Table Tennis (generally referred to as Ping Pong in the USA), is primarily an indoor sport, but it's so versatile that it can be played almost anywhere, including outdoors.

In fact, outdoor table tennis is booming and it's now THE social outdoor activity of choice in the USA and Europe.

Where can I buy concrete table tennis (ping pong) tables?

In many parts of the world, concrete table tennis tables are commonplace.

Germany is a european hotspot for outdoor table tennis and the Chinese have been playing table tennis outdoors for years.

In fact, I remember a friend of mine telling me after he visited China in 1971 for Ping Pong Diplomacy, that he saw hundreds of concrete table tennis tables in public open spaces which were extremely popular with people of all ages.

In July 2010 Ping London was launched in order to promote the sport of table tennis, and to mark the two year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

A hundred outdoor table tennis tables were placed around London for four weeks.

The tables all featured a "Stop and Play" sign and any individual was allowed to participate on any table as long as they returned the racket and balls to the side of the table after they had finished playing.

The Ping! project proved so successful (over 50,000 people took part) that many tables were retained as a permanent feature and in 2011 the project was extended to a further 9 cities around the UK, before returning to London just prior to the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.

So, it's true to say ... Give them tables and they will play!

Table tennis probably holds a unique position in sport.

At the top level, it's a fast athletic sport played by fit young athletes, but it's also one of the few sports that can be played at a lower level by almost anyone, whatever their age, mobility or mental ability.

Indeed, in the USA, the game is also being recommended as a method of warding off Alzheimer's and assisting in the treatment of dementia.

Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist has said that "Table Tennis (ping pong) is the world's best brain sport."

He also points out that table tennis...

• Increases concentration and alertness
• Stimulates brain function
• Develops tactical thinking skills
• Develops hand / eye coordination
• Provides aerobic exercise
• Provides social and recreational interaction

So whether it's for tackling childhood obesity, warding off Alzheimer's or just for having FUN, table tennis is a fantastic sport to be involved with!

If you're considering playing table tennis outdoors you'll need to find a suitable location and ensure that the playing area and the table are fit for purpose.

An outdoor table needs to be located in an area which is relatively sheltered because any strong breeze will adversely affect the flight of the ball... Or make the game more interesting, depending on your point of view!

Exposed locations and windy conditions can also cause debris to be blown onto the table surface which can impede the bounce of the ball.

Another important requirement is that the playing area must be on level ground with a consistent surface covering (whether it's concrete, grass or rubber matting etc) as any changes in surface covering within the playing area would create a potential hazard as players moved from one surface to another.

Concrete or asphalt surfaces are the most common surface, but grass or rubber matting are better suited for some locations.

The decision on which is the best surface will depend on the location and the potential users.

For example, if concrete was used and, say, there were also skateboarders frequently in the same area, they might try to use the table's edges for skateboarding tricks. But if the table was on a grass or rubber matted area, they would find that much more difficult.

You'll also need a playing area of approximately 28 feet x 13 feet (8.5m x 4m), although a larger area is preferable, and it needs to be away from any other equipment or obstructions.

But the most critical element is the table tennis table itself.

Well, for outdoor locations where there'll be high usage (such as public parks, schools and camps etc), concrete tables are the only real option because they're the most weatherproof outdoor table tennis tables you can buy.

And they're the most long-lasting too.

Concrete tables are also much more resilient against vandalism. It's much more difficult to vandalise a concrete table tennis table than a regular outdoor table.

You'll also find that regular outdoor tables need replacing every few years, whereas a concrete table tennis table should last 50-100 years with minimal maintenance.

Concrete table tennis tables are primarily designed to be used in public open spaces, parks and schools etc, but they can also be used at home too.

However, concrete tables are HEAVY.

Of course, this is both a positive and a negative.

On the positive side, heavy tables in public areas are unlikely to be moved or stolen, whereas on the negative side, getting a concrete table tennis table into your back yard could prove problematic!

Whenever you're buying a product that you're unfamiliar with, it's always a good idea to seek out the experts in that field.

Their expertise will be invaluable.

So, if you're looking to buy a concrete ping pong table, I've found a company on the west coast of the USA who have a passion for table tennis and who are experts at making concrete table tennis (ping pong) tables.

With backgrounds in Parks and Recreation, Manufacturing and Construction Management, the company have certainly got the expertise to help you.

They've made concrete table tennis tables for public parks, military bases, schools, hotels, camps, homeowners associations and more, so they're sure to be able to help you.

They also ship their tables worldwide.

The owner is Lem James and he and his team will be able to answer all your questions.

So, to get some expert advice for you, I took the opportunity to ask Lem a number of questions about his company and their concrete table tennis tables.

Q.  Who buys concrete table tennis tables?

A.  Our typical customer is usually a government agency such as a city government or a military base, as well as schools and homeowners associations.

We've also made concrete table tennis tables for hotels, camps and occasionally private parties.

Q.  What locations do you ship to?

A.  Our main focus is North America and Canada but we'll make and ship tables to wherever there's a customer.

Q.  How many people are involved in your company?

A.  We're a small team of four people who make up the core of the company. We are all owners and we're all committed to table tennis. We love bringing table tennis into the great outdoors. There's also a couple of other people who aren't involved with the day to day operations, as well as some great back-up engineers and concrete artisans who we consult from time to time.

