Having constructed tennis, basketball, and multi-sport courts using post tension concrete, Classic Turf Company has also designed and developed the use of the post tension technology in the construction of running tracks.
The structural integrity of running tracks built with asphalt have the same faults as tennis and basketball courts constructed with asphalt. They are highly susceptible to structural cracking, heaving, and settling. Running tracks constructed with post tension concrete will not crack, heave, or settle with the change in temperatures and seasons. Therefore, post tension concrete is an ideal running surface.
How Post Tension Concrete Helps Runners
Post tension concrete was first developed in France in the 1930s. It involves encasing sheathed cables in a concrete slab, followed by stressing and locking the cables after the concrete is set up. The post-tensioning technique allows for active reinforcement, improved drainage, and increase longevity of the running track surface.
Obviously, runners don’t want to be running over cracks, which could cause them to stumble, fall down, and/or hurt themselves. Therefore, cracks or any deviations in the surface are detrimental to runners. Post tension concrete eliminates irregularities that are typically found in asphalt surfaces.
What’s the expected lifespan for a post tension concrete track subbase? Typically, it should last nearly 50 years! That’s three times longer than an asphalt base. Post tension concrete works well in areas with poor soil conditions, and it’s resistant to weather fluctuations and extreme conditions. If and when rain, wind, ice, and snow hit the surface over time, post tension holds up– the base has a long-term structural strength and is extremely durable.
Naturally, runners don’t want to be running through puddles of water. With asphalt, water tends to pool. With post tension concrete, it doesn’t.
Why Post Tension Concrete Bases Are a Smart Investment
One major benefit of post tension concrete bases is they greatly reduce future costs to schools and communities. Put simply, if you were to choose an asphalt base for a running track, you will routinely have to reconstruct it and basically start from scratch every 15-30 years. Conversely, by choosing a post tension concrete base, it’s built to last for years to come; likely 50-plus years. As such, rather than having to routinely rebuild your track like you would with an asphalt base, you only have to redo the synthetic surface atop it when it becomes necessary. Redoing the synthetic surface is much less costly than having to redo the entire base.
Classic Turf offers a 20 year structural warranty on its post tension concrete base. In addition, the running track surfacing is comprised of extremely costly materials, even more so than tennis court surfacing. The use of post tension in running track construction should be considered an industry standard. When you’re thinking of your runners, do you want them running on the best surface available? Of course! Find out more by calling Classic Turf at 800-246-7951.
