Residential
Backyard Courts
Multi-sport pads, half-court basketball, dedicated pickleball, or full tennis — sized to the property and the way the family plays.
Cushioned Court Installation
A Court Built Right, From the Base Up
Rubber-mat and cushioned acrylic systems for residential, community, and recreational courts — engineered for shock absorption and decades of base life.
Anatomy of a Court
What's Actually Underneath the Lines
A finished court is the visible top of a multi-layer system. The base, sub-base, and cushion layers do most of the long-term work — and they're the parts that are hardest to fix once the court is built. We design the build-up around the site, the use, and the surface system before any color goes down.
Cross-section shown is for a cushioned acrylic system on an asphalt base. Layers shown to scale relative to each other; the actual base is significantly thicker.
Cross-section
Cushioned acrylic on asphalt base
Lines & striping
Acrylic line paint
Color coats
Sand-blended acrylic, 2 coats
Cushion layer (optional)
Rubber-granule build-up — 4–6 mm
Asphalt or concrete base
Compacted, 3–4" minimum
Compacted aggregate sub-base
Engineered fill, graded for drainage
Earth / sub-grade below — graded and compacted prior to base installation.
System Comparison
How the Surface Systems Compare
The right system depends on who's playing, how often, and how the court will be used. A flat read on the trade-offs.
| Spec | Rubber Mat | Cushioned AcrylicMost popular | Standard Acrylic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint impact | Very low | Low | Firm |
| Court-grade play feel | Casual | Yes | Yes |
| Base required | Asphalt / concrete | Asphalt | Asphalt |
| Recoat cycle | 10+ yrs (tile life) | 4–8 yrs | 4–8 yrs |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Standard | Standard |
| Custom colors / lines | Limited | Full custom | Full custom |
| Best fit | Family / multi-sport | High-use clubs & homes | Tennis-focused budgets |
Where We Build
Courts Built for Three Kinds of Play
Community
HOA & Neighborhood
Shared courts built to handle higher traffic, with maintenance baked into the surface and material choices from day one.
Schools
Training & Recreation
Practice courts and recreational pads for schools, camps, and instruction programs — tuned for younger players and frequent sessions.
Installation FAQs
Common Questions About Cushioned Court Installation
A few of the questions we hear most often from homeowners, communities, and facilities planning a new court.
How much does a backyard cushioned court cost?
Cost varies widely based on size, surface system, base preparation, fencing, and accessories. A small backyard pickleball court with a rubber-mat surface typically lands at the lower end. A full-size tennis or multi-sport court with cushioned acrylic, fencing, and lighting lands much higher. We give every project a written quote after a site visit so you can compare specific options against your budget rather than guess at averages.
What surface is best for kids?
For kids and family courts, we usually recommend a cushioned system — either rubber-mat tiles or cushioned acrylic on an asphalt base. Both reduce joint impact and absorb falls better than a hard concrete or asphalt slab. Rubber-mat systems are particularly forgiving and work well for younger kids, basketball, and casual multi-sport play. Cushioned acrylic gives you a more refined, court-grade surface for kids who are actively playing tennis or pickleball.
What sports can I play on one court?
A single multi-sport court can typically support tennis, pickleball, basketball, and small-sided games like four square or hopscotch — depending on size. The most common backyard configuration is a half-court basketball area combined with pickleball striping, sized around a 30-by-60-foot footprint. For a more ambitious setup, a full-size tennis court can carry pickleball lines, a basketball key, and other custom layouts. We'll walk through the trade-offs of each combination during the site visit.
How long does a cushioned court last?
A properly installed cushioned acrylic court has a similar lifespan to a standard hard court — roughly 4 to 8 years between recoats, with the underlying base lasting decades if it's built right. Rubber-mat systems are even more forgiving, with surface tiles holding up well past a decade with basic care. The cushion layer underneath is the part you don't have to redo at recoat time, so you only refresh the color coats above it.
Does the court need a concrete or asphalt base?
For a permanent installation, yes — either an asphalt or concrete base is what gives the court its long-term structural life. Asphalt is the more common choice for sport courts in this region. For a temporary, removable, or over-existing-slab installation, modular rubber-tile systems can sometimes be installed directly over a sound concrete pad without additional base work. We assess the existing site during the visit and recommend accordingly.
Can I install a sport court myself?
Modular rubber-tile systems are sometimes marketed as DIY-friendly, and a small recreation pad can be doable for a handy homeowner — but layout precision, base flatness, drainage, and the long-term result are usually noticeably different from a professional install. For anything beyond a simple recreation pad, professional installation pays for itself in surface life, playability, and avoiding rework. We're happy to talk you through what's realistic for your specific project.
Explore More
Related Services
Tennis Court Surfacing
Looking for a traditional hard court instead of a cushioned system? We surface and resurface tennis courts with professional acrylic systems.
Learn MorePickleball Court Surfacing
Building a pickleball-focused court? We handle new construction, conversions from tennis, and shared multi-sport layouts.
Learn MoreCleaning & Maintenance
Keep your installed court playing right with scheduled cleaning, seasonal care, and inspection programs.
Learn MoreService Area
Serving Charlotte and Surrounding Areas
Karona Courts works with homeowners, communities, schools, and clubs throughout the greater Charlotte region. If you're nearby and don't see your town listed, reach out — we likely cover it.
- Charlotte
- Ballantyne
- SouthPark
- Huntersville
- Cornelius
- Davidson
- Matthews
- Mint Hill
- Indian Trail
- Waxhaw
- Marvin
- Concord
- Lake Norman
- Pineville
- Fort Mill
- Weddington
Planning a Cushioned Court?
Schedule a site visit. We'll evaluate your space and walk you through the surface system, size, and layout that fit your project.