3-in-1: Needle tine - Pitchcare

ARTIFICIAL
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The industry needs to provide cost effective
maintenance suggestions and solutions, along with
proper working practices, machinery and services.
Maintaining artificial surfaces by SAM BREEDEN
WHAT to do about failed drainage on an
artificial tennis court? That was the
question that faced me, as facilities
manager at my local tennis club, a few
seasons ago. First line of approach was to
contact the installers. “You need to
pressure wash it 2250 psi should do” was
the reply. So a suitable pressure washer
was purchased and the next 44 hours of
daylight were spent washing, sweeping,
squeegying and barrowing tons of sludge
and contaminated sand from the court.
After the new sand, ordered through the
installer, failed to arrive for the third
time, the quarry was tracked down and
sand was bought in for a fraction of the
previously quoted price.
At this point I realised that the
installers guidelines for maintenance of
their courts was woefully inadequate. Five
years after a lottery grant had resurfaced
the courts we were faced with spending
half of our sinking fund on renovation.
So I started to do some research into the
problem.
Firstly an effective way of keeping
organic debris out of the carpet was
sought. After reading about Aerosweep of
Australia and their simple cleaning mats
and, within weeks of seeing how effective,
simple and easy to use they were, I
agreed with the manufactures to become
the U.K agent. Sweepfast Ltd was formed
with the help of my long friend, David
Reynolds, presently company secretary.
With another four courts to clean an
alternative was sought. Quotes were
obtained for various renovation schemes
and other clubs were contacted and
visited. All quotes were outside the club’s
budget, and also the quality of some
restorations left me feeling I could do a
better job; so we undertook the task.
Developing a system that combined
rotary pressure cleaning and power
brushing as we went along, we cleaned
the remaining courts. A maintenance
schedule was then devised to keep the
courts clean and, after two seasons, the
courts are still pristine.
Now using commercially available
machinery, as well as our own prototypes,
we are confident that we have a system
that will optimise the playability and life
of these artificial surfaces, reducing the
need for expensive renovations or
removing it all together.
We see regular maintenance as the key
to artificial surface management. Starting
with the basics of removing organic
debris, before it is trodden down into the
pile, and brushing to keep the pile open
and the infill mobile. Ideally the
manufacturers should, by now, have
maintenance schedules in place that
work for all their surfaces. Sadly this is
not the case, possibly because they feel
efficient maintenance schedules could
scare prospective purchasers away.
An industry standard should be
available. Club and facilities managers
need to be made aware that these are not
low maintenance surfaces. Right from
day one after the installation
maintenance should be planned !
We visit facililities that have cost
hundreds of thousands of pounds and
yet no regular maintenance is in place on
the surfaces! Drag brushing alone is not
enough! The owners wonder why the
drainage has failed and the area is
covered with sludge and is waterlogged.
Imagine what a swimming pool would be
like if left exposed to the elements! After
Club and facilities managers need to be made
aware that these are not low maintenance