" I am a financial and administrative person with a great love for construction projects and an old love for tennis. Building my own tennis court was just another of my lifetime dreams, but with most dreams an angel is always a welcome partner. Not all angels have wings - well maybe Allan Gardner has wings.

If Allan doesn't have wings then it's just one little thing he is missing because when you talk tennis, Allan had all the knowledge, expertise and supplies necessary for me to build my dream court.

My dream started with a search to understand the technical and financial elements to build a tennis court. I knew I wanted a Har-Tru surface. A local contractor scared me enough into my decision to be my own contractor when he gave me a proposal for $ 35,000.00 just for a stone wall around the court.

When I located Tennis Universal, I was calling them at unnatural hours, and even on weekends, almost always getting a real person and not a machine. After a few times I said to the person answering the phone, you must be the owner because no one but an owner works these hours. That's when Allan and I became friends in the summer of 2003.

I call Allan Gardner a friend, although I have never met him other then on the phone. A good friend is a person who is always there for you and is always ready to help. That's Allan!

Tennis Universal is a business but Allan runs it like a devoted father taking care of and educating his children. I came in a little late for the computer world so I'm still calling and talking to people. Allan always has the time to talk, educate and explain, even though almost everything I needed to know is on Tennis Universal's web site. Next week I will install the lines on my Har-Tru dream court, set the net posts and tennis net, and try out my new racquet, a gift from my son for my 58th birthday.

If you are lucky enough to have or want a tennis court, look for my angel. He's available for all that want to have a great tennis experience. Many thanks Allan."

Larry Feder, President
Madison Administrative Services
North Salem, NY

TIME SAVING TIP (Speedy Layout of New Lines)

Save Time Laying Out The Four Corners of Playing Box
After Existing Lines Have Been Covered

Once the base-coat and two coats of color are applied the existing lines will be covered. Laying out the four corners later requires two 100' tape measures and can be time consuming. A simple and time saving way to readily identify the four corners of the court box after coatings are completed is to place identifying points before coating begins. There are two simple ways to do this on an asphalt surface.

1. Using a hammer and masonry nail, center punch or similar tool, tap into court at each of the four outside tips of the existing lines to make a shallow hole (about 1/4" deep).
2. If permanent markers are desirable instead of locating holes between coats, use 1-1/4" large head galvanized roofing nails. Drive a nail into court at each of the four outside corner tips of the existing lines. Drive the nails all the way in so the nail head is flat on the surface. These permanent markers will remain. Coat over nail heads. Nail heads will be easy to locate when it's time to layout lines new lines. Be sure the nails are galvanized to prevent rust appearing in the future.
3. After the base-coat has dried and again after the first coat of color has dried, locate the four holes and make another indentation to make them visible before beginning the next coat. This will make it possible to quickly identify the four corners to use as reference points when you begin to layout lines after the final coat of color has been applied.

2. Mixing Location
Choose a location to mix materials that is close to the court entrance and will not require mixed materials to be carried over patios, walkways etc. A vinyl drop sheet is recommended to protect lawns and patios or sidewalks when mixing and spillage that may occur when transferring the material from the mixing drum to pails.

3. Amount of Water to Add When Mixing
It is important to add the recommended amount of clean water to each batch. Assuming you can obtain a clean 55-gallon drum, the following mixing ratios are based on 30-gallons of undiluted MultiCover Color with Sand per batch. If batch is smaller, maintain the same 50% ratio of water to color.

Mixing Ratios (55-gallon drum)

MultiCover	30-gallons (6 pails)
Water	15-gallons (3 pails)

4. Mixing
Mix MultiCover and water together until materials are blended to a smooth, slightly thick but free flowing homogenous consistency. A wooden paddle can be used, however, a ¾" electric drill and mixing shaft is available from most tool rental stores and is certainly much easier to use.

