements associated with LTA venue standards.
The final stage was linemarking all three courts to full tennis court specification. Accurate dimensions and consistent marking across all courts are a requirement for any facility used for organised play. Our team applied white linemarking to the correct specification on each court, ensuring alignment with official dimensions throughout.
On completion, the site was cleared and left ready for use.
STM (Synthetic Turf Management & Maintenance) are specialist sport surface contractors operating across the UK. Our services cover the full project lifecycle - feasibility, design, installation, resurfacing, and ongoing maintenance - for tennis courts, MUGAs, 3G football pitches, playground surfaces, and more. We hold accreditations from SAPCA (Sport and Play Construction Association), Constructionline Silver, and CHAS.
If your facility has tennis courts that need resurfacing, or you are planning a new installation, contact STM to discuss your requirements. Call 01642 713555, email info@stmworld.co.uk, or visit www.stmworld.co.uk.
STM are accredited sport surface contractors UK-wide, specialising in tennis court resurfacing, tennis court installation, and multi-use sport surfaces.
