How To Lay Artificial Grass Guide

Contents

  Mark Off the Area to be Measured

mark off the area to be measured

Foremost, assess how much grass you will need. This can help to mark it with some sort of spray can as this helps to show exactly how the grass will lie. Note: We sell in 3 widths: 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) or 4 metres (13 feet 1 inch) that are able to batch match and 5 meters only (16 feet 4 inches) so try to stay within these measurements to reduce the number of cuts/ wastage that you have.

If you are setting boarders, please also set them under the manufactured rolls sizes to allow for any manufacturing tolerances e.g. if you are ordering 4m wide grass, set your boarders at a maximum of 3.95m.

Also consider that if your garden is larger than 5m wide, you will need to have a join which also means that a small measurement on the width will be lost when trimming the stitch to create a seamless join e.g. joining a 4m piece and 2m piece is unlikely to provide 6m in width – if performed correctly this would likely create one large piece at 5.9m wide.

  order your grass

order your grass on artificialgrassdirect.co.uk

Now that you have determined the precise amount of artificial grass you need (width x length), it is time to proceed with your order. From our luxury to our premium artificial grass, our rolls come in lengths of up to 25 meters, with widths of either 2 or 4 meters. You have the option to place your order online, but some customers prefer to do it over the phone, which is also perfectly acceptable. Speaking with one of our representatives can help address any final queries you may have, such as the amount of seaming tape and glue needed, delivery times, and advice on any required accessories.

Remember to include the necessary tools with your order. While you may already have some, there are specific tools that most people do not have readily available. The tools you will need include:

Fixing Nails
Artificial Grass Underlay
Sharp Stanley Knife or Folding Knife
Artificial Grass Adhesive
Adhesive Comb To Spread
Joining Tape

  DIG OUT THE GRASSED AREA

Remove the grass sod and as much soil as is necessary to get the height that you need. If you have quite a clayey garden you will want to dig down further and replace this with hardcore to allow for better drainage. Bear in mind that depending on the pile of your grass, you will want to dig down at least 100-150mm below the level of your flags or edging. E.g. if you are choosing a 40mm artificial grass and have a clayey garden, you may want to dig down 150mm allowing for 100mm hardcore, 25mm of granite dust and a 25mm recess – leaving 15mm of luxury artificial grass pile showing above your edging.

  COMPACT THE GROUND

compact the ground

Using a vibrating plate (which can be hired at an equipment hire centre), compact the hardcore evenly. This helps to create a firm foundation that allows for proper drainage and prevents any sunken areas appearing over time.

  APPLY GEO-TEXTILE WEED BARRIER

apply geo textile weed barrier
Some will choose to apply a geo-textile weed barrier at this point or as the last layer before the grass – some landscapers may even apply a one at both stages. Weed barrier will help to prevent any weeds or grasses growing up through your new artificial lawn.

  LAY THE SUB BASE

lay the sub base

This material is designed to level the area and aid drainage. Typically, a 6mm stone aggregate is used (exactly what landscapers use under paving bricks). Between 75mm and 100mm should be enough. This can also be a good point to stop and put in place timber edging if you plan to use that – e.g. an edge board (tanalised timber & wooden pegs). Ensure it’s not higher than the final grass line, otherwise water run-off will be hindered, and the timber frame will always show through.

  SPREAD AND COMPACT THE SUB BASE

spread and compact the sub base

Ideally use the vibrating plate (mentioned in step 3) to ensure an even spread and a good level. If you don’t have access to one, a garden spade will suffice (shovel). Just be careful not to create any dips or valleys as these will be noticeable when the fake grass is laid.

  LAY THE BASE MATERIAL

lay the base material

Granite dust between 15-25mm depth is likely your best option. This also needs to be compacted and levelled using the vibrating plate. You can also use sharp sand for this purpose, but landscapers are tending to use granite dust more recently as it provides a firmer base. Note: Ideally there should be a very slight slope on the base. If you haven’t already applied your weed barrier, do this now.

