Selecting A Tennis Court Contractor
| Once the decision
to build a new court or resurface an existing one has been made, it's time
to search out a contractor to perform the work. At first look, it might
seem that there are an abundant number of contractors who are building
tennis courts. Beware. The recession of the early 90's has caused numerous
general contractors to get into the tennis game. Some contractors will
solicit just about any type of work to keep their staff busy. Low prices
abound. But can they construct a tennis court that will give you years
of trouble-free use?
How then do you choose a contractor that is knowledgeable, experienced, as well as reputable? One that you can trust to build the court you hired him for. First, it's important for you to know exactly what it is you want. If you are building a new court, you should consider hiring a consultant and/or a court designer. Just because a contractor can build a court does not mean that he can adequately design the best court for the site. Problems such as slope, orientation, layout and new technological developments could be easily resolved or eliminated by hiring a professional tennis facility designer. Once you've decided the type, location and layout for your court, it's time to put it out for bid and begin the process of choosing a contractor. The following guide can be used as a checklist to help insure you get the best tennis court for your money. 1. When talking to different contractors, make sure you give each of them identical specifications from which they develop their bids. It is necessary for these specifications to be written so that there can be no excuses during the construction phase. If you have already decided o n certain brands of building materials or equipment, be sure to let the contractor know in advance so he can use these brands when preparing the bid. 2. The contractor should be knowledgeable in all aspects of building a tennis court. This includes having experience with slope, drainage, surface materials as well as nets, posts, lighting, etc. In this regard, make sure the contractor is familiar with United States tennis Association recommendations and guides and the specifications of the United States Tennis Court and Track Builders Association.
4. The contractor should give a performance guarantee against defective workmanship and materials for at least one year. 5. Make sure the contractor carries the proper insurance policies. At minimum, these should include liability insurance and workman's compensation. 6. Local contractors are usually more readily available for conferences and repairs when needed. But don't choose a contractor solely because of his proximity. He must be equally qualified as all the others being considered.
|
"When you play with the
best, you are the winner."
3. Request
at least three references from other projects complete. Contact these references
and try to visit them. Inquire from the reference if the contractor completed
the court on time and within budget. Check his workmanship and get a feel
for the overall quality of the job. You'll be able to tell quickly the
contractor has satisfied other customers.