Mistake 1: Joining Tape Is Used Incorrectly
Joining tape is supplied in lengths up to 100m and is placed between the two pieces of turf.
Joining tape is 300mm wide and firstly, its important to ensure that it is rolled out so that each piece of grass will make contact with the tape and adhere to it.
Youll also need to make sure that you have the correct side of the joining tape facing upwards, otherwise the adhesive will not bond correctly.
Youll also notice that both sides of the tape have different textures. One side is smooth and shiny, and the other is rough. To use the joining tape correctly, ensure that the rough side is facing UP, as this is the side youll need to apply the glue to.
If you apply the glue to the smooth side, the adhesive will not adequately bond the artificial grass to the joining tape.
Solution: Before applying the adhesive, ensure the rough side of the joining tape is facing upwards.
Artificial Turf Installation: Before You Begin
Ready to master artificial turf installation? Before you begin, there are a few things to consider:
How much material do you need? Be sure to measure your job site so you can order the right amount of materials and budget accordingly. Our turf comes in 15 wide, and we can cut to the length you need. It is important to pay attention to blade facing direction and ensure all turf areas face the same way. If you need assistance with artificial turf layouts, contact us 844-WSI-TURF. We can help you become proficient in artificial turf installation, whether youre doing it yourself or already an artificial turf installer.
Do you have a sprinkler system already in place? You will need to either cap or remove the sprinkler system.
Do you have gophers? If so, you need to install . Gophers cant chew through the turf itself, but they can dig holes underneath causing the turf surface to become uneven.
Match The Pile Direction On Both Sides
The pile refers to the height of the grass blades in your artificial lawn. This is a big factor in determining the look and function of the lawn.
For example, short piles are suitable for putting greens, while long piles feel springy and are ideal for back yard lawns.
In many cases, you may notice the pile has a tendency to lean slightly in one direction. When installing the artificial lawn, you must match the pile direction of both pieces.
On the contrary, if you line-up the pieces opposite one another, its going to make the joint even more pronounced.
For best results, point the pile direction towards your house. This provides the best viewing angle for most lawns, and will keep the joins hidden.
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Bonding The Joints Between Sections Of Artificial Turf
With the cut edges of the artificial turf meeting correctly the 2 sections can now be joined permanently. Sections and rolls of artificial turf are joined together using a jointing tape and a special adhesive.
Measure the joint between the 2 sections of artificial turf and cut an equivalent length of joining tape. Lay the joining tape blotting side up, shiny side down beneath the turf and on top of the weed membrane. Ensure that the tape is spaced equally beneath the 2 cut edges of the artificial turf and fix it in place with 6 inch galvanised nails along each side of the tape at 20cm intervals.
Check the alignment of the 2 cut edges of turf to ensure that they meet perfectly. Then trim the turf slightly where the cut edges meet perimeter edge so that it is not disturbed once the adhesive is applied. The adhesive is applied using a mastic gun. Roll back one side of the cut turf edge and apply a constant bead of the artificial grass glue under the turf edge followed by an identical bead just in front of this edge for the second section of turf. Now carefully roll back the second section of turf until the two edges meet perfectly taking care not to bury any of the pile or grass strands.
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How To Lay Artificial Grass On Soil A Step By Step Approach
Here is the step by step guide that will show the process of installing artificial grass on the soil.
Step 1: In this first step, you have to prepare the area where you are planning to lay artificial grass. You should remove all the real grass and weed from that area .
Step 2: Remove the top layer of soil from lawn around 2-4 inches, which will not only remove some dead grassroots from dirt but also help maintain the current lawn level when you lay artificial grass on soil.
Step 3: Add Base material of 2-3 inches and then level out of the area by rolling it down to get good compaction.
Step 4: Put weed barrier fabric on top of base to prevent weed coming through artificial turf. Use long nails to hold the weed barrier in place.
Step 5: Install the Drainage system. If your land has good drainage ability, then you can skip this step. Preparing the area in a slight slope can also fix this problem.
Step 6: Now roll the artificial grass on the prepared surface and pin it down from the edges using 6 nails. Put steel nails 4-6 apart around the corners to get correctly fixed turf. If multiple rolls are required, then you have to join artificial grass together using artificial grass joining tape.
Step 7: Add Infill over the newly installed synthetic grass. Infill gives grass blades strength that helps them maintain their shape and position during heavy usage.
Step 8: When the spread infill is complete, you can now brush the lawn to complete the installation process.
