Padel Court Site Photo Checklist

Planning note

What to take from this

Planning method: early photos and measurements reduce ambiguity around access, base condition, drainage, lighting, and surrounding constraints before vendor outreach.

Last reviewed 2026-07-14. Check the final numbers against your site, scope, and local requirements.

Decision rule

Make the site constraints explicit.

A useful quote needs the site, slab, drainage, lighting, access, permits, and structural assumptions visible before price comparison.

Planning checks

What changes the scope

Planning factor	Why it matters	Buyer action
Wide site views	Vendors need to understand fit and circulation.	Photograph the whole area from each corner.
Base condition	Cracks, slope, patches, soil, or old surfaces can change the foundation plan.	Take close photos of slab, soil, edges, and drainage paths.
Access route	Glass, steel, turf, equipment, and crews need delivery space.	Photograph gates, roads, turns, overhead limits, staging areas, and nearby obstacles.
Utilities and lighting	Electrical scope and lighting placement can affect cost and permits.	Photograph panels, nearby power, poles, fixtures, and trenching obstacles if known.
Neighbors and surroundings	Noise, glare, parking, drainage, and operating hours can affect feasibility.	Show property lines, homes, roads, parking, slopes, and water flow.

What to confirm

Four-corner wide photos, measured dimensions, access route photos, slab or soil closeups, drainage direction, utility/electrical context, and surrounding property context.
Notes on indoor/outdoor setting, ceiling or overhead obstructions, gates, cranes or unloading limits, parking, lighting, and known permit concerns.
A simple sketch or marked aerial image when the layout is hard to understand from ground photos alone.

What not to assume

Any assumption that photos are a stamped engineering review, permit approval, or final site inspection.
Photos that expose private occupants, license plates, unrelated private property, or sensitive security details unless needed and consented.

Risk checks

The first quote assumes easy access, reusable slab, or simple drainage because the site was not shown clearly.
Lighting, electrical, or neighbor constraints are discovered after vendor pricing.
The buyer sends photos but no dimensions, buyer type, timeline, or scope request.

How to use this guide

Turn the answer into a cleaner decision.

If two quotes, project plans, or vendor suggestions use different assumptions, then treat them as different scopes before comparing price. Common variations include site readiness, court count, indoor or outdoor setting, lighting, cover, permitting, access, operating owner, and buyer type.

Start with the quick answer and decide whether the topic changes budget, timeline, vendor fit, or project risk.
Use the table to identify the assumption that needs confirmation before outreach.
Carry the open questions into the calculator, builder comparison, or quote brief instead of asking for a generic price.

Sources

Sources and limits

Maintained by Padel Calculator editorial desk. Last reviewed 2026-07-14. Source checks: 2026-06-06, 2026-07-14, 2026-06-04. Corrections go through the contact page.

ASBA and USPA padel court installation manual announcement Checked 2026-06-06. U.S. association announcement says the manual covers dimensions, planning and design, base construction, maintenance, court kits, indoor and outdoor facilities, amenities, lighting, contractor selection, court placement, wind, and soil considerations. Limit: Announcement and manual scope summary, not a substitute for buying the manual, engineering review, permits, or local professional advice.
LTA Padel Court Construction Guidance Note 2025 Checked 2026-06-04. Construction specification considerations for foundation, drainage, lighting, access, and design review. Limit: UK guidance, useful for construction risk framing but not direct U.S. pricing.
Padel Calculator modeled assumptions Checked 2026-06-04. Modeled scenarios for comparing scope, contingency, indoor/outdoor setting, covers, and project-readiness decisions. Limit: Planning model only. Replace with written vendor quotes, engineering review, and local permit requirements before committing budget.

Next steps

Move from research to a better request.

FAQ

Common questions

Can builders quote from photos alone?

Photos can support an early planning quote, but final pricing may still require measurements, drawings, local review, or a site visit.

What photos should I send for an existing slab?

Send wide views, closeups of cracks and edges, drainage direction, slope clues, anchors or fixtures, surrounding grades, access route, and nearby utilities.

Should I send an aerial image?

Yes when it clarifies layout, property boundaries, access, nearby uses, drainage direction, parking, or expansion space.