If Your Tennis Courts Need Repair, Do You Understand All the Options Available?

Learn More About Tennis Court Repair Options at One of Our Free, 2012 Workshops

To help people responsible for tennis court upkeep or tasked with the challenge of hiring a contractor to estimate and renovate their existing courts, our Tennis & Track Division will be sponsoring this March three free Tennis Court Repair and Maintenance Workshops. 

The Workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. and end by Noon.  Workshop dates and locations include: 

March 6 – Munson Inc. Office, 6747 N. Sidney Place, Glendale, WI  53209

March 7 – Holiday Inn Express, 3823 Germaine Avenue, Sheboygan, WI  53081

March 8 – Country Springs Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Waukesha, WI  53081

What You Will Learn
You will leave the Workshop with information to help you better navigate the sea of repair and reconstruction options available for keeping you tennis courts in safe and playable condition.  The Workshop includes information about material and technology innovations that can help you with structural and surface cracking repair issues and court reconstruction alternatives.  The Workshop also shares details on court evaluation and maintenance programs, and the latest information on repair funding assistance and the heightened emphasis the United States Tennis Association is placing on attracting children to the game and on promoting tennis as a lifetime sport.

How to Register for the Workshop

Though our Tennis Court Repair Workshops are free, space is limited.  Register today by calling Munson, Inc. at 800.236.0340.
 

A Guide to the Best Ice Melters for Tough Winters

          Although the winters have not been too bad in the Milwaukee area, we found this article in the Sunday edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the other day and thought we would pass along the good advice. Remember that anytime you use salt you should sweep the area once the ice has melted and the area has dried to preserve your pavement. This is especially important on stamped concrete as any type of salt will eventually eat thru the clear coat sealer and then into your concrete and colors. 

        As with any article or report we have research (EFFECTS OF DEICERS ON CONCRETE DETERIORATION) conflicting the use of magnesium chloride here:  http://www.iri.ku.edu/publications/SLR073.pdf

        Again - check the package warnings and make sure to remove and residue after the ice has melted to best protect your pavement.

http://www.jsonline.com/sponsoredarticles/home-improvement/135524803.html

A guide to the best ice melters for tough winter

By (ARA)

(ARA) - Most homeowners reach for rock salt to clear their driveways and sidewalks during winter. It's economical and reliable, and it easily melts ice in temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit to keep driveways and sidewalks clear and safe.  But when the temperature dips lower, salt alternatives such as magnesium chloride or calcium chloride offer increased melting power. Of the two, magnesium chloride is a better choice for homeowners, according to Jerry Poe, technical director for North American Salt Company.

          "Both magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are fast-acting and melt ice and snow at extremely low temperatures compared with rock salt and other salt alternatives and blends," says Poe. "But because magnesium chloride is nontoxic, it is safer for homeowners, their pets and their property, so it ultimately provides a better value for the dollar. It's tough on ice and snow, but safe on everything else."  The chemical makeup of pure calcium chloride can burn skin, so it requires homeowners to wear goggles and gloves when applying it. It can also burn pets' paws and draw moisture from plant roots, effectively dehydrating vegetation.

          Magnesium chloride, on the other hand, is naturally extracted from sea water or brine, produced through solar evaporation, which is an environmentally friendly process. Its chemical makeup is much gentler than calcium chloride - in fact, it's less toxic than baking soda - so it is safe for homeowners to handle.  Magnesium chloride is also safer for pets because it doesn't burn paws that have been cracked in cold temperatures, and it is less likely to clump between a pet's paw pads. And, it is gentler on grass and plants, so homeowners who use magnesium chloride products and follow application instructions are less likely to have to repair or replace landscaping in the spring.

          Concrete maintenance can also be an issue for homeowners who live in colder climates. "Many people think that ice melt products cause damage to concrete, but the real culprit is the freeze/thaw cycle," says Poe. "When ice melts, the resulting liquid works its way into cracks in the concrete. When the liquid refreezes, it expands and causes further cracking or spalling."

