“Build a pickleball court” can describe very different contracts. One company may prepare the land and pour the base. Another may arrive only after the base has cured. A third may sell tiles, nets or fencing. Decide where the project starts and ends before asking for one total.
What should a complete court scope include?
Start with the existing property. End with a clean, usable court and closed project records. Include only work the property needs, but require every line to name the responsible party.
| Work group | Questions to settle |
|---|---|
| Site confirmation | Who checks boundaries, easements, utilities, grade and usable dimensions? |
| Access and protection | What route will equipment use, and what must be removed or protected? |
| Clearing and earthwork | Which trees, roots, soil, cut, fill and haul-off are included? |
| Water control | Where will surface and uphill runoff enter, move and leave? |
| Subgrade and stone | What compaction, stone depth and test or inspection is planned? |
| Structural base | Asphalt, ordinary concrete or another system; what thickness and details apply? |
| Playing surface | Preparation, crack treatment, acrylic layers, cushion or modular product, colors and lines |
| Court equipment | Sleeves or anchors, posts, net, center strap and any ball-stop system |
| Perimeter work | Fence height, mesh, gates, windscreens, paths and retaining work |
| Electrical and lighting | Power route, controls, poles, foundations, fixtures, aiming and inspections |
| Closeout | Cleanup, landscape repair, care instructions, records and correction list |
Where does new construction differ from resurfacing?
Resurfacing begins with an existing court base. It may clean the surface, repair cracks or low spots, apply new coatings and repaint lines. It does not usually create a stable platform from lawn or rough ground.
New construction must solve soil, elevation, compaction, drainage and the base before the playing finish begins. A low resurfacing figure should not be used as the planning price for a new backyard court. The 2026 cost guide keeps those categories apart.
Who owns the site design?
Ask which party turns the property information into a buildable layout. The plan should show pad size, line orientation, finished elevations, slope, drainage, fence and gates, retaining work, light poles, nearby structures and the construction route.
If a survey, engineering detail or local approval is needed, state who orders, pays for and uses it. “By owner” is a valid allocation only when the owner knows the exact deliverable and deadline.
How should earthwork and drainage be described?
Words such as “grade as needed” leave too much open. A stronger scope describes the area to clear, expected cut and fill, unsuitable-soil handling, stone, compaction, edge support and the drainage route. It also states which concealed conditions can change the price.
Visit the site after rain if possible. Show the provider roof outlets, swales, wet ground and water arriving from uphill. Mecklenburg County maps hard surface because it changes how rain moves. The site and drainage guide turns this into quote questions.
What belongs in the base specification?
Do not accept “concrete court” or “asphalt court” as the whole description. Ask about subgrade, aggregate, thickness, reinforcement or joint approach, edge details, slope, tolerances, curing or waiting period and the condition required before surfacing.
If the surface company did not design the base, ask whether it will inspect and accept the base before applying coatings. Put the handoff in writing. A dispute between the base builder and surface installer is hard to solve after cracks, puddles or coating problems appear.
Which playing surface is being supplied?
USA Pickleball notes that concrete and asphalt can both support a permanent court and recommends 100 percent acrylic coatings for athletic-court surfacing. A coating system can include patching, primer or resurfacer, color coats, texture and line paint. Cushion layers add another product group.
Modular tiles and rollout products behave differently. Record product name, base requirements, seams, drainage behavior, repair method, color, ball response and edge treatment. Do not describe a tile system as concrete construction.
How should fence, lights and sound enter the scope?
Fence drawings should show height, mesh, posts, rails, gates, coatings and the distance from the playing lines. Light proposals should name pole locations, foundations, fixtures, controls, power route and aiming. Ask whether electrical work and review fees are inside the total.
Place nearby homes on the same plan. Discuss play hours, ball containment, screening and quieter equipment before the final layout. The permits, lights and neighbors guide provides the separate questions.
What should closeout mean?
Define a playable finish rather than “job complete.” Walk the court and record puddles, coating marks, line edges, fence issues, gate operation, net setup and site repair. Collect product care, color records, permit closeout and the written process for reporting a defect.
Hold a final list with dates and responsible parties. Do not rely on a verbal promise that small items will be handled later.
Frequently asked questions
Does complete construction always include lighting?
No. Lighting is optional, but the scope must state whether poles, foundations, power, controls and approvals are included or excluded.
Can several companies share the work?
Yes. The written plan must show each handoff and who checks the prior layer before continuing.
Should the lowest total win?
Only after the scope, materials, unknowns, payment plan and completion duties are comparable. Use the quote guide.