When you want to put up a tennis court for more fun games with family and friends, you need to go for the most effective, secure and safe fencing solution. Surely, you do not want a gaming court with fences that bend when the ball hits them. Merely asking a game court fencing specialist is a sure-fire way to not get the best materials for your fence. You have to be an intelligent customer. Here are a few things you must take note when finding the best materials for game court fencing.
Game court fencing framework
According to Tennis Industry Magazine, in the article entitled Breaking the Chain, you have two major options for your tennis court fence: hard fences and soft fences.
Hard fences can be welded wire or steel bars. Both are heavy-duty which means they can withstand strong winds. Soft fences can be wood frames or post and fabric mesh. Although wood can preserve the ‘natural’ outdoor setting, it is not ideal since it ages and weathers. The wooden framework may not look as fantastic and may not be as sturdy in the long-run.
Another thing about game court fencing frameworks that you must remember is that the thicker the material is, the stronger the fence will be. Hence, a 3-metre post must be, at least, 8 centimetres in outside diameter. The caprails and braces should be 5.5 centimetres in outside diameter.
Game court fence fabric
Fabric does not refer to soft cottons and smooth silks; rather, it refers to the fencing material itself. It is the one that keeps the ball within the court. Fabrics can either be galvanised, painted or clad with plastic or vinyl materials. If you choose galvanised, however, do not expect to be able to change the colour easily. Galvanised fabric is high on zinc. Its exposure to alkyd-based paints results to poor paint adhesion and paint peeling. On the other hand, using painted or coated fabrics also has a downside. They do not have high zinc content as galvanised and hence they are more prone to steel corrosion.
When it comes to size, the squares of your game court fence should not be larger than 3.5 centimetres. Although larger grid fencing is often cheaper, the big squares would not keep the ball inside the court. You have to chase it when it gets through.
Structure, installation, and gates of a game court fence
Installing fence posts within the perimeter of the court should be avoided. Posts should be 2.5 to 3 meters from the baselines to ensure that most balls will be contained within the fence. Fence posts must be 1-metre-deep, at least, 25 centimetres in diameter, and spaced not more than 3 metres apart. These measurements will make your game court fence strong and long lasting.
Apart from the main gate, you should also consider having a ‘chase’ gate. This is a small gate from the opposite side of the entry gate which can be accessed when chasing balls that have gone over the fence.
As well as all this, Chainwire Fencing Specialist can provide other cool features such as electronic access gating, alarmed gating, barbed wire, PVC coating (black or green), and a variety of diamond sizes and styles. Give us a call at 0425 201 252 for a free estimate of your game court fence.