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Can I Lay Artificial Grass Without Glue
You wont always need glue and tape for your installation, it depends on the size of the area. If your area is larger than 4m wide, you will need to join two pieces of artificial grass together. To join the two pieces together, first cut a piece of grass that is the same size as the piece you are going to use for the roll.
This will be the base of your roll, and it should be about 1.5m long. Then, cut the grass into two sections. The first section should have a length of about 3m, with a width of 1m. So, for example, to make a 4 metre wide roll you would cut two 3 metre long sections, one of which would be 3 metres long and the other 2 metres. Now, glue the sections together.
You can use any type of glue you like, but it is important that you use a glue that has a high melting point, so that it will stick well to your grass. For this reason, we recommend using a polyurethane-based glue, such as Titebond, which is available at most garden centres.
Mistake : Inadequate Sub
When installing artificial grass there are two layers of aggregates that need to be installed prior to laying the grass.
The first of these is the sub-base. The sub-base will give your artificial lawn the strength to handle the weight of foot traffic.
Typically, we recommend a minimum of 50mm of MOT Type 1 to make up the sub-base. For poor draining gardens you may wish to consider installing 50mm of 12mm granite or limestone chippings to form a permeable sub-base.
A permeable sub base consisting of 12mm granite chippings.
For areas that will be subjected to heavy use you may want to consider installing a 75mm sub-base.
To calculate how much sub-base material youll need to order to carry out your artificial grass installation, please visit our artificial grass calculators page.
Solution: Install a minimum of 50mm of MOT Type 1 as a sub-base.
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Can You Glue Fake Grass
Single part adhesive The glue is applied between the artificial grass and jointing tape, which will then stick together to create a strong bond. Artificial grass can be joined to other surfaces such as wood, plastic, or metal with this glue. Flexible adhesives can be applied directly to the surface of the grass.
How To Install K9 Pet Turf Systems For Dogs
Learn how to install K9 pet turf artificial grass systems for dogs. Discover the best and most used approaches to proper pet turf drainage, and why it’s so necessary. See the difference between pet turf materials and hear our recommendations. Find the best ways to control the odor and maintain your artificial pet turf lawn for years to come!
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The Cheapest Way To Lay Your Artificial Grass
Youre tired of mowing, pesticides, watering, and outdoor maintenance. Youve been thinking about replacing your old lawn with artificial grass, but your budget is tight. So whats the cheapest way to install artificial grass?
The cheapest way to install artificial grass is by buying your own materials and doing your own installation. However, be aware of the hazards of cutting corners badly installed artificial grass can lead to drainage issues, aesthetic problems, and may ultimately require a costly replacement and reinstallation.
If you can put in a little sweat equity, this article could save you a good deal of money. Ive also included pointers on finding the most reasonably priced materials for your needs. Read on, and soon you can be enjoying the benefits of an affordable artificial grass lawn.
Outsourcing Vs Diy Artificial Grass Installation: Which Is Better
So, youve made the decision to install artificial grass, and youre wondering whether to outsource the work or do it yourself. Maybe youre willing to pay the extra money to save yourself a hassle.
If you think youre up to the task of laying it yourself, you probably want to know for sure what youre getting yourself into.
As you consider your options and determine which one is best for you, there are some questions you should ask yourself along the way.
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Specifics Of Pet Turf Base Preparation
- Turf Deodorizer Layer: This is the most common factor in pet turf base preparation. After the class II road base is compacted, a layer is applied on top of the base to prevent the buildup of odor. Turf deodorizer can also be applied as an infill for the pet relief areas with heavy use.
- French Drain System: French drains help control odor in heavily trafficked pet areas. In this method, a trench is dug underneath the surface. A drainage pipe is then installed to catch the water as it absorbs into the surface and reroute it away from your lawn. The crew will use gravel to fill the trench before continuing base preparation. This option allows for faster water percolation and more waste remediation.
- Drain Core or Air Drain: This is a standard manufacturer-recommended approach to installing pet turf systems. We will describe it in more detail below!
Check out our Pet Turf Materials Explained article to learn more about these products!
Mistake : Failure To Install A Weed Membrane
Without a weed membrane, theres a strong possibility that youll get weeds growing through your fake lawn.
One of the main benefits of having artificial grass is that you no longer have to deal with weeds.
To prevent weed growth, we strongly recommend installing a weed membrane to the subgrade. The below picture shows what happens if a weed membrane is not installed to the subgrade.
The potential result of not installing a weed membrane to the existing earth.
As an extra line of defence, we also recommend installing a second layer of weed membrane on top of the laying course, directly beneath your artificial grass.
