Page 4 - Cornwall Issue 4 2025

ESTATE NEWS

WORK IN PROGRESS

OUR TWO PADEL COURTS

s the concrete settles for our just for show – they're an integral part of and damage. Meticulous ground preparation
estate’s two new padel courts the game. Each panel is typically made of and drainage are vital for longevity.
at Mongoose Park, you can see 10mm or 12mm thick toughened safety • Glass installation: Handling and installing
Athe progress taking shape. But glass. large, heavy glass panels requires
beneath the surface (and about to be added • Consider this: a single 3m x 2m (the specialised equipment and expert precision
to it!) lies a fascinating blend of engineering largest) glass panel in 12mm thickness can to ensure safety, alignment and durability.
precision and specialised materials. A weigh approximately 180-195 kg! Imagine • Weather resistance: Our courts must
padel court isn't just a rectangle with a net; the structural integrity needed to support be built to withstand diverse weather
it's a carefully crafted arena designed for around 18 of these panels per court, plus conditions, from intense sun to heavy
explosive, strategic play. the steel framework. This necessitates rainfall, requiring specific material choices
a robust foundation, which is why the and robust construction methods.
Here’s a closer look at what goes into concrete pouring you've seen is so critical. • Safety first: Every component, from the
building these dynamic courts, beyond the type of glass to the design of the net posts,
initial concrete base you've seen taking MATERIALS BEYOND CONCRETE is chosen and installed with player safety
shape: • Steel structure: A heavy-duty galvanised being paramount, ensuring no sharp edges
steel framework provides the skeleton, or unstable structures.
SIZE MATTERS (AND THE WALLS supporting the glass and mesh panels, We look forward to the completion of these
TOO!) built to withstand player impact and the exciting new facilities. So, when you step
• A standard padel court measures 20 elements. onto one of Mongoose Park's new padel
metres long by 10 metres wide, giving • Artificial grass: The playing surface is courts – hopefully sometime in August -
players a compact, dynamic space that typically a specialised artificial turf, often remember the complex engineering and
encourages quick reflexes and creative use with a pile height of 10-15mm. This turf diverse materials that came together to
of the walls. is then meticulously filled with silica sand create our estate’s exciting new playground!
• The walls themselves are a unique – an essential component that ensures
feature, combining 3 metre high proper ball bounce, provides stability for
toughened glass (dropping to 2 metres players, and controls the speed of the
in parts) with 4 metre high steel mesh game.
fencing. This unique enclosure dictates
the ball's bounce, adding a thrilling UNIQUE CONSTRUCTION
dimension to the game. CHALLENGES
• Precision levelling and drainage: The
THE WEIGHT OF TRANSPARENCY: foundation must be perfectly level with a
GLASS WALLS slight slope for outdoor courts to ensure
• Those crystal-clear glass panels aren't efficient water drainage, preventing pooling
2 Cornwall View • Issue 4 2025