Two court quotes with the same total can describe very different courts. This tool lines up up to three bids against the items that decide how long a St. Louis court lasts — slab type and thickness, base depth, surface system, footing depth, drainage and who pulls the permits — and flags anything a bid leaves blank. Fill it in on screen, or download the printable checklist.
| Line | Bid 1 | Bid 2 | Bid 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab type | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Slab thickness | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Post-tension design | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Control joints (conventional concrete) | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Base | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Drainage | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Cure before coating | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Surface system | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Lines and net | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Fence | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Post and pole footings | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Windscreen / acoustic panels | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Lighting | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Permits | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Restoration | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Schedule | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Payment terms | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Warranty | not stated | not stated | not stated |
| Exclusions | not stated | not stated | not stated |
Amber cells are not stated. Ask each bidder to fill the same lines.
The lines that matter most
| Line | What to look for | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Slab type | Post-tension, conventional concrete or asphalt — named, not "court base" | St. Louis clay and freeze-thaw crack asphalt and jointed concrete |
| Slab thickness | A number in inches | Thin slabs crack sooner |
| Post-tension design | Who designs the tendon layout, who stresses it | PT is engineered; it isn't just thicker concrete |
| Control joints (conventional concrete) | Where they fall relative to the lines | Joints in the playing area open up |
| Base | Material and compacted depth | The base keeps clay movement and water away from the slab |
| Drainage | Slope direction, where water goes, any drywell or rain garden | Some cities, like Kirkwood, require a stormwater practice for a court |
| Cure before coating | 28 days for new concrete; about 30 for asphalt | Coating early causes bond failure |
| Surface system | Manufacturer and product, number of resurfacer and color coats, cushion layers | "Acrylic surface" alone tells you nothing |
| Lines and net | Regulation lines; permanent posts in footings | |
| Fence | Height, length, material, coating, gauge | Your city's limit may be 6 ft, or up to 16 |
| Post and pole footings | Depth — below the 30-inch frost line | Shallow footings heave |
| Windscreen / acoustic panels | Included or not, product | |
| Lighting | Fixtures, poles, footcandles, spill, controls, electrical run | Prohibited on residential lots in some cities |
| Permits | Which ones, who applies, who pays fees | St. Louis has ~89 authorities in the county alone |
| Restoration | Topsoil, seed or sod | |
| Schedule | Start window, coating window | Coatings need 50°F and rising |
| Payment terms | Deposit, progress, final | |
| Warranty | What's covered, for how long, in writing | Compare terms line by line |
| Exclusions | Everything not included | Where low bids hide the difference |
How to use it
- Ask every bidder to fill the same lines. If a bid doesn't state slab thickness or footing depth, ask.
- Don't compare totals until the lines match. A bid without drainage or permits isn't cheaper; it's incomplete.
- Flag the blanks. The tool marks anything "not stated."
Download the printable version: quote comparison checklist (PDF) or CSV.
Sources
- Byrne & Jones — Midwest Pickleball Court Construction (cost table, fence heights, resurfacing interval, PT benefits, build times) — metadata 2026-06-11; accessed 2026-10-10
- USA Pickleball — Outdoor Court Construction — undated; accessed 2026-10-10
- California Sports Surfaces — PicklePave TDS — rev. 2019-10-08; accessed 2026-10-10
- Kirkwood — Residential Green Practices, App. F — rev. Nov 2024; accessed 2026-10-10
- St. Charles County — Residential Code §500.150 (frost 30) and §500.100/§500.920 (2021 codes) — Ord. 25-085 (2025-12-15); accessed 2026-10-10
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