Artificial grass can be a substitute for a lawn if you don’t have one or have a paved compound. It’s also referred to as fake turf, artificial turf, and faux lawn among others. Fake turf is great for dogs and other pets. It can brighten up a balcony and rooftop garden and also makes for a soft-landing for the children’s play area. Creative daring types go as far as decorating walls with artificial turf. A faux lawn is an investment but is overall cheaper than maintaining a well-kept lawn. Quality selections are virtually indistinguishable from real grass. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re considering getting artificial grass.
Benefits of artificial grass
Faux grass feels and looks just like real grass and has many benefits including the fact that it is:
- Feels and looks just like real grass
- Low maintenance (no weeding, watering, pest control, etc.)
- Great for all climates
- Pet friendly and makes it easier to clean up after the
- Durable and resilient
- Great for kids
Artificial grass can add value to your home if it’s high quality and well-installed.
Considerations before getting artificial grass
Traffic and use
How much traffic does the area you want to install artificial grass in get? If it’s a high-traffic area or pets and children use it for playing games, consider installing something highly durable. Something less durable will wear out fast. Keep in mind that higher durability may mean less comfort. However, it is possible to get quality turf with a soft, non-abrasive texture.
Quality
Quality turf will feel soft to the touch. It will also be evenly backed, have well-stitched tufts, consistent colour, and will as a result be more expensive. Think of it as a one-time investment and get a quality product. For softer grass go for polypropylene, polyamide, or polyethene yarns.
Underpadding
Underpadding is laid beneath artificial grass for a softer finish. If the faux grass will be laid where children and pets play, high-quality underpadding is critical because it makes it safer, preventing frequent injuries.
Samples
The first thing to do when you’re certain you want artificial grass is to contact manufacturers and suppliers and request for samples. Consider the differences including pile height, fibre shapes, fibre plastics and colours to choose from. Lay the samples where you wish to have the faux grass. This will help you see the lawn’s real colour when laid down as well as compare the samples. Check out:
Pile height: this refers to the length of the grass blade from the backing to the tip. Don’t go for longer blades because with a tie they’ll curl over and bend. Shorter blades (30-37mm) are more natural and are more sustainable.
Colour: Artificial grass comes in a wide range of greens. Don’t choose a green that’s too perfect. Opt for an imperfect green with brown flecks, this will be closer to what natural grass looks like.
Density and weight: Density refers to the amount of fibre or yarn per square unit of the turf. The higher the density the more durable and the more expensive, the better for a high-traffic area. You don’t have to get a high-density one though, with proper care even one with a lower density will last. The higher the density and the longer the pile height the heavier the grass.
Also, find out whether the grass has been tested for harmful substances and if it meets the health and safety standards.
Maintenance
Standard maintenance involves brushing your lawn regularly so that the blades retain their shape. Find out from the manufacturers or suppliers what is required in terms of maintenance. Pick artificial grass with maintenance requirements that you can meet.
Extras
You could consider getting artificial grass with UV protection. This protects it from fading and things like colour bleeding so that you can comfortably walk barefoot on your turf.
If you’re installing artificial grass in a high-traffic public area such as in an office, you could consider getting grass with Instant Recovery technology. That means it regains and retains its shape even after heavy use such as from foot traffic.
One problem artificial grass had was getting hot during hot days because plastic retains heat. You could consider getting grass with technology that ensures your lawn remains cool by reflecting and dissipating heat into the atmosphere.
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