A damaged athletic surface isn’t just an aesthetic issue – it can pose a safety hazard for your athletes. After several years of regular use, you may need to resurface your school’s running track to keep it in good working order. Learn more in this blog post from American Athletic Track and Turf, serving Northeast coastal states and Florida.
Factors to Consider
The longevity and durability of your running track are highly dependent on the quality of the installation. Both the substructure and the track surface can affect your running track’s usable life: if either is of low quality or was installed incorrectly, you’re likely to notice cracking, bubbling, or low spots on the track.
A track with a properly designed substructure and a sealed polyurethane synthetic surface can last up to 20 to 30 years – if it is professionally installed and maintained. Regular resurfacing can help protect your investment and maximize your ROI. On average, an outdoor running track should be resurfaced every eight to 15 years. The need for resurfacing depends on several factors, including:
- Weather: The local climate is an important element to consider in your running track maintenance. Strong UV rays can degrade the track surface. Temperature variations, especially during the winter, can initiate a freeze-thaw cycle that can cause cracking on the running track surface.
- Ongoing maintenance: Your school or organization’s maintenance practices (or lack thereof) can affect the quality of a running track. Semi-annual inspections and routine maintenance for the running tracks can help extend their usable life.
If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, it may be time to resurface or even replace your track:
- Visible cracks or bubbles on the surface
- Uneven surface
- Thinning rubber
- Granules breaking off the track
- Drainage issues
- The top layer is separating from the base
Be Proactive About Maintenance and Repairs
If one of the problems listed above is isolated to a small section of the track, a minor patch or repair may be an option instead of a complete resurfacing. At American Athletic, we offer the following repair services for outdoor running tracks:
- Patching
- Restriping
- Resurfacing in high-stress areas
- Soft spot filling and repair
- Surface cleaning and edging
- Trench system cleaning
To catch small problems before they escalate, we recommend a thorough evaluation of your facility two times a year: once in the fall and once in the spring.
Choosing an Athletic Surface Service Provider
When you choose a qualified contractor like American Athletic, you can be confident in the quality of our work. Our experienced team holds industry certifications through the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) as a Certified Track Builder (CTB) and Certified Field Builder (CFB), reflecting our expertise in:
- Project planning and administration
- Site, sub-grade, and base work
- Site marking
In addition, American Athletic has won multiple national awards from ASBA for construction, upgrades, and specialty work. Our installations come with excellent manufacturer warranties, and we offer thorough repair and maintenance programs.
Save Time With Co-op Purchasing
If your track is damaged, time is of the essence. But the public bid process can take months, meaning you may have to get through an athletic season or an entire school year with an unsafe surface. Fortunately, when you choose a service provider like American Athletic, you can take advantage of the SmartBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program, a nationwide initiative organized through Tarkett Sports. The co-op purchasing program allows athletic directors and administrators to save time and have more control over their projects. Customers can access project materials from leading brands including:
- Beynon Sports
- FieldTurf
- Renner Sports
- Tarkett Sports Indoor
The program uses cooperative purchasing contracts to offer turnkey solutions for school districts and municipalities, without having to deal with a traditional bid process.
Get Insights From an Experienced Running Track Professional
If your athletic facility needs an upgrade or repair, the team at American Athletic is here to help. Our areas of expertise include running tracks, tennis courts, and artificial turf fields. American Athletic serves customers throughout the East Coast, including:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Maine
- Southern Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Eastern Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
For more information about how to care for your track or other athletic surfaces, contact us today.
