Artificial Grass Guide

Your guide to artificial grass Your guide to artificial grass
 
 

How to measure a garden

We’ve set out three examples as guides to help you measure your area, for the most cost-effective roll layout. Always make sure that the grass runs in the same direction if installing or joining more than one roll. We stock 2m- and 4m-width rolls, coming in lengths from 3m to 25m.

Always measure at the widest and longest part.

 

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 1

> Straight forward lawn

Straight forward lawnStraight forward lawn

Grass requirement - total 16m2

1 x 4m wide roll by 4m long

Example 2

> Irregular-shaped lawn less than 4m wide

Irregular shaped lawnIrregular shaped lawn

Grass requirement - total 28m2

1 x 4m wide roll by 7m long

Example 3

> Irregular-shaped lawn more than 4m wide

Joining lineJoining line

Grass requirement - total 48m2

A - 1 x 4m wide roll by 9m long

B - 1 x 2m wide roll by 6m long

1 x 6 linear metre joining tape

How to install

Tools required:

 
Turf cutter for grassTurf cutter for grass

 

Turf cutter
(or spade)

Wacker plate toolWacker plate tool

 

Wacker plate
(or flat surface and hammer)

Stanley knife toolStanley knife tool

 

Stanley knife

 

Laying on soil or sand base

1. Preparation
For best results you should lay your turf on a 35mm layer of compacted sharp sand. To maintain levels, it may be necessary to remove an equivalent amount of the top soil. It’s unwise to leave vegetable material under your new grass as this will rot down unevenly. The ground or sand should be compacted. For smaller areas you can do this with the back of a shovel or builders plank, or for larger areas use a vibrating plate compactor which can be hired at most equipment hire centres.

 

2. Weed membrane
Should be laid immediately under the grass, as this stops any seeds finding their way into the sand and germinating. Overlap the membrane by at least 100mm and take right to the edge of the area.

 

3. Acclimatising
Lay the artificial grass on top of the membrane. Allow approximately 50mm of artificial grass to trim off to make that perfect edge. It’s a good idea to leave the grass for a day to settle. This helps to stop any creasing or wrinkling.

4. Jointing
Butt any grass edges together, and when you are satisfied with the result, peel the grass back and lay our fibreglass backing tape under the join. Using a spreader apply our Aqua Bond mastic adhesive or multi-purpose adhesive to the tape, then simply fold back the grass taking care not to squeeze the adhesive up onto the grass strands. Please ensure that the grass is running the same way on each piece.

 

5. Trimming
Cut and trim your artificial grass, using a sharp craft knife, making sure there are no gaps between walls and grass. Always use sharp blades and change the blade regularly. The grass sometimes has a material trim to one edge - this is just from production and needs to be removed before laying, as it is not for joining the edge. You will need to use joining tape and adhesive for all joins.

 

6. Fixing
Use our ground pins, nailing them into the ground at an angle every 200mm to secure the perimeter. Alternatively, you can create a small concrete haunch to glue to, or bury lengths of treated timber to nail or tack to.

 

Laying on decking or for temporary use

Loose lay
Lay the artificial grass out and trim to size. It will stay flat under its own weight. Garden furniture or planters can be used to hold it down in areas that are exposed to strong winds.

Mechanical fix
Use a staple gun or tack/nail directly to the wood.

Adhesive fix
Use our Aquabond Adhesive to stick it to any smooth surface.

 

Laying on concrete or a patio base

Preparation
Firstly, make sure that the surface to be covered is clean and smooth. A sled-levelling compound may be required to remove surface imperfections that may show through to the top surface especially on thinner pile height products. This can be purchased from DIY stores. Then simply lay, join and trim the artificial grass as instructed above.

 

Laying on flat roofs

It’s important that the roof will weight bear and it’s also important not to puncture the waterproof membrane. Loose laying will avoid this. Our Aqua Bond adhesive will provide a more permanent fix but you should take local professional advice prior to making any permanent fix to flat roofs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How will your pets react to the artificial grass?

Your pets will be fine. They tend to treat artificial grass just like normal grass except they can’t dig it up! Any droppings are easy for you to remove or wash away. If the grass will receive very heavy use from pets, as it would in a kennel, we recommend that you use disinfectant to clean it as this will help remove smells and kill bacteria. However, where you have light use, this is rarely needed.

How does artificial grass hold up to dogs?

Very well! It’s better than natural grass in many ways; dogs can’t dig it up, muddy themselves on it, or cause it any real damage as long as it’s properly installed.

How long will our artificial grass last?

We guarantee our artificial grass for 5 to 10 years depending on product.

How will it cope with flooding?

Artificial grass is permeable so the rainwater will run straight through it.

Which cleaning products are safe to use on our artificial grass?

Generally speaking, a mild detergent is the best thing to use. You should avoid products that are acidic in nature (ir. pH less than 3) or have oxidising properties (like bleach or peroxide).

What maintenance is needed?

Very little indeed. You need to remove any debris which falls onto the grass and smooth any infill you may have. A leaf rake or garden broom will remove debris like fallen leaves, help realign the fibres and smooth it over. As the artificial grass is permeable, rainwater will run through the backing and clean it at the same time.

Does the grass have a directional pile?

Yes, it does. So, you need to make sure you align the directions of any different pieces of grass when you lay it down, which is quite easy to do.

Can I use a barbecue on top of artificial grass?

To be on the safe side, you need to ensure your barbecue is raised above the grass and ideally placed on slabs, particularly if you’re using disposable barbecues.

After a lot of use, will the grass matt or flatten?

As long as you choose the right grass for your use and brush the grass every so often, flattening shouldn’t be a problem. A texturised or curled yarn in the artificial grass also helps prevent matting.

What’s it like to walk on?

Our artificial grass is soft and springy, and provides more bounce than natural grass. On extremely hot days, the grass will also be noticeably warmer underfoot.

 
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