Acrylic Courts vs. Modular Tile Courts

Modular tile sport courts have increased in popularity in the last two decades, but are they better than traditional acrylic courts? Sports tiles provide slightly better shock absorption, easy tile replacement, and quick installation (at least once the tiles arrive), but there are a quite a few cons to consider. At Valley Court Repair, we think acrylic is clearly the way to go. Here’s why:

Cost of Installation

Most modular tiles start cost $4-5 per square foot with installation, but more premium or custom options cost between $12-17 per square foot (not including any surface repairs before the install). This means a very conservative estimate for a pickleball court is around $8000, and around $12,000 for a 2600-sqft multi-sport court (without other installations). Costs for surfacing with acrylic vary significantly but a simple application will cost at least 50% less, and a moderate repair and resurface will cost around 25% less for a similar area.

Performance

Although they provide some cushioning for your joints, interlocking tiles provide a less consistent bounce and less traction than traditional surfaces. On dewy mornings, these surfaces are very slippery. Any benefits to your joints therefore are negated by a less predictable playing experience that could lead to more injury, especially in sports like tennis and pickleball where athletes have to react quickly to every bounce. Acrylic, on the other hand, offers the most consistent and predictable bounce and traction. If you want to play tennis, basketball, and pickleball in the early morning, you won’t have to worry about slipping on condensation. Ultimately, there’s a reason why pro tennis and pickleball tournaments choose acrylic.

Maintenance & Replacement Costs

Like acrylic, tiles are only as good as the surface that they’re installed on. If the concrete expands, contracts, or moves, both tiles and acrylic have to deal with the same problems. Yes, tiles usually last a while, and tiles that break can be replaced easily. But it’s highly likely that you’ll have to swap a few tiles every year before eventually replacing the entire court after 10-12 years. This is especially true if you live in an area that experiences extreme heat and cold where the tiles may expand and contract... or if you live in an area that’s very sunny where the tiles may become discolored by UV damage… or if you have lots of foliage near your court where the dirt falls through the cracks and requires a very intensive clean-up. Meanwhile, an acrylic court needs resurfacing every 5-7 years and is more resilient to the elements. Generally, acrylic courts are easier to clean, maintain, and pay for over their lifetime.

Pros & Cons: Modular Tiles

Pros:

Provides cushioning, reducing stress on players’ joints and muscles.
Easy to replace damaged tiles individually without resurfacing the entire court.
Surface imperfections like hairline cracks or chipping paint not visible.

Cons:

High upfront cost could be at least 50% more expensive per square foot.
Performance offers slightly less consistent bounce, less predictable traction, slippery when damp.
Temperature sensitive tiles can expand and contract in extreme temperatures.
Difficult to clean up, especially below the surface.
May be more expensive over the lifetime of the court.

Pros & Cons: Acrylic