Acrylic vs Synthetic Grass
We build two court surfaces: acrylic hard court and synthetic grass. Both are good surfaces. The right one depends on how the court will be used, your budget and how much upkeep suits you.
How they compare
| Acrylic hard court | Synthetic grass | |
|---|---|---|
| How it plays | Faster | Slightly slower. Many tennis purists prefer it. |
| Colours | Wide range, plus custom colours and colour matching | Fewer colour choices, with tufted lines |
| Cost | Generally less | Generally more |
| Upkeep | Regular cleaning, and a resurface when it wears | Brushing, sand top-ups and regular cleaning |
| Life | Typically 8–10 years, depending on maintenance and use | Typically 20 years or more, depending on maintenance and use |
| Base | Concrete, or an existing asphalt court | Concrete, road base, or an existing asphalt court |
| Sports | Tennis, netball, basketball, pickleball and multi-sport courts | Tennis and cricket pitches |
Acrylic hard court
A multi-layer acrylic system on concrete or an existing asphalt court. It plays fast, suits most sports and comes in more colours. All our acrylic coatings are ITF certified. It needs a different maintenance approach from synthetic grass and will need a resurface sooner. Each resurface is a chance to change colours.
Synthetic grass
Turf with tufted lines and washed, kiln-dried sand infill. It plays slightly slower and many tennis players like the feel. It's the only surface that can go on a road base, which costs less than concrete.
The base matters most
Concrete is our preferred base for both surfaces. It lasts the longest and keeps your options open, so a synthetic court can be changed to acrylic later, or the other way round. A fence can also be bolted to the slab, which makes replacing it later much easier.
Frequently asked questions
Is acrylic or synthetic grass cheaper?
Acrylic is generally cheaper. On a road base, synthetic grass can be a more affordable option overall because road base costs less than concrete.
Which surface lasts longer?
Synthetic grass. It typically lasts 20 years or more, and acrylic typically lasts 8–10 years, depending on maintenance and use.
Can acrylic go on road base?
No. Only synthetic grass can go on road base. Acrylic needs concrete or an existing asphalt court.
Do you build clay or natural grass courts?
No. We build acrylic hard courts and synthetic grass courts.
Not sure which surface suits you?
Tell us how the court will be used and we'll talk it through with you.