1st Coat Application Instructions

Important:

1. When applying surface coatings during periods of very hot weather, apply coatings during the coolest part of the day, usually in the early morning. Do not apply if surface temperature is 135 degrees F. (57C) or above. When you encounter hot weather which the surface temperature will exceed 135 F. (57C), it is best to apply one coat in the early morning before the temperature rises and then wait until the next morning to apply the next coat.
   
   
2. When multiple courts are being coated, the overall area should be broken into a workable size.
   Example: A four court having dimensions of 204' x 120' can be separated into two workable areas of 102' x 120'. This also allows for two courts to remain in service while two are being refurbished, provided a court divider net is used
   
   
3. When doing a two color application, the playing box is coated first. Both coats of color will be applied before the outbound area is started.
   
   
4. In order to complete the application of two coats of color over the playing box surface, it is necessary to identify the four corners of an existing playing box, and/or layout the perimeter lines of the playing box on a new court, which you do not have the benefit of having existing lines to work from. The existing outer perimeter lines of the playing box (or the new chalk-line box that you will create for a new court) will be completely covered when coating the playing box.

   Identifying the playing box corners
   
   Existing Asphalt Courts:
   Drive a 2" masonry nail into the court surface at each of the four outside corners of the playing box, removing the nail each time. (alternatively, you can drive a 1-1/4" galvanized or stainless steel flat head roofing nail all the way into an asphalt court surface, leaving the roofing nails in as permanent corner markers for reference points when striping the court and for future resurfacing. Being galvanized or stainless steel, the nail heads will not rust when coated over). The holes left in the surface will be easy to locate after the coatings have been applied. This step will save you a great amount of time, when it is time to layout the playing lines.

   Assuming the court surface has had a base coat applied (if necessary), the final scraping of any rough areas has been done, and all dust and debris have been washed, blown or swept from the surface, and the pails have been stirred, you are now ready to start the application process.

   Important: We recommend that you have a helper to pour additional material as needed, to be sure that a wet edge is kept in front of the applicator at all times.
   
   How Long Will It Take To Apply One Coat?: Once you begin the coating process, the work crew cannot stop for a break until the entire court is coated. A standard court with dimensions of 60 ft. x 120 ft. will take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from the time you pour the first material on the court until you finish one coat of either resurfacer (base coat) or color.
   
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   Step 1
   Rinse the pails that the MultiMate came in into other pails. The clean pails will now be used to carry the mixed material to the court. The rinse water can be used when mixing the next batch of the same color.

   Step 2
   Using a bailing 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. If this happens, return contents of pail to the drum and mix again.
   
   

    

   Step 3  Starting at one corner of the playing box base-line, pour a windrow (a long puddle of material about 6" to 12" wide) of color material across the playing box about 3" inside the base-line (or with a new court, inside the base-line chalk line).

    

   Step 4  Using the long handled sqeegee 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 flowing 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 your previous passes. You cannot take off too much material with the squeegee. The thickness of the sand in the material will always allow the right coating thickness to remain on the court.

   A slight downward pressure should be applied to the squeegee blade to prevent leaving any puddles 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 is reached crossing the narrow part of the playing box, pull material down at a 90 degree angle for a few feet along the sides of the playing box covering the existing outer playing line (where lines are existing) or outside the chalkline on a new court. Proceed to pull the material across the surface in the opposite direction repeating pulling the material down each side. You will repeat this procedure until the playing box surface 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.

   Step 5
   When you have completed the 1st coat application of the playing box, pickup the excess material with a dustpan or shovel, placing excess material back into a pail. Do not attempt to spread the excess material. This will cause too great a thickness of material and will dry with unsightly cracks.

   Step 6
   Lock the court gate between coats. Locking the gate between coating applications will prevent animals from walking in the material before it has dried. Allow a minimum of three hours drying time between coats.

   Average Drying Time
   1 to 2 hours, depending on ambient temperature and humidity.

2nd Coat Application Instructions

Step 7 (between coats)
After each coat (including a base coat) and before applying the final coat of color, check the surface of the 1st coat for any ridges, debris or pockets of heavy deposits of coating left from the squeegee. Sometimes a leaf or insect will land on the wet surface and dry there.

A long handled scraper is highly recommended as an excellent tool to have on hand which can be purchased from Tennis Universal or Home Depot or similar building supply outlet, and is to be used to scrape these areas. Sweep or use a blower after scraping. Pick up all debris.

Shiners: When inspecting the surface between color coats, you may see a few spots where very little color has been applied. These spots are called "shiners". They are caused by high spots in the surface that the squeegee has skipped over leaving a sparse amount of coating material. Before starting the 2nd and final coat, use a paint brush and apply a thin coating of the color over the shiners. This will allow for a uniform final coat .

Application of 2nd & Final Coat (on the playing box)

Cautions

• Depending on drying conditions, allow the 1st coat of color to dry a minimum of 3 hours before applying final coat
• You cannot scrape ridges or small pockets of coating after the final coat has been applied. Care must be taken not to leave ridges or pockets of coating material during this final playing box application
• It is recommended that the person that applied the 1st coat also apply the 2nd coat. The reason: he or she has developed a feel for the proper operation of the application squeegee, and will now apply that experience when applying the 2nd coat.

Step 8
Follow the same application instructions for the 2nd coat to the playing box as directed for the 1st coat.

Application of 1st Coat to Outbound Area

Step 9 - Locate the corners of the playing box
It is now necessary to locate the nail holes placed in the court at each of four corners of the playing box. After the nail holes have been found (or the heads of the roofing nails), measure one inch into the playing box from each nail hole (or roofing nail) and using a pencil, place a mark on the new playing box surface.

Using the marks placed on the surface, snap a chalk line on the four sides of the court creating a four sided box. This time the four chalk-lines represent the center of each of the outside 2" playing lines and is the point that the two colors will come together.

Step 10 - Create the Color Dividing Point
Using 2" masking tape, apply the tape all around the playing box on top of the now finished playing box, placing the outside edge of the tape on the chalk line. The outside edge of the 2" masking tape represents the center of each of the 2" outside playing lines. When applying the 2nd color, the squeegee will move the material along the masking tape, but not crossing the tape to the finished playing box surface.

Very Important:
The playing box surface is now finished except for striping the playing lines. You will now be changing over to the 2nd color. Do not walk on the finished surface while working with the 2nd color. Be sure to instruct everyone working with you to carry the 2nd color around the finished playing box. Any paint on shoes while working with the alternate color could be tracked unto the finished playing box.

You are now ready to mix the 2nd color and start the perimeter area coating

Step 11

1. Rinse the mixing drum to remove any residual material from the 1st color
2. Mix the 2nd color using the same ratios and mixing instructions as the 1st color
3. Each coat of the outbound area will be applied following the same instructions as the 1st coat, except for the starting point. Start the coating application to one side of the gate, circling the court and returning to the starting point and the gate. Remember: do not attempt to spread excess materials at the finish point. Pick it up!
4. When coating around the playing box, bring the material onto the 2" masking tape. Do not allow materials to cross the masking tape to the finished playing box surface.
5. Remove 2" masking tape after the 2nd coat of the alternate color is dry
6. Lock the gate!

Step 12

1. Wash tools with water. If dried, use kerosene.
2. Wait 24 hours before taping and striping the lines.

Please contact us if you have any questions about the resurfacing process that have not been answered by the above application guidelines.

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