Armor Crack Repair

Armor crack repair the original and most proven system available.

We can make your court like new again

Product Description

There is not a crack repair system in the world for tennis courts that has achieved the success rate of the ARMOR^® Crack Repair System. It has effectively kept structural tennis court cracks from reappearing on the surface for more than five years. It has proven itself in a temperature range from below 0ºF to above 100ºF.

The ARMOR^® Crack Repair System utilizes a knitted fabric that will expand as the crack widens. However, like a rubber band, this fabric will not stretch where it is glued to a hard surface. If it were simply bonded over a crack, the only part of the fabric that would be able to stretch is the portion that is spanning the opening of the crack. And, although some fabric may withstand as much as 200% expansion, the paint on top never would, resulting in the appearance of a crack. Therefore, the secret to making this fabric work is how it is purposely NOT bonded to the court in the vicinity of the crack. Thereby, allowing more of the fabric to absorb any movement or growth of the crack without the paint on top of the repair cracking.

The most common problem with asphalt tennis courts is cracking which is caused, in part, by asphalts natural tendency to shrink as it weathers and ages. In addition, asphalt loses its flexibility and becomes more brittle over time. Since outdoor courts are also exposed to weathering, including expansion and contraction caused by temperature extremes, cracking is inevitable. Asphalt tennis courts crack more quickly than asphalt roads and parking lots because tennis courts do not benefit from the compressive kneading generated by traffic which helps to keep the asphalt pliable and, thereby, delay cracking.

Premature or extensive cracking may be caused by poor asphalt mix, poor site conditions, poor design, or by poor construction. Quality design and construction may minimize or delay cracking but cannot completely eliminate it. Once cracks appear it may be impossible to repair their cause, but it is not impossible to repair the crack itself. Most contractors simply install crack filler or put fiberglass fabric over the cracks. Almost without exception, both of these very common repair techniques will fail within one year. Whereas the ARMOR^® Crack Repair System has been working successfully at keeping cracks from reappearing for more than ten years now, even in cold climate regions.

Crack Repair Alternatives

Name/Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

Liquid Asphalt:
A solid material that is liquefied by heating, then poured into the crack to re-solidify. Same process is done on roads.

Very Inexpensive

Material gets sticky on hot days.
Not effective at all as a crack repair.

Elastic Crack Filler:
A flexible caulking usually tinted to match the color on the court. Designed for temporary repairs between resurfacings.

Very Inexpensive.
Good seasonal patch.

Does not last more than one tennis season.

Acrylic Crack Filler:
A non-flexible caulking material similar to cement that is put in the cracks. The same material is used to fill birdbaths.

Fills Crack voids well.
Inexpensive.

A hairline crack will appear in this material within months.

Fiberglass Membrane:
One of the most common attempts to repair cracks. Fiberglass fabric is glued over top of the crack.

Looks good at first.
Inexpensive.

Fiberglass does not stretch, so it will fail every time it is used to fix cracks.

Sawcut & Asphalt Patch:
An area of asphalt containing the crack about a foot wide is removed and replaced with new asphalt.

Sounds impressive.

In every case, an expensive way to trade one crack for two parallel cracks.

ARMOR^® Crack Repair System:
Utilizes a resilient fabric over the crack that absorbs movement. It is hidden beneath typical color coating materials.

Long term success.
No machinery required.
Not too expensive.

Infrared Repair:
Propane is used to heat the asphalt around the crack in an attempt to get new asphalt to bond to the existing asphalt.

None.

No long term success. Moderately expensive.

Geotextile & Asphalt Overlay:
Fabric is first laid over cracks and/or over entire court surface. Then new asphalt, about two-inches thick, is installed over the court.

Very effective crack repair.
Corrects surface planarity.

Requires heavy equipment.
Relatively expensive.

Stone Screenings & Asphalt Overlay:
New asphalt is installed over a layer of small stones which act like a bed of marbles preventing cracks from reflecting up into the new surface.

Most effective crack repair. Corrects surface planarity.

Requires heavy equipment.
Very expensive.

Total Reconstruction:
Remove existing court then build new court.

Corrects slope and planarity.

Very expensive.
Cracks could reappear.

Roll-Out Prefabricated Court Surface:
A roll of material, usually urethane rubber, is rolled out on top of the court and color coated.

Hides cracks well beneath it.
Adds cushion to the surface.

Very expensive.
Susceptible to "dead spots".

Metz Athletic Construction LLC * Bucks County, PA * Phone: (610) 847-6822 * Clinton, New Jersey (908)328-4060 Fax: (610)847-3088 Email: edmetzathletic@epix.net