DIY Turf Blog

The Basics of Artificial Grass

 

The Basics of Artificial Grass – What Do I Need to Know?

basics of artificial grassGetting started on a DIY artificial grass project can be overwhelming. There are tons of things to know, and finding the basics of artificial grass is sometimes difficult. There are many resources on the internet about how to install artificial turf, but many of them over look certain fundamentals. For example, it’s not always clear how much time an installation can take. Also, some guides feature more about the actual turf installation process, while leaving the prep work up to the imagination. For a rookie turf installer, that can be confusing. The purpose of this article is to help you understand the basics of artificial grass.

 

 

Terminology

  • Adhesive/glue – A glue product that is spread on seam tape to allow pieces of artificial turf to be attached together.
  • Artificial turf/artificial grass/synthetic turf – The actual fake grass product. Comes with a variety of options, some of which are better suited for different purposes.
  • Backing – The material that holds the turf blades together. Different types of backing allow for more or less drainage.
  • Base rock – Chunks of decomposed granite. They are normally spread out and compacted before the turf is installed, to allow drainage.
  • Compactor – A power tool used to level the decomposed granite. Without this, turf installations can be uneven.
  • Drainage – The rate that water and other liquids drain through the turf’s backing into the base rock.
  • Face Weight – The density of the blades in a turf product. A heavier face weight means a thicker appearance.
  • Gauge – The distance between the stitch rows on a turf product. A smaller gauge allows for a denser product.
  • Infill – The material (sand, crumb rubber, granulated walnut shells, or acrylic coated sand) that goes on top of the turf product. It is necessary in almost all turf installations.
  • Luster – The perceived shine of the turf.
  • Pile Height – The length of the blades on a turf product. A greater pile height means that the turf has longer blades.
  • Power Broom – A power tool used to brush the turf, allowing it to stand upright.
  • Seam – The area where two pieces of turf are joined together. An experienced or informed installer can prevent seams from being visible.
  • Seam Tape – A product used to join two pieces of turf together.
  • Staples/spikes – Used to attach the turf pieces of the base. They are essential for most types of turf installations.
  • Thatch – Textured yarn below the actual blades, to give a similar appearance to a natural thatched lawn.

Installation Guide

First, we have more comprehensive installation guides available through our website. However, this guide is just the core basis of artificial grass installation. The most fundamental steps are as follows:

  1. Remove your existing lawn and dig out the soil.
  2. Lay down the base rock.
  3. Level the base rock with compactor.
  4. Lay the turf over the base rock.
  5. Cut the turf to fit the designated area.
    1. If the turf needs to be seamed together, lay down seam tape.
    2. After seam tape, apply glue to seam tape.
    3. Attach pieces of turf together.
  6. Staple down the turf with staples and a hammer.
  7. Spread infill over newly installed turf.
  8. Brush the turf to allow it to stand upright.

Once again, our installation guides will be essential to understanding some of the details. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and our expert staff will answer promptly. Good luck!