Essential Maintenance Tips for High-Usage Commercial Athletic Surfaces

Sport Court IconBlog

Essential Maintenance Tips for High-Usage Commercial Athletic Surfaces

Essential Maintenance Tips for High-Usage Commercial Athletic Surfaces

Whether you run a community center, gym, school recreational space, or any other commercial sports facility, proper maintenance is essential. 

You've invested a significant amount of money in your athletic courts, so maintaining them should be a top priority to avoid future repair costs. Not to mention, proper maintenance is required to keep your facility safe for players, as injuries can cause liability issues. 

If you’re not sure where to start with commercial athletic court maintenance, C&C Courts can help. Our expert commercial court installers in Wisconsin provided the details on proper court maintenance, particularly for high-usage courts. 

Common Problems that Occur in Commercial Athletic Courts

If you are aware of and understand the common problems with athletic courts, then you can be proactive about their maintenance and cleaning. 

Some common problems include:

  • Surface blistering/delamination

  • Cracks

  • Hard surface rotting or degradation

  • Uneven surfaces or low spots

  • Fading or discoloration from UV rays

  • Mold, mildew, and algae growth

  • Netting or equipment damage

  • Fencing issues

  • Drainage problems

Best Practices for Cleaning Commercial Game Courts

Let’s take a look at some daily and weekly cleaning tasks and how to avoid mold, mildew, and algae on your courts: 

Daily Cleaning Tasks

Some daily cleaning tasks for your athletic court include:

  • Dust mopping for indoor courts: 2-3 times per day or before games and practices

  • Leaf blowing for outdoor courts: This should be done every few days or more often in the fall

  • Immediately address sweat spots or spills 

Weekly Cleaning Tasks

Weekly cleaning tasks for athletic courts include:

  • Wet cleaning for hard courts: Use a mild, non-residual organic cleaner diluted with water and a soft-bristled broom or brush. For large areas, use an autoscrubber with a blue scrub pad. Rinse thoroughly with a hose for outdoor courts or use a wet scrubber/vacuum for indoor courts.

  • Spot Cleaning Stains: Be sure to clean scruff marks, food and beverage spills, grease and oil, and chewing gum to protect the court surface.

Addressing Mold, Mildew, and Algae

In humid states like Wisconsin, it’s important to protect your courts from mold, mildew, and algae. In shaded, outdoor areas, use a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part household bleach. Apply to the affected areas and gently scrub with a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly after about 10-15 minutes. More severe cases might require power washing. 

When cleaning your courts, avoid harmful cleaners, such as abrasive cleaners, steel wool, sandpaper, acid-based cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, and full-strength strippers. These can damage the courts’ surfaces and finish. 

Essential Maintenance Tasks for Athletic Courts

Maintenance tasks for athletic courts vary by the type of court surface. Let’s look at how to maintain different court surfaces, including indoor and outdoor surfaces

Hard Courts

Be sure to regularly sweep/blow the court, perform weekly wet cleaning, and spot clean stains. As hard courts are prone to scuff marks, they may require periodic resurfacing (every 4-8 years) to maintain optimal performance and appearance. 

The most common problem is cracks, which require crack repairing and patching. It’s best to hire professionals, as DIY crack and patching jobs may not last or may cause more trip hazards. 

Modular Sport Tiles (Polypropylene/Synthetic Rubber)

While modular tiles are low maintenance, they can benefit from regular sweeping and blowing. Open grid designs allow for excellent drainage, so sometimes they just need to be hosed down. 

Since tiles are individual, a damaged tile can be replaced easily. Cracks are not an issue with the tiles themselves, but the underlying concrete/asphalt bases still need to be stable. 

Indoor Courts (Wood, Specialized Synthetics)

Indoor courts require frequent dust mopping or vacuuming. Regular wet cleaning with mild detergents is also recommended. Remember not to use abrasive cleaners. Indoor courts require good ventilation to prevent moisture buildup, so be sure to maintain good airflow in your court areas. Wood floors may also need specialized cleaning, buffing, and periodic refinishing. 

Enhance Your Sporting Facility with Game Courts by C&C Courts

For over 30 years, C&C Courts has been building premier athletic courts in Wisconsin. With our expert designers and builders, your commercial sporting facility can provide safe and durable play areas for sports of all kinds, including basketball, pickleball, hockey, tennis, and more. 

Need more information or looking for a quote? Give us a call today at 414-856-5690, and one of our team members will be happy to help!