Solution: Install a weed membrane to the subgrade to prevent weed growth.
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Special Considerations For Families With Children
If you have children who enjoy playing in the yard, you may be wondering if artificial grass is a good idea. Maybe youve already made the decision to install it, but youre starting to have second thoughts. Is it any good for kids? Is it safer than a natural lawn or more hazardous?
There are several considerations when determining whether artificial grass is the right choice for your family. Lets take a closer look at these factors:
Mistake 1: Failure To Secure The Edges Of Your Lawn
We spoke earlier in the article about the need to install an edging to the perimeter of your lawn.
Not only will this retain the aggregates installed under your fake lawn, but it will also give you something to secure the perimeter of the grass to.
Failure to do this will result in your grass lifting at the edges.
For metal or concrete edging systems youll need to secure the edges using specialist joining adhesive or galvanised U-pins.
For this purpose we recommend using 330ml cartridges of Aquabond, rather than tubs of glue, as youll be able to apply it more accurately using a gun applicator.
If you have chosen to edge your lawn with timber or sleepers, you can fix the perimeter of the grass to the timber using galvanised nails.
Solution: Secure the perimeter of your lawn using either galvanised nails, U-pins or adhesive.
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How To Secure Artificial Grass On Concrete
A flat concrete base can be used well with artificial grass and can extend the life of the surface, but there will be some problems in level and drainage.
- Start from the corner to pave the substrate. When you are done, you should always start from the corner where you most want to leave.
- Before sticking and cutting, place the foam in place. Fixing the lining in place just to find the error is a classic mistake. Before cutting and pasting, lay out everything, otherwise it may cause a waste of time/money.
- Cut to the correct size/shape. Using scissors or a Stanley knife, cut the foam into a foam that is flush with the edge and inside of the area. If you find it wants to move, you can use tape to fix the parts together.
- Make sure the glue is in place. Use waterproof glue to stick the foam to the ground. We have found that the use of a tubular adhesive with a good zigzag coating can hold it in place. This method also provides enough space for water to pass through the liner.
Some people may want to install artificial grass to cover expired concrete. That is inadvisable, as the concrete will crack at some point, the structure will loosen and become uneven. This type of surface is not suitable for use as a foundation. It may move and become more uneven and show up in the artificial grass cover.
Protect And Sand The Turf
Small things add up to natural looking turf. Around 12kg of sand will be needed per square meter of fake turf.
Gently spread the sand throughout the artificial piece of grass. Use the rake to gently spread out the fine sand and make sure its even throughout the whole area.
You can also use a seed dropper to spread out the sand. However, if youre working on a larger area we advise you to rent a sand spreader.
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How Many Nails Do I Need For Artificial Grass
Nailing the turf is an important step in making your lawn look more beautiful. For this nail, you should use 5-6 inch nails that are spaced about 4 apart around the perimeter and seams of each piece of material. You also want to leave 1 between pieces near edges for easier installation 18 2 spacing will work best depending on how much space it is available.
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Preparing The Ground Installing A Weed Membrane
The final stage prior to laying the artificial turf is to install a good quality weed membrane. AWBS recommend a heavy duty woven membrane such as Geotextile Fastrack 609 which is both strong and provides complete separation between the base and artificial turf.
The weed membrane should be stretched out over the entire area and fixed in position around the perimeter edges using 6 inch galvanised nails. Where the membrane meets features such as trees or shrubs it should be trimmed and fixed, again using 6 inch galvanised nails. Once the membrane is fixed in position the perimeter edges should be trimmed using a shape knife so that the weed membrane neatly follows the hard edges and features of the lawn.
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Install A Weed Barrier
Even if you sprayed a weed killer upon removing the pre-existing surface, its a good idea to lay down a geotextile weed barrier layer , especially if your yard is prone to weeds. This will help prevent any weeds from sprouting up through your artificial grass later on and protect your investment. If you have pets that are going to use the turf areas as their bathroom, then we recommend against the weed fabric. The reason being is that the weed cloth will help to inhibit the weeds, however, it will also absorb the urine from your pets which will leave an awful ammonia smell. If you install weed cloth or not and have pets, we recommend Urine Zero to rid the odors.
Check For Electrical Wires And Sprinklers
Before you start clearing the way for your new artificial grass lawn, make sure there are no power lines, fiber optic cables, or other important wires buried there. Also, check your irrigation system to make certain youve capped off or removed any sprinkler heads. This step will save you further repair costs and God forbid hospital bills.
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