Artificial Grass Installation – What’s Involved?

You may already be convinced of the advantages of synthetic turf, but may be wondering what exactly is involved in artificial grass installation. London home owners and businesses need look no further than experts Dayco to ensure their new lawns or pitches are installed efficiently.

All the installation methods provided below are based on domestic use, so please be aware that other specific uses, such as play areas, schools, sport surfaces and high-gradient sloping areas, will require different specifications. Contact us for advice and expert assistance regarding your individual requirements. Every job is different in terms of shape, access, and ground works involved. However, an area of around 40 square metres will normally be completed in a day.

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Site Assessment

At the outset, our experts take accurate measurements and check for any features of the site that might influence the installation. This includes looking to see whether the existing garden has adequate drainage, and whether the ground has become well-compacted over the years.

The next task is to choose the best type of artificial grass installation for your London garden or business, based on site requirements and personal preference. Dayco can advise on issues such as durability, drainage, visual effect and intended use. We will always provide honest advice, recommending the best product for its purpose. We will also work out the cost fully at the start and give you an accurate quote, to avoid surprises later on. This is especially important for institutions with strict budgets, such as schools, but also useful for homeowners wanting to compare costs.

Preparing the Site

First of all, the lawn needs to be excavated. The depth will depend on how your existing lawn drains and whether the ground has become compacted over the years. If there are no problems with either of these aspects, we will take up and cart away your existing lawn, removing it to a depth of 60mm below the height that the finished lawn will be. Dayco uses specialist machinery to ensure the earth is removed in layers, which creates a level, compacted surface for us to work from.

The next step is to install a solid edge around the perimeter of the installation area. We install our edge system by using lengths of treated wood, which are 50mm by 50mm. This edging will keep the sub base in place and provide a surface for your artificial grass product to be fixed to. We will install stakes to the perimeter of the area and then screw our baton directly to the stakes. The top of the baton will finish 15mm below the height of the finished lawn, which provides a good edge for the artificial grass to sit into, for instance against a patio or decking. Edging methods can vary, depending on the site shape, uses and requirements, so please contact us for more details.

Installing the Foundation Base

Once the edging system is firmly in place, the next step is to install the sub base for your artificial grass installation. We use 6mm granite chippings to dust for this. These chippings are a specialist product, also used for permeable block paving. We are strongly against using cheaper sharp sand for the base, as it does not compact as well and can wash away. At Dayco, we concentrate on quality and ensure our artificial grass installations are made to last.

Next we will lay the granite chippings to the height of surrounding edges, 15mm above perimeter wood. We will then compact the area with our heavy-duty petrol compactor plate. After this, we will be left with a compacted surface which is approximately 5mm above the perimeter wood edge. The final stage of installing the foundation base is to screed the area to the perfect contour.

Installing the Geotextile Membrane

Once our solid foundation is in place, we will install a geotextile membrane to the area of installation. This will involve rolling out the membrane and screwing it to the outside top edge of the wooden edging. We also advise tapping in 150mm galvanised nails to ensure the membrane stays in place. Next we cut the outside edge of the membrane perfectly into position.

Artificial Grass Installation

Once the membrane is in place, it is time to unroll your chosen artificial grass product, in a way to maximise its use. It is good practice to leave a minimum overlap of 50mm around all edges to be cut. Once the grass is in place, we pull each end of the product, to make sure that it is completely flat. When joining two pieces of artificial grass together, we always make sure that the pile on each piece is running in the same direction. We carry out the joining process expertly, using joining tape and quality resin bonding glue. Once the grass is in place and correctly joined, the next step is to cut the perimeter edges to the perfect shape.

Fixing Artificial Grass in Place and Finishing

When using the wood edging method, we will carefully separate the pile of the product and install exterior screws every 300mm through the backing of the product into the wood. Once all edges are securely fixed in place, the next step is to mechanically infill and spread kiln-dried sand over the total area. Doing this provides extra stability and realism to the finished lawn.

Maintaining Your Grass

Once the new lawn is complete, there is little maintenance involved. We recommend a regular sweep with a stiff broom to remove any loose debris and to help keep the pile in an upright position if needed.

If you are seeking an artificial grass installation in London or the South East, Dayco’s experience and expertise makes us the people to call. Get in touch now to find out more about our service.

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