Every American home starts with a picturesque grass lawn that's vividly green and perfect. Apart from looking pretty, it adds up to your home or business's curb appeal and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. However, achieving that at present is tough especially when California and other parts of the country is facing water shortage problems and maintenance costs are very expensive.
Artificial Grass Solutions is here to teach you an inexpensive and sustainable way of achieving the perfect lawn in a step-by-step process that's easy to follow! Play with our turf cost calculator for a pricing idea. So if you're in the market for new turf, continue reading our entry below.
How to Install Artificial Grass
Preparing Your Tools
Artificial grass installation is a meticulous process that needs precision to properly lay artificial grass on your lawn. But to get the job done, you would be needing the following tools:
Wheelbarrow or shovel
Turf cutter or carpet knife
Hammer
Planks or roller (used for compacting)
Joining tap
Grass glue
Weed membrane
Sub-base material or infill material
Ground pin
Step 1: Inspect for any underground hazards and measure the space
Checking for underground hazards is an important step when installing artificial grass. This is because artificial turf must be properly anchored to the ground in order to stay in place. If there are any underground hazards, they could harm the fake grass or cause it to come loose.
To make sure there are no underground hazards, you will need to measure the area where the artificial turf is going to be installed. Once you've determined the dimensions of the space, you may use a metal detector to search for any potential hazards. If you find any underground hazards, you should avoid installing artificial turf in that area.
Step 2: Take away the current surface
Peeling off the current surface of your lawn may prove to be a tedious process. It involves taking away everything including the weeds and existing grass. It may also involve pulling out other existing debris to give way for a flat surface for your new lawn.
Should weed become a problem for you, it's advisable to use a weed killer or weed spray. But don't forget to use an organic type of weed killer in advance to make removal easier.
After accomplishing this, you can now remove the top level of the soil (3 to 4 inches of soil). This will give way to the new lawn base.
Step 3: Set up a bender board (optional)
It would be helpful to make a clear separation between your artificial grass and the other elements of your lawn. While a bender board is not entirely necessary, it can help you map out the perimeter of the space while providing an even more polished and cleaner look for your yard.
Step 4: Flatten the ground
To make your synthetic grass installation proper, it is essential to compact the ground you would be using to lay artificial grass. It should be an even layer that amounts to a near 95% compaction level.
There are many tools you can use to get this process done correctly. You may use a vibrating plate, plate compactor, roller, or other flat-compacting apparatus to ensure you get a smooth surface from your existing lawn.
Step 5: Place a weed barrier
After spraying some weed killer on the surface of your future turf, it's best to cover some extra ground by laying down a weed barrier layer known as landscape fabric (also called geotextile). This is beneficial if your lawn is weed-prone.
If you're using your artificial lawn as pet turf, however, we discourage using the weed cloth as it may absorb your pet's urine which may leave unwanted odors. It's better to use a pet specialize barrier or Urine Zero for this application to avoid these odors.
Step 6: Lay out the base
As you spread infill or lay out the base, you must do it correctly to give way for proper drainage. For most set-ups, a 3 to 4-inch layer of stone, decomposed granite, or crushed rock can allow excess water to seep through seamlessly.
When using infill for installation on concrete, you can use a drop spreader to disperse infill, such as silica sand evenly.
Step 7: Start watering your base
As soon as you've finished with ground compaction and base layering, you should start watering the base layer to compact it even more. However, refrain from overwatering so as not to wash away your base and avoid slumping.
Step 8: Connect and fasten your turf pieces together
Start rolling out your synthetic grass for about 2 to 3 hours before installation. It allows your synthetic grass to adjust properly to avoid creases when installing. When laying out artificial grass on your base layer, make sure that the grass blades are facing in the same direction to achieve the realistic look of natural grass.
Join together any pieces that need connection using outdoor tape or turf glue. You can use heavy objects to apply pressure to enforce the adhesive.
Step 9: Cut out excess turf edges
Once the glue has dried properly, you can start trimming out excess grass with the help of a carpet knife or utility knife to properly fit the turf areas and get a clean line.
Step 10: Use landscaping pins to secure seams of your turf
You should start pinning your turf every six to eight inches in the surrounding areas of your lawn. The placement could also be done along the seam for better security.
Step 11: Brush up your fake grass for a better look
As an added touch to your finished turf, you can use a hard-bristled brush to fluff the fibers of every square foot of your turf to give it a more organic look.
Should I Hire a Company to Install Artificial Turf?
Absolutely! It's best practice to hire a professional artificial turf company to work on your fake turf landscaping. Artificial Grass Solutions (Los Angeles & Orange County) can handle all your installation needs as we work directly with a turf manufacturer to provide the best materials for your new lawn.