Q.  Are your concrete table tennis tables all the same or can they be customized?

A.  Our regular tables are the international standard size of 9 feet x 5 feet and 30 inches high and they can be as simple as grey concrete or they can be customized to whatever requirements the customer has.

We love to be creative. So if you want a concrete table tennis table with fiber optic lights, or a polished table with color and custom elements, or glass inlays or even marble veining, we'll make it for you.

The only limit is your imagination!

We can also make customized nets to incorporate the name of a company or organisation.

Q.  I understand that you also produce concrete table tennis tables for young children to use which are lower than a regular table. What's the difference in height?

A.  Yes, we do. The legs are 4 inches shorter.

Q.  How long does it take to make one of your concrete table tennis tables?

A.  The production cycle for a standard concrete table is a little complex because of the concrete cure time that's required before it can be finished and shipped.

As a measurement of actual process time, 3-5 days. However, the actual start to finish on one table is much longer because each part stays in the mold for almost a week and then has additional cure time before it's sealed, packaged and shipped.

Our customized table tops don't take any longer to make but they have a longer lead-in time at the design stage, and to enable us to obtain any customized elements.

Q.  How many pieces make up one table?

A.  Our standard table tennis tables have 3 concrete legs and 2 tops. The design is pretty standard to table tennis tables except that ours don't fold up or move around unless you use heavy equipment.

Q.  How is the table top secured to the base?

A.  The table tops are secured to the legs in the same way as standard tables. It's all just nuts and bolts.

Of course a lot of engineering and design goes into our concrete table tennis tables but because they don't fold up or need to be rolled around, they bolt together in a very simple fashion. We just use bigger nuts and bolts!

Q.  Are your tables permanently fixed to the ground or do they just use the weight of the table to secure it?

A.  The table just stands on flat ground. The weight is sufficient to keep the table EXTREMELY secure. As an additional precaution, the tables are designed so that the middle leg can be bolted to concrete.

In parks with very high vandalism that's a good idea, although it would take a football team to tip the table!

Q.  How much does a finished table weigh?

A.  Our standard concrete table tennis tables weigh in around 2200lbs.

Q.  How thick are the table tops on your concrete tables?

A.  We build our table tops at 2⅝ inches thick.

Q.  Does the smooth table top surface degrade over time?

A.  We design our tables with a millennium in mind. The concrete should be resealed every second year and then wear and tear won't be a problem.

If anyone tried to carve them up with a screwdriver or if acid pitting did occur over a period of say 20 years, the table top can be ground and refinished in a couple of hours.

Q.  Are your tables susceptible to chipping and breaking up?

A.  We engineer our tables for long term durability and great play, so our tables will last a lifetime.

Building a table tennis table out of concrete isn't that difficult, but finishing a table requires a precision beyond the scope of standard concrete construction. We've carried out a lot of research and we now have a precision casting method that we've developed over the last few years.

We also use a small radius on the table edge to prevent chipping. However, it's possible that if, for example, skateboarders grind the edges or if someone hit it with a hammer, it would chip.

But it would be rare to have flat surface chipping on a table which would seriously affect play. This type of chipping would most likely be caused by intentional chiseling with a metal object - just pure vandalism. In this case the surface could be reground or patched.

Usually vandals just spray paint a "tag" on the table which is actually protective of the concrete surface.

Q.  Why would anyone want to ship a concrete table? Surely it would be better to build it on-site?

A.  Shipping isn't as big an expense as you might think.

For a customer who wants permanent outdoor table tennis, we're providing a table that'll last over fifty years - and our aim is a hundred year plus.

So the cost of shipping is small when you consider its lifespan.

Some camps and parks that use standard tables outside are going through 2-4 tables a year, sometimes 2 in one summer. That's a lot of expense.

Our tables are such great value because you don't have to replace them...ever! Not in your lifetime. You don't even have to move them inside for bad weather.

Also, the cure time in production makes building tables on-site more expensive. A two man crew might have to travel to another city for two weeks or longer before the table could be sealed and properly finished. Even a local crew is going to have to put in a lot of time for one or two tables.

Building them in our production facility allows us to work on several tables at the same time. So whilst a table is curing, we can still work on other tables.

Q.  However, I understand that you do offer build on-site services. Is that correct?

A.  Yes. If a customer has multiple tables or a unique architectural design for the leg, sometimes building on site is the way to go.

A customer may want the table to actually be a physical part of the site construction or want ten tables in multiple parks around the city.

Sometimes building on-site is the only way to go for a complicated project.

Q.  Do you install the tables or are they shipped and then installed by a local crew?

A.  The choice of whether we install the table, or whether a local crew install the table, is up to the customer.

Many of our customers are government agencies and want the product delivered and installed.

We try to do installations whenever possible and we can certainly help coordinate with a contractor anywhere in the world.

Our tables are designed for ease of installation and a competent two man crew with a lifting device can put up a table in about an hour.

Installation is well within the scope of most city parks and schools.

Most of them have several lifting devices such as a boom truck or even just a small tractor.

We designed the table with safe easy installation as key components.

The only factor that makes installation complicated is the weight.

Concrete is very heavy and organizations that aren't comfortable with installation, we can help every step of the way.

Q.  What is the price of a concrete table?

A.  The price will vary depending on what design you choose, but they start at $2,655.

However, it's important to remember that these tables will outlast regular outdoor tables by approximately 50 years.

Thank you Lem for answering these questions.