The project

When Pete Maunder of No Limits Basketball needed a new maple timber court at his training facility in Melbourne’s Box Hill, the floor installer MICCA was only aware of one of our competitor products as an option for coating sports courts. Keen to discover if alternate coatings technology had hit the market, the builders asked Intergrain Trade & Industrial Technical Sales Executive Pat Guarnaccia for his expert advice and recommendations.

The challenge

Indoor basketball courts require specialist coating solutions that tick a number of boxes. They need to achieve a highly durable, smooth satin finish that is non-slip, yet meets the Australian Standard AS4586 "Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials, Appendix B - Dry Floor Friction Test". For optimal performance, the floor also needed to be easy to clean and resistant to scratches and scuffs.

The Intergrain solution

With time pressure a factor, and the project at risk of delay, Pat got straight to work and specified a custom three step coatings solution to deliver outstanding results. He brought in the experienced applicators at The Wooden Floor Co to get the job done. The process involved:

• Sanding the timber and filling with a water-based timber filler.
• Fine sanding and vacuuming to remove dust.
• Application of Toby GF Barrier Seal by brush and roller. This solvent based sealer is high build and fast drying with excellent barrier and grain filling properties.
• Cut back and vacuuming before linemarking with Dulux Aquanamel, a water based enamel that dries to a hard-wearing, chip resistant finish (performed by MICCA).
• Two coats of Toby Aquamax Sport applied by brush and roller. Easy to apply, low odour and fast drying, this product allowed the client to have the court open for business in the shortest time possible.

The results

The high sheen finish allowed the natural beauty of the timber to take centre stage, with the vibrant court markings contrasting against against the warm wood tones.

Pat recently inspected the court to see how the coatings were performing four years after the initial application. The coatings showed no signs of flaking or peeling.

"Toby Aquamax Sport delivers maximum durability and grip over the long term," Pat says. "Importantly, the non-yellowing properties ensure the surface maintains its new appearance for longer. Yellow tones are really ageing, and that's why Intergrain products are the best choice for good looks that last."

Pete, owner of No Limits, is thrilled to give all his budding basketballers an elite level court with a non-slip, safe surface to ace their new skills.

"I was concerned initially about the upkeep of a hardwood floor, but this has been super easy," he says. "Players often comment on how good the floor is and how much grip and squeak they get from it."

Sounds like a slam dunk for Toby Aquamax Sport.

Get in touch

The Intergrain Trade & Industrial team bring expert product knowledge, service and support to residential and commercial timber projects. Call our Help Line on 1800 630 285 to find out more about the Toby range or to get support on your next project.