Ground-Up Planning
A stable, level court that drains cleanly and holds its shape for years starts with the ground beneath it.
What Goes Wrong First
The ground work phase is where most long-term court problems are created, not the surface.
A court graded without laser leveling holds water in low spots, softening the base and causing recurring surface cracks.
Laser leveling verifies the footprint meets drainage slope tolerance before any base material is placed.
Austin’s expansive clay swells with rain and shrinks in dry heat, shifting any slab placed on unprepared subgrade.
The builder tests soil composition and specifies compaction depth or fill material to neutralize clay movement.
Without a mapped drainage channel, runoff has nowhere to go and pools at the court edge, undermining the base layer.
A written drainage plan routes surface water away from the footprint before excavation equipment arrives.
On sloped Central Texas lots, a court without a retaining edge allows fill dirt to migrate outward over time, creating an uneven playing surface.
A retaining edge is specified in the scope and installed before base compaction to hold the footprint in place.
Scope of Work
From the first site walk to a compaction-ready base, here is the full scope of work arranged for your property.
The site assessment measures the available footprint, checks setbacks, and confirms the court size fits the space with room for drainage and access.
Slope is checked across the full footprint and a grading plan is written to bring the site within drainage tolerance before base work begins.
Rocky caliche or sloped lots often need cut-and-fill work to establish a level footprint; the scope specifies excavation depth and fill volume.
Soil is compacted in lifts to a stable subgrade so the base layer has a firm, consistent foundation that resists settling.
Drainage paths are mapped and installed to route surface water away from the court footprint and prevent pooling after rain.
A retaining edge holds the court footprint and fill material in place on sloped lots, preventing lateral movement over time.
Site work scaled for residential lots and side yards.
Larger footprints with shared drainage requirements.
Multi-court layouts and high-traffic site conditions.
Evaluation of old concrete or driveways for rework.
Why Choose Us
Site prep is where the long-term outcome of a court is decided. Here is what sets this stage of the scope apart.
Grading, drainage, and compaction requirements are documented in writing before equipment is scheduled or costs are committed.
Every job starts with a site walk to assess slope, soil, and drainage before any estimate is prepared or scope is agreed.
The estimate breaks out each phase of site prep separately so you can see exactly what each step covers and costs.
Every scope covers backyard courts, HOA facilities, and commercial multi-court sites across the greater Austin area.
No job closes without a walkthrough confirming the site prep meets the agreed scope before the next phase begins.
The Process
01
Submit your site details and we arrange an on-site visit to assess slope, soil, drainage, and available footprint area.
02
You receive an itemised written scope covering excavation, grading, drainage, compaction, and any retaining edge work required.
03
The builder completes each phase in sequence and a final walkthrough confirms the site is ready for the base layer.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Site prep and grading | $5,000-$15,000 |
| Concrete slab | $25,000-$45,000 |
| Court design and layout | $800-$2,000 |
| Full site prep package | $30,000-$60,000 |
Tell us the site and the sport, and we’ll arrange an on-site evaluation and itemised written estimate covering base prep, drainage, and compaction.