Watch the Weather

• Always check your local weather forecast before mixing materials or commencing coating applications.
• The temperature must be minimum 50 degrees F. (10 C) and rising. It is preferable that sunshine is predicted to warm the surface.
• Do not begin if rain is forecast or imminent
• Do not begin if there is less than 5 degrees Fahrenheit between the projected air temperature and the projected "dew point" temperature.
  Dew Point Explanation: If the temperature drops to the dew point level before coatings are dry, additional moisture in the air may influence the yet to dry material in a negative way. Some experts believe peeling can be related back to drying conditions when a court was resurfaced particularly in areas which may have been shaded by trees. You will find the dew point for your area displayed on your local weather channel.
• It is not recommended to start a coating application unless you are sure there will a minimum of two hours sunlight on the court after the coating application is finished.
• When extremely hot weather (mid 80's and above) is encountered it is best to apply one coat in the early morning (subject to the dew point restrictions) before the temperature rises and then wait until the next morning to apply the next coat.

Coating Multiple Courts

Assuming the court surface has had the final cleaning.

Step 1
Follow mixing instructions and mix the first drum of color. After emptying six pails of color concentrate with sand into the drum, rinse the empty pails putting the rinse water into one or two pails. Rinse water can be used as part of the water to be added when mixing the next batch of the same color. The rinsed pails will be used to carry the mixed material to the court.

Step 2
Using a baling scoop, fill the empty pails from the drum about ¾ full and carry to the court, placing them at random locations near the application starting point. Place a lid over each pail to help prevent a skin from forming on the material while waiting to use. If a skin does form, return contents of pail to the drum and mix again.

Step 3
Starting at the farthest corner from the entrance gate, pour a windrow (a long puddle of material about 6" to 12" wide) across the court (or the shortest distance of the area to be coated) about 3" away from the fence.


Perimeter Coating Tip
A simple way to do obtain a neat appearance along the fence and around fence posts is to use a wide paint brush (a 6" wide "white wash brush" available from Home Depot, Lowes or similar retailer) does a good job of applying the coatings around the entire court. The brush allows you to neatly trim around fence posts. Apply coating by hand to a distance of 3"-6" away from fence. This will allow you to keep away from the fence and fence posts with the squeegee and speed up your coating time.

Step 4
Using the long handled squeegee, apply surface coating by walking beside the windrow of wet material pulling the squeegee in even straight lines and on a slight angle to allow the material to flow in front of and off the rubber squeegee blade.

Although you will be using a 24" wide squeegee, you will only be applying new material to the suface in a 6" to 8" width with each pass across the court. The rest of the squeegee blade is wiping off excess material from previous passes. You cannot take off too much material with the squeegee. The thickness of the sand in the material will always allow a consistent thickness to remain on the court.

A slight downward pressure should be applied to the squeegee blade to prevent leaving unwanted small depressions of thick paint while applying a uniform coat from one side of the court to the other. Each return pass (pulling of material) should be parallel to the last.

When the end of each pass across the court is reached, pull material down at a 90 degree angle for 3' to 5' feet (see picture) along the fence or playing box sides when applying a 2 color application. Repeat this procedure until the coating application has been completed.

While applying the material, you will likely notice the occasional ridge of material from the end of the squeegee or small puddles  left in minor depressions. Don't worry, just reach out and make the same pass again, removing the spots with the squeegee. You cannot remove too much material by making a 2nd or even a 3rd pass.

When You Get to the Finishing Point of Each Coating Application
Use a shovel or dustpan and PICKUP EXCESS MATERIAL. DO NOT SPREAD IT AROUND! If material is applied too thick it will dry a darker shade with unsightly shrinkage cracks.

Step 5 Lock the court gate, to prevent an animal crossing the court area before the court has thoroughly dried.

Step 6. Clean Up:
Wash tools with water. If material has dried, use kerosene.

Step 7. Applying 2nd and Final Coat
Follow the same mixing and application guidelines for the 1st coat of color. After the 1st coat of color is thoroughly dry, use the long-handled scraper to remove any ridges from the squeegee ar debris that may have dried with the 1st coat of color. After scraping has been completed, sweep or blow off court prior to beginning 2nd coat of color. Allow final coat to dry for two hours before laying out lines. (see tennis court line layout diagram or basketball court line layout diagram.

Cautions:

• Read the container label before using. Follow label instructions.
• When applying, air temperature must be a minimum of 50 degrees F. (10C) and rising. Do not apply if surface temperature exceeds 135 degrees F. (57C)
• Do not apply when rain is imminent or forecast
• When applying indoors, use with adequate ventilation during application and drying
• Close containers when not in use
• Do not store in direct sunlight or where temperature may exceed 100 degrees F.
• KEEP FROM FREEZING