If you are a pickleball enthusiast, there is a chance that your thoughts have gravitated towards building your own court. That affords you the time to engage in this paddle sport with friends and loved ones.
As one of the rapidly-expanding outdoor sports, it makes sense to find out the cost of building a pickleball court. You can work with your budget and get what you look for. In this article, we will show you just how to build your first pickleball court at the most affordable costs ever.
Let’s Start with the Basics
Naturally, when looking to save costs, one of the things to do is cutting down on some of the non-required tools and materials. When building a cheap pickleball court, you can convert some of the existing resources, such as a tennis or basketball court.
Here’s why:
- If you don’t need the basketball or tennis court anymore, it makes sense to put it to other good uses, such as setting-up a pickleball court on it. That way, you will save money on getting a new space.
- Depending on the size of the existing (basketball or tennis) court, you may be able to build up to two (2) pickleball courts.
How to Save Money When Building a Pickleball Court
In this section, we go in-depth in discussing some of the best ways to build a cheaper pickleball court.
1. How Much Does It Actually Cost?
It makes sense to have an idea of a figure or likely amount to spend on the court. Experts put the price between $15 and $40 per square foot. This calculation quickly adds up if you are building on a larger land mass. At an estimate, you could spend anywhere between $25,000 and $40,000 for a 30 by 60-feet pickleball court.
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2. Determining the Best Build Type
You have three (3) major options to building a pickleball court. These include:
New Pickleball Court
As it suggests, you will be handling the construction from the start, including sourcing for new materials and other tools.
Converted Pickleball Court
In this case, you are converting an existing court to some other purpose – pickleball court construction.
You can convert your existing tennis or basketball court for this purpose. Here are some guidelines to make the most out of it:
a. Amend the Lines
The lines in the badminton or tennis court must have been out of place by now. You need to have them amended. Inexpensive tools like measuring tape, marker and court tape will get the job done.
b. Replace the Net
If the tennis net has worn out, you need to replace it too. A few hundred dollars will fix this!
Resurface the Pickleball Court
You can also explore the possibilities or resurfacing the pickleball court, assuming you are converting a badminton or basketball court for this purpose.
Resurfacing has to do with the process of reapplying a coating system to replace the existing one. It is helpful in the following ways:
- Pouring asphalt or cement to protect the surface.
- Consider excavating the designated area and setting-up a foundation of gravel or crushed rock.
3. Pick an Ideal Location
Your efforts to build a cheaper pickleball court might come to naught if you don’t choose a proper location. The ideal place to site the court should have these features:
- It needs to be outdoor.
- Ensure that trees and some other items that would need moving (at a cost) are not there.
- Go for a location with a flat and leveled ground so you don’t spend more money land-filling.
- You can also build an inexpensive pickleball court by setting-up portable nets on an existing barn space, or concrete slab. Apply your acrylic pickleball court finish to complete the job.
4. Buy Instruments You Can Afford
It is also pertinent to purchase the instruments and tools you can afford. Purchase from the affordable brands and if you cannot afford that either – buy the refurbished or neatly-used variants.
5. Be Specific About the Materials You Need
In addition to shopping from brands that offer affordable instruments; you can also make a list of the required materials and shop from the best places.
The following are some of the materials:
- Nets: you need the nets, because what’s the game of pickleball when there is no net in the court? The options are portable and permanent nets. The portable nets are cheaper and can go for between $159 and $300. The permanent nets are quite a bit on the high-side, as the cost starts from $200 up to $2,000. The difference is that the portable nets can be used for other purposes, while the permanent nets are a permanent addition to the court.
- Sealants: these help to solidify the paint on the floor.
- Line Marking Paint: used if you are making permanent marking lines on the pickleball court.
- Spool of Spring: used for marking off the lines before they are painted.
- Court tape and;
- Measuring tape.
6. Consider the Contractor’s Pay
You need to pay the contractor for the job and the cost can vary, depending on the contractor’s personal rates and the location.
Here is how to cut the best deal:
- Choose a reliable pickleball court contractor. That saves you the trouble and additional costs of getting someone else to redo the job.
- Meet with the contractor before the start of the project, to discuss on the costs associated with painting, cementing/asphalting, excavating and grading the court.
Maintaining Your Pickleball Court
You do not only save money building a pickleball court by choosing affordable instruments and materials. You also do that when you take good care of it.
Here are tips on how to maintain the court:
- Use non-toxic sealants designed for pickleball courts to coat or seal the surface.
- Fill holes and cracks on the surface to prevent the damage from sinking deeper. Do this with the help of acrylic putty.
- Frequently clean the surface.
Conclusion
The average cost of a 30 by 60-feet pickleball court is between $40,000 and $45,000 but you can save some money if you follow the tips in this article.
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