FAQ
Artificial grass can be laid on top of concrete or tarmacadam as long as it is even and is able to drain water correctly. However,regardless of if the concrete is even or not, we recommend using an underlay to properly make sure your artificial grass is looked after in the best way possible.
The short answer is yes. However, as with concrete you need to take the right precautions before doing so. You must make sure the wood is strong and fresh- not weak and /or mouldy. You must also be sure use some sort of underlay and weed membrane to make sure your artificial grass remains in tip top shape!
Unfortunately, it is not recommended that you lay your artificial grass down on a soil base. This is because soil can become a victim of weather induced wear and tear quite easily- leaving you with a base that is compromised. Ultimately, this will ruin your artificial grass, so it is recommended to lay your artificial grass on a stronger base (such as sharp sand).
Unfortunately, laying artificial grass isn’t as simple as just laying the turf down. However, the following tools will make the installation of your artificial grass a whole lot easier:
- Turf Cutter
- Shovel
- Stanley Knife
- Joining Tape
- Joining Adhesive
- Tape Measure
- Planks for Compacting
- Ground Pins
- Hammer
- Broom/Stiff Brush
- Glove
To keep things simple, you can lay artificial grass by using the required tools and by following our 6 easy steps below (read onbelow for further info):
- Plan & clear the area
- Create an edge
- Lay the base
- Apply weed membrane
- Lay the artificial grass and trim edges
- Add finishing touches
1: Plan & clear the area
Before starting your project, plan out the area to be covered. Ensure that cables and water pipes are below the digging depth. Remove the turf to a depth of 300mm using a turf cutter or spade and remove any large stones, bricks, or other obstructions. Lay down a type 1 stone base (limestone is sized from 40mm down to dust and is mainly used as a bulk fill) to .
2: Create an edge
If there are no perimeters for the product to butt up against, install an edging system. We recommend Tanalised timber. Knock the edging into the soil with a hammer and piece of wood, leaving around 3cm exposed.
3: Lay the base
Apply around 25mm of granite dust or sharp sand where granite is not an option. Use a piece of timber to drag the sand or dust across the application area to provide a smooth surface. If using sand, the depth should not be more than 20mm. Use hardcore to level out larger imperfections (i.e. over 20mm) before applying sand.
4: Apply weed membrane
Once the base is compacted, apply weed membrane to the area and secure in position with 4″ galvanised steel nails every 0.75m around the perimeter. This will prevent weed growth whilst allowing water drainage. Trim off any waste membrane from the edges. If any joining is needed, overlap the edges then attach them with gaffer tape.
5: Lay the artificial grass and trim edges
Unroll the artificial turf over the area, being careful to not move the weed membrane. Having the pile direction running toward the house will give the best look from the windows of the house. Once positioned, trim the excess artificial grass. Everedge gives you a useful edge to run your knife around. We recommend changing blades every 3-5 metres to ensure the blade stays sharp enough.
6: Add finishing touches
To finish, apply kiln sand to the turf. This can be done using a blower and stiff brush or a lawn fertiliser spreader. We recommend 6-8kg of sand per square metre of product. This step is vital to ensure the most natural-looking finish. For the best results, we recommend brushing the pile before, during and after. This sand dressing should be done on a dry day and the same day as the lawn installation.
1: Prepare the Join
If a join in the turf is required, butt both of the surfaces together ensuring the pile is running in the same direction. Fold back 30-40cm on each side along the length of the join and trim 20-30mm from each edge, cutting between tufts.
2: Apply Glue and Join Tape
Unroll join tape shiny-side down along the entire length of the join. Apply the adhesive along each edge of the backing in 2 lines. Fold one side of the turf onto the join tape then slowly fold over the other side of the join. A gap of 2-3mm between the sections generally gives the best results.
3: Allow Time to Dry
Once joined, laying weighted planks along the join is a good idea to ensure an invisible joint. Allow 2-3 hours to dry and then sand infill the product.
