So my local tennis court looked like crap last month, all faded and patchy. Figured I’d tackle it myself instead of hiring someone. Did some digging online about court colorizers – basically fancy paint that brings color back without resurfacing the whole thing. Sounded perfect for my busted budget.
What I Started With
Walked the court first. Swept off leaves and big dirt chunks with a stiff broom. Noticed greenish stuff in corners – algae, yuck. Mixed cheap white vinegar with water in a spray bottle, soaked those spots, and scrubbed like crazy. Rinsed it off after 20 minutes. Let the whole court dry overnight. Sun helped bake it good.
Getting the Colorizer
Went to the hardware store looking for “court paint.” Guy pointed me to a two-part acrylic stuff specifically for tennis courts. Came with this base color and a separate activator powder. Mixed ’em in a bucket according to the label – kinda like pancake batter, just thinner. Stirred it forever with a stick. Picked a classic green, obviously.
The Messy Part
- Used a pump sprayer first: Thought it’d be quicker. Big mistake. Spray went everywhere – my shoes, the fence, even my neighbor’s cat.
- Switched to rollers: Dug out my old paint roller frame and a thick nap roller. Felt way more control. Started from the baseline, rolled toward the net. Kept it wet, overlapping strokes.
Wore gloves but still ended up speckled in green.
Patience and Second Coats
First coat dried patchy. Some spots soaked it up faster. Waited 4 hours (ate lunch, complained about my sore arms). Did a second coat perpendicular to the first layer. That did the trick – color looked even. Got too eager stepping on a dry corner too soon. Left a footprint. Ugh. Rolled over it gently.
Final Look
Let it bake in the sun two full days. Came back, did a happy dance. Lines popped, green looked fresh – no more sad gray patches. Not perfect-pro level, but good enough for my weekend games. My knees hurt, my dog looked suspiciously green-pawed, but man… felt cheaper than tearing up the whole court.