Surface Comparison Tool
Every surface below rides on the same truth: it is only as good as the pad underneath it. With that said, the skins really do differ. Tell the tool what you care about most and read the honest tradeoffs.
Our honest read: Standard acrylic is the surface the racquet and paddle sports are actually played on, and nothing matches its bounce fidelity per dollar.
Standard acrylic
$2 to $5 / sq ft over the pad
- Feel and pace
- The classic hard-court feel: true, consistent bounce and predictable pace
- Joints
- Firmest option underfoot; the honest tradeoff for the truest bounce
- Upkeep
- Blow or rinse debris, soft-wash yearly, patch as needed
- Typical horizon
- Recoat typically every 4 to 8 years, faster in harsh sun
- DIY reality
- Pro job: coatings want experienced squeegee work and the right weather window
- Best for
- Players who want the surface the sport is actually played on
Needs a fully cured pad, typically about 28 days for new concrete, before coating
Cushioned acrylic
$4 to $8 / sq ft over the pad
- Feel and pace
- Same true bounce, with rubberized layers that soften the strike
- Joints
- The kindest hard-court option for knees and ankles
- Upkeep
- Same rhythm as standard acrylic
- Typical horizon
- Recoat typically every 4 to 8 years; cushion layers persist across recoats
- DIY reality
- Pro job, even more so: the cushion layers are technique-sensitive
- Best for
- Daily players, longer sessions, and anyone whose joints vote
The premium buys comfort, not durability: lifespan is similar to standard acrylic
Modular sport tiles
$3 to $7 / sq ft over the pad
- Feel and pace
- Slightly muted bounce and a touch more surface give; ball speed can differ from acrylic
- Joints
- More forgiving than bare acrylic thanks to designed flex
- Upkeep
- Rinse and blow debris; individual damaged tiles swap out
- Typical horizon
- Quality tiles typically run 10 to 20 years with UV fade over time
- DIY reality
- The most DIY-friendly: snap-together over a sound, flat pad
- Best for
- Multi-sport pads, fast projects, and pads that need a forgiving skin
Tiles do not fix a bad pad: they still need flat, sound concrete underneath
Synthetic turf (greens)
$15 to $40 / sq ft installed as a green system
- Feel and pace
- For putting and short game, not bounce sports: true roll comes from dense, sand-dressed turf
- Joints
- Softest surface here; it is a lawn analogue, not a court
- Upkeep
- Brush and top-dress infill periodically, keep debris off
- Typical horizon
- Typically 10 to 15 years before the turf itself is due
- DIY reality
- Small greens are DIY-able; contoured greens with proper base work are a pro job
- Best for
- Putting greens, short-game areas, and play lawns
Not a surface for pickleball, tennis, or basketball: balls do not bounce true on turf
Costs are typical published ranges for the surface layer over an existing sound pad, except turf, which is priced as an installed green system. Regional labor and material prices vary. Whatever skin you pick, spend your worry on the base and the pour: surfaces are replaceable, pads are not.
Know your surface? Get it built.
Send a project request and we will connect you with vetted local builders as coverage opens in your area, with your surface choice already in the brief.
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