Padel court materials: a guide to judging build quality

Why materials decide how long a court lasts

A padel court spends years outdoors or under a roof with almost constant use: sun, rain, humidity, ball impacts and thousands of footsteps on the turf. If a single component fails early, the whole court loses value, because nobody wants to book a court with worn grass or loose mesh. That is why it pays to check materials one by one, not just the overall look.

Frame: hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated steel

The frame is the court's skeleton and the most expensive part to repair if it deteriorates. What to ask for:

• Hot-dip galvanised steel, dipped after fabrication, not simply painted or made from pre-galvanised tube.
• Anti-corrosion protection suited to the environment; ours is rated C5, designed for coastal or very humid conditions.
• Oven-cured powder coating as the finish.

If you want to understand why hot-dip galvanising makes the difference, read our article on galvanised steel for padel courts.

Enclosure: tempered glass and anti-injury mesh

The walls are part of the playing surface and the main safety element. Check that the glass is certified 12 mm tempered safety glass fixed with stainless steel hardware. Our guide to padel court glass explains why that thickness matters.

With the mesh, look at two things: the wire gauge and how the ends are finished. Our anti-injury mesh uses 4 mm wire with no sharp ends, so nobody gets hurt leaning on it or chasing a ball against the fence.

Playing surface: artificial grass and silica sand

The turf is the component that wears fastest and has the biggest influence on how the court feels. We install premium MONDO artificial grass, a 12 mm textured monofilament at 9,600 dtex, available in several colours. Depending on use, we also work with other textured or monofilament options: a private residential court does not need the same as a club court with a full booking sheet.

Silica sand is spread over the grass to stabilise the fibres and control sliding; topping it up is part of routine maintenance. We cover types and selection criteria in our padel court artificial grass guide.

Lighting, net and fixings

• High-efficiency 240 W LED lighting: even, glare-free light with contained energy use, essential if the court is played at night.
• Competition net at regulation height: 88 cm in the centre and 92 cm at the posts.
• Stainless steel fixings, a small detail that prevents rust streaks and joints working loose over time.

How to compare materials between quotes

When you have several offers on the table, ask each supplier for the technical data sheet and check these points:

• How the steel is protected (hot-dip galvanised or not) and the corrosion category.
• Glass thickness and certification.
• Mesh type and how the ends are finished.
• Turf brand, pile height and dtex.
• Lighting type and wattage.
• FIP approval and a written warranty (ours is 5 years).

If two quotes look the same but one leaves out these details, that is usually where the difference lies. For the remaining buying criteria, see our padel court buying guide.