While every day there are hundreds of people getting artificial turf or fake grass installed into their yards, businesses and other spaces, few people understand the process that produces the products that are used in the installation itself. In a nutshell, the installation process for fake grass involves removing all existing sod and plants that will interfere with the landscape, then smoothing and leveling the bare earth into the exact shapes that are desired (hills and flat areas.) Once this is completed, a weed barrier is installed into the area that will be covered by synthetic turf, then a composite material is raked into the area in order to provide cushioning which will make the artificial grass feel more realistic when it is walked upon. This composite material will also allow us to smooth the surfaces into the shapes that we want them to have, with slight pitches for drainage as well as decorative hills or flats. After this point, the actual artificial turf is rolled out, joined at the seams and staked down after being stretched across the surface in order to maintain a smooth appearance. Special care is taken to adequately stake and join the areas that butt against retaining walls or curbing of any kind, as this is one of the points that older installations may have shown pulling away tendencies in the past. While the artificial turf products themselves are available to anyone for purchase, the quality of the installation relies on the correct materials for each job and the experience to adequately place them into the area. Over time, poor installations of artificial turf can have drainage and pooling problems, stretching and buckling issues, or even waves forming the way carpet does over time. Our installations are guaranteed for 10 years against abnormal wear or problems, because we believe in the quality of our products and our installations.
The actual artificial turf product is made by melting pellets of plastic mixed with colorants, and pushing this melted plastic through a plate that looks much like a metal surface with thousands of holes punched in it. These strings are cut and formed into “blades of grass” after passing through a cooling bath and then being adhered to a backing material. The blades are cut into the lengths desired in order to appear as certain types of lawn, ranging from very lush and long to cropped close like a golf course. The backing is cooled, then has tiny holes punched in it which will assist in natural types of drainage when installed, allowing both water and pet urine to pass through and not create damage or smell. The process of construction of these products has improved significantly over the years, and has expanded into specialized products that are more resistant to pet odors or mimic desired types of surfaces so closely that it is now difficult to know they are not real grass.
If you are interested in artificial turf for your home or business, contact us today to discuss your options.