          The solution? After using an ice melt product, Poe recommends removing the resulting slush and brine before it has a chance to refreeze. Opting for magnesium chloride rather than calcium chloride will further prevent concrete damage.  "A recent study at Purdue University revealed that concrete treated with calcium chloride deteriorated two times faster than concrete treated with magnesium chloride. The calcium chloride chemically attacks concrete, even before freeze/thaw cycles take place," says Poe.

          While magnesium chloride used to be available only to ice control professionals, today it is available to homeowners in several forms. For example, the Safe Step line of packaged deicers offers a 100 percent magnesium chloride product as well as several ice melt blends that contain the ingredient.

          When evaluating different ice melt products, check the packaging to see if magnesium chloride is part of the product formula, and whether the product is labeled as safe for people, plants and pets. A bit of education and planning before the first storm hits can help you have a safe and enjoyable winter, even when temperatures plummet.

"How Late In The Year Do You Work?"

            It's that time of year . . . time to put away the paving equipment until April.  That is what some of our customers think, but it's actually far from true.  Obviously it's too cold to crack fill or seal pavement and the asphalt plants stop making hotmix, thus we cannot pave large jobs; however we do have our pothole crew out working during the winter with cold-mix asphalt.  As long as the pavement is reasonably dry we can make these types of asphalt repairs.  Other common fixes are ramping asphalt along concrete areas to avoid trip hazards.  These areas will heave up when frost enters the ground and pushes the surrounding pavement up.  Common areas are around man holes and concrete walk ways. They eventually settle back down in the spring, but can cause quite the headaches in January, February and March.  Sometimes it's cheaper to install and remove a temporary asphalt patch than to have a customer with a medical insurance claim.

            The other working paving crew is the concrete crew.  This is the time of the year when typically we do interior work such as floor repairs and modifications.  Trench patches and crane or heavy machine pad footings are commonly done during this time as many places have a winter shut down of their own and the timing is right. 

            Finally that leaves us with our fence crews.  Although always preferring indoor work in the winter, we do work out in the snow and cold all winter long if the conditions are not hazardous.  If that becomes the case then you can usually find them plowing and/or salting for our customers.

            Even if your projects are not geared for winter or indoor work, Munson is open year round to handle your emergency work or help you plan your budgets for work in the upcoming spring or summer.

The Strongest Fence In The World?

Can your fence handle a 15,000 pound truck going 40 miles per hour and stop it dead in its tracks? !

If that's they type of fence you need we have just what you are looking for!  The Impasse High Security Fence by Ameristar is a heavy steel palisade fence system designed to provide the end user with a level of security not typically achieved with traditional chain link and ornamental fence systems. The Impasse security fence provides a platform to incorporate multiple perimeter security peripherals into the fence system. The ability to incorporate IDS, fiber, conduit and CCTV cable into a single system provides the owner with a formidable design in lieu of a costly patchwork system.

High security fence has been redefined with the unique profiles of the Impasse security fence system. Its steel cross sections make this security fence a strong deterrent to casual breach attempts. The multiple styles and rail configurations of the Impasse high security fence give this palisade system the best delay time when compared to other perimeter security fence products.  If you need more information on this or other types of security fence give us a call.  There are many styles to fit your budget and needs.

2011 Spring Savings Coupon

*** DUE TO OVERWHELMING SUCCESS THIS SPECIAL OFFER HAS BEEN EXTENDED ONE TIME ONLY TO 08/31/2011  ***

For a limited time (until 06/01/2011) take advantage of our spring savings:

$300 off any CONCRETE or ASPHALT paving.

$300 off any TENNIS COURT Re-Coloring.

$300 off any FENCING.

5% off Driveway SEAL COATING.

Hurry now to take advantage of this limited time offer or pass it along to a friend in need!

Clay Court Maintenance Certification Seminar

Munson, Inc. and Har-Tru invite you to attend a

Clay Court Maintenance Certification Seminar

For Teaching Professionals, Club Managers, Court Maintenance Technicians and Tennis Court Builders

Everything you need to know about clay tennis courts

Sponsored by Munson, Inc. and Har-Tru

Hosted by the Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club

When:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 18, 2011: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where:
Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club, Club 755
755 Geneva National Avenue North
Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Cost:
$195.00 per person

Participants receive a continental breakfast, lunch, education materials, hands-on experience and a 5% discount coupon good for 6 months on Har-Tru maintenance tools demonstrated at the seminar.

