Message Board - Cricket: COSTINGS ON ARTIFICIAL WICKETS WITH NETS

GREETINGS FROM SUNNY BIRMINGHAM.

ANY SPECIALISTS OUT THERE WITH INFO ON MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR CRICKET NETS WITH ARTIFICIAL SURFACE.AM LOOKING FOR BALL PARK FIGURE FOR ANNUAL RUNNING COSTS.

MANY THANKS.

Contractors prices will vary quite a lot, but providing you do not need the matting replaced, i would suggest approx. £150 to £200 per wicket. Shop around though, some will want to charge in excess of £300 per wicket.

Not as bad as I thought. Thanks for the response.

Hi, I am an artificial installer but don't actually travel as far as Birmingham. I have had this comment that we charge quite a lot before - you should see how long it takes first!! I would suggest that so long as the surface does not require lifting the work should be done in house as there is no specialist equipment required. Most contractors would operate as a 2 man team for this and will charge for a full day - to cut back encroaching grass, clean the surface and reconsolidate, this is mostly because there are not many of us around and few clubs are local to us, the actual work will take as little as 3-4 hours depending how bad the surface is, but if the surface requires lifting then it will take a full day.
I don't think I am expensive at all, but I would not come out to do a job like this for under £400, but I am very thorough. To lift the surface, remove the shock pad, clean/add where necessary/ level/ reconsolidate the aggregate, restretch and refix the carpets and freshen the lines would cost £800 + Vat. This would be the same charge to replace the surfaces (carpet not included!!).
To do it yourself, brush the surface first then pressure wash it until clean, the moisture will then make it ideal to roll with a roller under 500kg, 2 -3 passes.
In season keep the surfaces clear of debris and roll occasionally to resettle the surface aggregate (team rota??), keep the surrounds clear of large weeds, encroaching trees and shrubs and coarse vigorous grass growth. Keeping the bottom of the net from blowing backwards and forwards will help prevent debris from getting on the surface. And suggest to the cricketers that wearing spikes and grounding the bat excessively will greatly reduce the life of the carpets. Cost £00.00!!
Hope this helps

costings are for up to 30m of surface, ie a full match wicket or 2 batting ends in a net (these require much more work if laid within a carpet surround)

Morning vid. Many thanks for detailed reply Very helpful. Sorry for delay with reponse but have had annual leave for a week. All the best.

If you do plan to get a contractor in to lift the surface and repair the base material then please don't wash the pitch just prior to their arrival. The water adds extra weight and this can make a simple job very difficult.

The best thing to do is maintain a regular pitch cleaning routine throughout the year. Always make sure you brush off any grass clippings, leaves or dirt carried on by players boots. This helps to stop mulching, where dead vegetable matter rots down into the surface making it less porous and more slippery.

If you get any weed growth through the surface DO NOT attempt to pull them out. This will only damage the base structure and lead to variable bounce. Instead, you should treat the weeds with a strong weedkiller, and when the weed is completely dead brush the top off with a stiff brush.

Also, remember that an artificial pitch is not maintenance free. You need to roll it to keep it flat. Not as much as a grass wicket, but a few passes with a light roller once a week after a shower or light watering should be enough to keep it playing well.

If you do this then you will only need a visit from a contractor once every 2-3 years making their £400 seem a lot more reasonable.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks for info. Learning more with each reply. Regards Pete D.