Sports success starts from the ground up

By California Sports Surfaces.

Set up for success when installing athletic surfaces by preparing properly.

When you’re watching a game on TV, you’re probably not thinking about the ground that the athletes are competing on. And that’s how it should be, the best courts are supporting actors to the main show – the games that are played on them. But just because they are in a supporting role, doesn’t mean that they are simple. A successful athletic court must be designed and installed properly to avoid issues like cracking, ponding and more. The first part of this process is preparing the asphalt or concrete that serves as the foundation of the athletic surface. This is crucial, and the American Sports Builders Association maintains particular requirements about this core step. Here are some tips from the experts at California Sports Surfaces to help builders and designers start their athletic installation jobs on the right foot.

Drainage

Surfaces should be properly sloped for good drainage, and free from cracks. The surface variation should be between 0.83% and 1% when measured in any direction with a straightedge, all in one plane.

Moisture

It is important to prevent moisture transmission. New concrete should cure for a minimum of 28 days and must have vapor barrier installed below the slab.

Texture

Concrete surfaces should have the right texture, specifically a medium-broom finish to allow for proper adhesion. New concrete must be acid-etched with either phosphoric or muriatic acid and must be thoroughly rinsed to remove laitance and salt and to reduce alkalinity. California Concrete Preparer is a self-neutralizing alternative.

Primer

California Ti-Coat 2-Part Epoxy Concrete Primer or Concrete Bond Single-Component Primer should be installed as adhesion promoters prior to the Acrylic Resurfacer.

Weather

No matter how much we wish to control the weather, the reality is that installers are at its mercy. No part of the installation should be conducted during rainfall, or when rainfall is imminent. In addition, the air and surface temperature must be between 50°F (10°C) and 140°F (60°C). Make sure to be conscientious about checking forecasts and planning your installations accordingly. Remember, the goal is to have a coat completely dry before quitting for the day and even the slightest shift in the weather can affect it.

For additional steps required for a successful athletic or recreational surface installation, please check out our installation guides.

California Sports Surfaces’ Concrete Bond

You might already be familiar with California Sports Surfaces’ best-selling Ti-Coat 2-{art Epoxy Concrete Primer. But did you also know CSS offers a single-component acrylic primer intended as an adhesion-promoter for concrete athletic courts?

Used as a primer for new or uncoated concrete prior to the application of CSS athletic surfacing systems, Concrete Bond tightly adheres to irregular textures on the concrete surface, providing an exceptional base for California Sports Surfaces’ water-based acrylic surfacing systems.

Concrete Bond is available as a concentrate in 5-gallon pails and should be diluted 5 parts water to one part primer.

Original article source: California Sports Surfaces