Cost does not include transportation or lodging. For lodging, please contact:

Lodge at Geneva Ridge,
W4240 State Rd. 50
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
800-225-5558

Inns of Geneva National
1091 Hidden Cottage Circle
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
800-245-4000

Classroom and hands on topics include:

• The life-cycle of clay
• Clay court construction
• Daily, periodic & annual maintenance practices
• Court conditioning tools & techniques
• Court reconditioning
• Court irrigation principles and techniques

Registration Information
Registration Deadline: May 10, 2011
Request registration form by e-mailing:  emontecalvo@hartru.com

Questions?

Contact Ed Montecalvo, Har-Tru at 800-327-8379 or emontecalvo@hartru.com

QuickStart Tennis

You may have heard the term QuickStart Tennis or 10 and Under Tennis, but do you know what it truly means?  10 and Under Tennis using the QuickStart Tennis play format takes a new and better approach to introducing kids to the game. Balls are lower in compression; they bounce lower and don't move as fast so they are easier to hit. This allows kids time to get to the ball and helps them develop optimal swing patterns. Racquets are sized for small hands, and the courts are smaller and easier to cover. All that equals more fun and less frustration. Full sized courts can be reconfigured to accommodate up to six 36-foot courts, so instead of waiting in line, kids can spend their time playing. 

A great link for information is http://10andundertennis.com/about.htm.  The site has great videos explaining all of your questions.

If you are interested in constructing a QuickStart court, or just adding lines to your existing courts, please give us a call at 414-351-0800 or at info@munsoninc.com as part of the costs may be covered by grants.

Tennis Court Repair Workshops Added

Due to overwhelming request, Munson has added more free seminars for you to learn about your options when it comes to repairing the cracks on your tennis courts.  Learn about different methods and options, re-coloring (resurfacing) choices for your courts and where you can find financial assistance (grants) that may be out there for you.

Workshop dates and locations include:

03.29.11 Dodgeville: Sam and Maddies at the Don Q Inn
03.30.11 Wisconsin Dells: AmericInn
03.31.11 Tomah: Cranberry Country Lodge
04.05.11 Onalaska: Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center
04.06.11 Eau Claire: Holiday Inn - Campus Area/I-94
04.07.11 Wausau: Howard Johnson Conference Center

Though the workshops are free, workshop space is limited and registration is required. To register for one of the workshops, call Munson, Inc. at 800.236.0340.

We look forward to your call … and your participation in our free, tennis court repair workshops.

A Tennis Court with no love for tennis balls.

From Yahoo Sports 1/21/2011:  While warming up for her third-round Australian Open match, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova noticed a bouncy spot on the court. "It was a little bit strange," she said. "I thought Nike had put some extra cushioning in my shoes!"  The chair umpire came out to inspect the area and tried to bounce a ball on the spot. The result has to be seen to be believed:

The ball doesn't bounce at all! It's completely absorbed by the court. There's no upward movement at all. I just tried dropping a tennis ball on a soft pillow and there was at least a little. That one simply died, like it was caught by one of those velcro paddles you see people playing with on the beach.

What happened is that the stifling temperatures in Melbourne caused a heat bubble filled with air to form under the surface of the court. It's the same concept that causes crust bubbles to develop on edges of pizza slices. As the Mirror reported, workers came out and drilled two small holes in the court, which let out the air. Order, and gravity, was restored.

Complete stories here: 
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Video-Maria-Sharapova-finds-dead-spot-on-Austra?urn=ten-310644

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/580104-video-australian-open-official-drills-holes-in-court-when-ball-doesnt-bounce

3/1/11 Update - The bubble effect was the cause of a thinner asphalt overlay bubbling up off the concrete surface below, not the color coating bubbling up off the asphalt.

Federer and Nadal play on floating tennis court

"If you build it . . . they will come."

http://newslite.tv/2011/01/04/federer-and-nadal-play-on-floa.html