At Courts Unlimited, we’re proud to offer everything you need when it comes to basketball court installation, surfacing and all other related tasks. We’ve installed numerous sport surfaces for Utah families and community centers alike, with only the highest-quality materials and experienced professionals to assist you.
In addition to the actual playing surfaces we install, we’re happy to provide tips and expertise on other vital areas of a basketball court installation and setup. One major such area: Choosing acrylic or tempered glass materials for your backboards on the hoops you’ll install for your court. Today’s blog will go over each, including why tempered glass is generally our top recommendation if all other factors are equal.
Issues With Acrylic Backboards
Acrylic is a soft plastic material that’s often used for backboards, in large part because it looks a lot like glass. However, this appearance often fades quickly due to acrylic’s absorption of scratches and scuff marks during the course of play, which eventually makes the board look dull and dirty. The sun itself may provide some of this dulling effect as well.
In addition, acrylic is not mold-resistant, and mold might start forming in some scenarios. Finally, acrylic often has a drum-head effect over a long period of time, where rebounds will be deadened based on repeated impacts with the surface.
Tempered Glass Benefits
Tempered glass, on the other hand, is a much heavier and more durable materials, weighing up to six times as much as acrylic for a similarly-sized backboard, which means there’s no risk of shaking or other movement. This is the kind of glass you see on quality basketball courts like your local gym or even the professional court nearby.
For starters, tempered glass does not deal with discoloration and a haze forming due to repeated impacts like acrylic often does. It’s a hard material that will resist scratching and remain clear at all times, even with repeated impacts. There are no drum-head effects like with acrylic, meaning your rebounding capability remains high even years after installation.
Shattering – Not a Concern
One concern some may have with tempered glass, especially if kids are on hand: Can it shatter? While technically the answer is yes, the likelihood of this event is exceedingly low – tempered glass has a coating that’s specifically meant to hold it together and prevent this. And like car windshields made in recent years, this same coating keeps the glass pieces together if shattering does take place; rather than breaking into a bunch of sharp pieces that risk cuts, the whole piece will maintain its structure and be far less of a risk.
For more on acrylic versus tempered glass for your new basketball court backboards, or to learn about any of our multipurpose court installations, speak to the staff at Courts Unlimited today.