Artificial Grass Buying Guide - 10 Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid

If you decide on installing artificial turf on your lawn, it can transform your outdoors into an aesthetically appealing one. Having comfortable, low-maintenance outdoors can change your lifestyle for the better. But without expert advice, buying artificial grass can be costly while creating more problems simultaneously. There are many common mistakes one can make while choosing synthetic turfs such as the wrong color, type, and size of artificial turf. Synthetic grass is a lot more durable option when compared to natural grass. Natural grass can get damaged when exposed to heavy traffic, pets, kids, or changing seasons. That’s not an issue with fake grass, but there are a few things that you need to avoid or take into consideration. Although artificial turf is more durable than its natural alternative, it can easily get damaged by sharp objects, caustic chemicals, severe heat, etc. Read on to know the 10 things you need to avoid if you’re installing artificial grass in your home.

Also, Read:-

What Goes Under Artificial Grass?

A Step-By-Step Guide To Laying Artificial Grass On Concrete

Artificial Grass Cost Estimation For Your Artificial Lawn

Top 10 Things To Know Before You Buy Artificial Turf For Dogs And Pets

1. Mistake one: Poor Drainage

If you want to have your artificial grass properly installed then having a good drainage system for your fake turf is probably an important aspect. If your artificial turf does not have the adequate drainage required, the water will not get funneled away from your fake grass which means you could easily end up with sitting water every time it rains or when you water your flower beds with a hosepipe. This sitting water can promote the growth of mold, mildew, and weeds which can result in a scruffy-looking artificial lawn. It is recommended that you use a type 1 crushed concrete base before the sand base if your artificial lawn showcases puddles of water, which refuses to drain even after a long time, every time the weather changes. Laying a concrete base will help in removing the water from the surface hence preventing puddle formation of your artificial lawn.

2. Mistake two: Uneven Surface

If you wish to lay Artificial turf on an uneven surface, the first course of action for you should be to landscape the area to create level ground because when you install artificial turf on uneven ground, there is a much higher chance of error such as unsecured edges, a visible imperfection in the surface and uneven joins. The installation company for synthetic turf will begin with landscaping your outdoor/lawn space which helps in ensuring that there is an even surface to work with. The expert installation team will help you out in leveling out a sloping garden or removing any unwanted substances such as roots, weeds, or mounds all of which can cause complications once the fake grass is installed. Make sure that the area is cleared sufficiently, preferably of the top layer of artificial turf before proceeding with leveling it out with sand, before laying your fake grass.

Mistake Three: Unwanted Growth

If you are laying your artificial grass straight on top of the fertile soil then other than the ground being uneven, weeds and other plants can grow up causing your fake lawn to look uneven. To avoid this, install a reliable weed barrier otherwise you might have to weed your artificial grass later on. Also, watch out for increased lead litter, especially during the autumn season and pollen in the spring, and leaves in the summer season. Leaf litter and pollen can disrupt your good drainage system which can ultimately cause the organic material to rot which is quite a hassle to clean up later.

Mistake Four: Hazardous Edges and Joins

Many homeowners forget to properly secure the edges of the artificial grass on their new lawn. If the edges are not properly secured with the same adhesive that’s used to install the rest of the grass, then they are more likely to unravel or curl up at the edges. This can be quite troublesome as some loose elements can get under the turf causing damage such as tears and perforation, but people might trip and injure themselves as well.

Mistake Five: Not Keeping the Off-cuts

After the completion of laying down artificial turf, the spare scraps of the turf are mostly thrown away which might seem like the right thing to do at the moment but can cause quite a problem later on. If you ever need to replace small areas on your synthetic lawn, these scraps will prove to be quite beneficial, as they can provide just enough spare material to patch things up. Although if you ever need to replace a larger area of your fake lawn, it’s always good if you keep the sample of your turf handy so that it can properly match your existing lawn.

Mistake Six: Exposing Artificial turf to reflected sunlight:

Artificial grass is designed to withstand heat exposure from the sun and it will not melt when directly exposed to sunlight. If sunlight is reflected onto your artificial turf from the windows, the glass can cause a magnifying effect which means it can scorch the fibres of your synthetic turf. To avoid this, make sure that you install artificial grass somewhere in your lawn where this can’t happen or else don’t open windows that can cause sunlight to be reflected on your artificial turf.

Mistake Seven: Parking heavy vehicle on your lawn:

Many people might have the idea to use artificial turf on their driveway, as artificial grass can provide a much softer, natural-looking surface as compared to pavement or concrete. Artificial turf can also provide a great alternative for those who need off-road parking but prefer a greener front garden. However, this is certainly not recommended to use artificial grass for this purpose because the rubber tires can cause wear and tear to the synthetic fibers from their latex backing and pull the turf away no matter how properly they are secured.

Mistake Eight: Selecting the Wrong Base:

Having the right base for your artificial turf ensures that your lawn will remain wrinkle-free and will not hold any sitting water. Your synthetic grass must have a proper excavation. The ideal layout for a base is using a sub-base material with a tight and porous substrate which is quite ideal for drainage. Make sure that your base isn’t unbalanced as it can lead to potholes, wrinkles, poor damage, and can create shifting. Something as simple as the wrong crushed rock type or incorrect depth can cause issues for your artificial lawn.

Mistake Nine: Extreme Heat:

Synthetic turf is constructed from various types of plastic polymers so it can’t burn up in a traditional sense but it can melt when exposed to high heat. So its best advised to surround your outdoor grill or fire pit with a hardscape apron or to just locate them to a place where they don’t burn your artificial lawn. Hot ashes from coal in outdoor grills or cigarettes or sparks from fireworks can also cause damage to your fake grass. There are some cases in which high-focused sunlight reflected from a window causes burns to the artificial grass.

Mistake Ten: Not adding a weed barrier:

Weeds are unwanted substances that seem to grow everywhere on your lawn if not kept in check. If you do not add a weed barrier to your artificial grass installation, you might find that weed growth pushing its way up through the fake grass, ruining the entire look of your lawn.

Also, if you are looking for good options for Rugs, Carpets, and Vinyl Flooring please click below to visit:

Rugs

Carpets

Vinyl Flooring