It appears that the knowledge and skills to render the walls of Fives courts are fast becoming a lost art. Rendering requires a detailed knowledge of not only the right mix, but every bit as important is appreciating the time required for drying before each new coat is applied. Unless this is strictly adhered to, the result will be uneven and ill-fitting surfaces.
Although the EFA has a specification for building courts, we are increasingly convinced because of problems, which have arisen in the building of courts within the last five years, that if new courts are to built or major repairs are to undertaken the best advice we can give is to recommend the involvement of Squash & Leisure Services Ltd. This is the company, which re-rendered the Westway courts and has done considerable work for the Rugby Fives Association. They specialise in Real Tennis, Racquets and Squash courts. Their skills lie in the rendering of the walls. They do not undertake the actual building, but we strongly recommend that because of their extensive knowledge of building courts they should be consulted at the earliest possible opportunity during discussions for the building of new Fives courts.
It is the EFA’s experience that however reputable and experienced your builders are, they will be very unlikely nowadays to achieve satisfactory rendering of the walls for a Fives court.
For further information contact:
Squash & Leisure Services Ltd: Peter Hodgson, Squash & Leisure Services Ltd, 7 Sarum Complex, Salisbury Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UBB 2RZ. Tel: (01895) 234856/251984. Fax: (01895) 812430.
EFA: Michael Constantinidi, 26 Carlyle Square, London SW3 6EY. Tel: 020 7352 2966. Email: ‘michaelconst@freeuk.com’.
Board Statement by Michael Constantinidi
Constructed 5 September 2003
efa@etonfives.co.uk