Acrylic, concrete and post-tension surfaces

Sports court cleaning in Austin, TX

Algae on a court is a traction problem before it is an appearance problem, and the coating that makes the surface playable is the thing most easily destroyed by cleaning it wrong.

4.9 from 146 reviews on Google

Who cleans sports courts in Austin?

Live Oak Exterior Cleaning cleans tennis, basketball, pickleball, multi-sport, volleyball and shuffleboard courts across Austin and the Hill Country. We work acrylic hard courts, concrete, asphalt and post-tension slabs, matching pressure to the surface coating, for private estates and for HOA and community courts. Fully insured, certificate of insurance provided.

Why an Austin court goes green

The same canopy that makes a court pleasant to play on is what keeps it damp.

  • Algae and shade

    Court surfaces are flat, they hold water, and shade keeps them from drying. That is the whole recipe, and it is why the problem concentrates at the shaded end.

  • Oak debris

    Leaves, catkins and tassels sit on the surface holding moisture against it, which feeds the growth underneath rather than just looking untidy.

  • Cedar pollen

    A sticky film every winter and spring that bonds to the coating and gives organic growth something to establish on.

What that costs you, and it is not appearance

  • Traction

    Algae is slick, and it is slickest when wet. On a surface people run and pivot on, that is the reason this work has a deadline rather than a season.

  • Playability

    Grip and ball response come from the surface texture. Growth and film sitting in that texture change how the court plays before they change how it looks.

  • The coating itself

    Organic growth holds moisture against the coating continuously. Left long enough that is what turns a cleaning job into a resurfacing one.

Surface decides the method

The first thing we establish on any court is what the playing surface actually is, because getting it wrong here is expensive and permanent.

  • Acrylic hard court

    The most common surface and the least forgiving. An acrylic sport coating over a substrate, cleaned at low pressure with chemistry doing the work. Too much pressure lifts the coating straight off.

  • Concrete

    Takes moderate pressure and is cleaned evenly with a surface cleaner rather than a wand, so the finish stays uniform instead of striped.

  • Asphalt

    Cleaned at controlled pressure. Asphalt erodes under a concentrated jet, and the damage shows as texture loss that cannot be put back.

  • Post-tension concrete

    Engineered slab with its own joints and sealants, treated the same way we treat a structured deck: clean the surface, leave the things keeping water out of it alone.

How a court clean runs

  1. 01

    Identify the surface and its condition

    What the coating is, how sound it is, and where the growth has established. This decides pressure before anything is switched on.

  2. 02

    Treat the growth at the root

    Chemistry and dwell time to kill the algae rather than displace it, because displaced algae regrows from what is left in the texture.

  3. 03

    Clean evenly across the whole surface

    Worked consistently rather than concentrating on the worst patches, so the finished court reads as one surface instead of a clean area and a less clean one.

  4. 04

    Clear the perimeter and rinse out

    Fence lines, surrounds and drainage cleared, and the surrounding landscaping rinsed through.

What a soft wash on a court looks like

The pressure is the whole argument on a court. An acrylic hard surface takes low pressure, and the damage people arrive with was done by holding a wand too close or too long rather than by the cleaning itself.

What the clip does not show is the part that decides whether it lasts. The algae is treated so it dies at the root first; cleaning off growth that is still alive underneath buys a few months.

Still from the video: Soft washing a tennis court Soft washing a tennis court

What customers say about this work

4.9 from 146 reviews on Google
  • Working with Jared was an easy, seamless and straight forward experience. He completed a power wash and stain for my 2.5 year old fence. Communication was clear and easy, and he was flexible when it came to timing. He answered all my questions and provided me with a work completion timeline with a 'why' behind them. I'd recommend him to friends and encourage you to work with him too. You'll be glad you did! Thanks again Jared!

    Sharonvia Google

  • WOW! Live Oak came highly recommended and the amazing difference on our driveway, patio, sidewalk and entrance was amazing. Could not recommend higher. I have 5 neighbors that immediately took biz cards when they saw our home.

    Michael and Sarahvia Google

  • Live Oak did an excellent job power washing our fence and cleaning our windows. Our house is 20 years old and it looks brand new now. I highly recommend this company. They were professional, adequately priced and did a great job! Thank you!

    Jennifer and Markvia Google

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Common questions about court cleaning

How much does tennis court cleaning cost in Austin?

Court cleaning is priced on court size, surface type and condition. A hard court that gets cleaned every year and one carrying several seasons of algae are different amounts of work. We look at the court, then quote it. Recurring maintenance is priced lower per visit than a one-off, because the surface never reaches the heavy state.

How often should sports courts be cleaned?

Once or twice a year for most residential courts. Courts under heavy tree coverage or in shade may want quarterly attention, because that is where algae establishes fastest. HOA and club courts with real usage are usually on two to four visits a year.

Can you remove algae from a tennis court?

Yes, and killing it matters more than removing it. We treat the surface so the algae dies at the root rather than being displaced, then clean the dead growth and discoloration off. Algae that is only blasted away regrows from what is left behind, usually within a few months in Austin.

Will cleaning damage my court surface?

Not when the pressure matches the surface. Acrylic hard courts take low pressure, concrete takes moderate. The damage happens through excessive pressure, or through holding the wand in one spot long enough to burn a mark into the coating. Both are avoidable and both are why surface type is the first thing we establish.

Do you clean pickleball courts?

Yes, with the same methods as tennis and basketball. Pickleball courts are usually the same acrylic hard surface and have the same algae and traction problems, and we see a lot of them in Austin now.

Can you repaint court lines after cleaning?

We do not paint lines, and we can coordinate with someone who does. Cleaning first is not optional in that order: paint will not bond to a surface carrying algae or dirt, so the clean has to come before the line work rather than after.

Let us look at your court.

Tell us the surface and how shaded it is, and we will scope it.

Rather talk it through? 512-883-5420

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