Ground-Readiness First
A stable, correctly pitched court footprint, so the surface you choose stays level for years, not just months.
What Goes Wrong & Why
The failure modes below are not random, each one traces back to a specific step that was rushed or skipped entirely.
Houston’s flat lots look level but hide low spots that collect standing water after every heavy rain, softening the base beneath the surface.
A site walk records existing grade across the full footprint, identifying every low spot before clearing or grading begins.
Houston’s expansive clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, causing a base that was never excavated to shift, crack, and settle unevenly.
Clay is excavated to a stable depth and replaced with compacted aggregate base, eliminating the expansion cycle that cracks surfaces.
A base graded without a measured slope sheds water poorly, even a fraction of a percent off leaves puddles on the playing surface after rain.
Grading targets a 1 percent cross-slope across the court footprint, directing runoff away from the playing area consistently.
Clearing brush and debris removes obstacles but leaves soil uncompacted, unmeasured, and ungraded, an unstable starting point for any court base.
After clearing, the site goes through measurement, grading, fill placement, and layer-by-layer compaction before the footprint is laid out.
Scope of Work
Each stage below is part of the ground-readiness sequence, from the first measurement to a compacted, dimensioned footprint ready for a surface contractor.
The usable area is measured against regulation court dimensions, accounting for setbacks, trees, and access paths to confirm what fits.
Existing grade is recorded across the full footprint, low spots are mapped, and a drainage plan is set before any ground is moved.
Vegetation, roots, and surface debris are removed from the court area so grading equipment can work to a clean, consistent depth.
The ground is cut and filled to achieve the correct cross-slope, removing high spots and raising low areas with compacted fill dirt.
Aggregate base is placed in layers and compacted to a stable depth, creating the load-bearing foundation the court surface sits on.
Clay content, softness, and bearing capacity are assessed early so excavation depth and base material volume can be scoped accurately.
Residential lots, including tight or irregular yards.
Underused parcels assessed for court placement.
Larger footprints with shared drainage considerations.
Single site laid out for two or more court sports.
Why Choose Us
Ground prep is where courts succeed or fail, here is what makes the difference when you work with us.
Every enquiry starts with a ground and drainage visit, no scope is written until the site has been physically assessed.
Base preparation, grading, and drainage work are quoted as separate line items so you see exactly what each stage costs.
Local court builders familiar with clay soil conditions and flat-lot drainage plan the subgrade work accordingly from day one.
We arrange independent local partners who carry out court prep work, not general landscapers or clearing crews.
The job is not closed until a final walkthrough confirms the footprint, grade, and drainage area match the agreed scope.
How It Works
01
Submit your details and we arrange a local court builder to visit, measure the footprint, and assess slope and drainage conditions on-site.
02
You receive an itemised estimate covering clearing, grading, subgrade compaction, and drainage work, broken out so each stage is clear.
03
The site is cleared, graded to the correct pitch, and compacted to a stable subgrade, then walked through with you before the surface phase begins.
Pricing Estimates
| Job type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Design and layout | $1,500-$5,000 |
| Survey and engineering | $2,000-$6,000 |
| Site prep and grading | $5,000-$15,000 |
We’ll arrange a local court builder to assess the ground and drainage, then put the full scope in writing before anything is booked.