  LAY ARTIFICIAL GRASS ON TOP

lay the artificial grass

Lay the artificial grass on top of the granite dust / sand (as opposed to dragging it onto the base material) and leave for around 2 to 3 hours to settle. This helps stop any wrinkling or creasing. At this point also check the grass for any faults. In the rare case that there is a fault, please contact immediately for a resolution before the grass has been installed.

  CUT AND TRIM YOUR ARTIFICIAL GRASS

cut and trim your artificial grass
Using a sharp Stanley knife, cut the grass around the perimeter of your garden ensuring a tight fit. If you are joining two pieces of grass, do this now before gluing or securing in place. A point to note is that it is always best to create a small gap (1-2mm) when joining the pieces of grass. This allows for any expansion that may occur in hot weather.

  JOIN WITH SEAMING TAPE AND GLUE

Make the joins using the correct type of seaming tape and glue – only quality outdoor tape and glue should be used. We recommend you purchase this from us when placing your order.

  ADD SAND INFILL (OPTIONAL)

add sand infill

Sand infill is not required in any of our products, but some customers may choose to add this if they believe their area will receive high traffic. You may also be adding Envirofill so do this here. Rake and spread the infill evenly, taking care not to over fill the surface. Note: Application of sand is best on a dry day. Remember that the infill will eventually compact so you should consider adding a final layer when settled.

  APPLY NATURAL STONE

apply natural stone

Apply any natural stone, paving or log roll edgings you’ve selected. If you’ve chosen not to use edgings, then apply landscaping nails every 40mm or so.

If you have any questions, our experts at Artificial Grass Direct will be more than happy to help – just give us a call on 01772 629 654, or email us directly!

Installing Artificial Grass onto Concrete or Permanent Base

    1. First of all assess how much grass you will need. Note: We manufacture rolls in 2 widths: 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) or 4 metres (13 feet 1 inch) and have some ranges available in 5 meters (16 feet 4 inches) only. Unfortunately as 4 meter and 5 meter products are manufactured using different processes, these can not be ordered together as they will not be an exact colour match. If the colour of your artificial grass is a priority, take a look at our range of purple artificial grass, pink artificial grass, grey artificial grass and more to really transform your space.
    2. Make sure that the surface to be covered is clean and smooth ready to receive the artificial grass. A self levelling compound available from any DIY store can remove surface imperfections that may show through to the top surface especially on thinner pile height products. Alternatively, you might choose to use our Drainbase product to provide a perfectly level and flat base that also allows for drainage or some shockpad underlay that helps to remove any imperfections in the surface and provides more cushions underfoot.
    3. Lay the artificial grass on to the clean and level area to be covered. Allow approximately 50mm of artificial grass to trim off to make that perfect edge i.e. in doorways or up a wall. Leave for around 2 to 3 hours to settle. This helps stop any wrinkling or creasing.
    4. Cut and trim your artificial grass, using a sharp Stanley knife making sure are no gaps between walls and grass.
    5. Make the joins using the correct type of seaming tape and glue – only quality outdoor tape and glue should be used. We recommend you purchase this from us when placing your order.
    6. To fix your grass down, simply use our easy application cartridge adhesive around the perimeter of your grass.
    7. If installing on to a wooden surface such as decking or suspended floors a combination of adhesive and carpet tacks can be used.

Temporary Artificial Grass Installation

If you have a small area, such as an artificial grass balcony, where you wish to use artificial grass just for cosmetic purposes or as a temporary installation, here are 3 methods you can use:

  1. Lay the artificial grass out, cut to correct size and ensure it’s nice and flat. Then place plant pots, garden ornaments or furniture to hold it down. If outdoors ensure it’s held down firmly enough to counteract the wind.
  2. Lay and cut the artificial grass as above but instead of leaving it loose, use double-sided adhesive tape to hold it down. Again, consider the wind factor if outdoors.
  3. If double-sided adhesive tape will not work and the surface to be covered will accommodate stapling (such as medium density fibreboard or plywood surface) then use a staple gun.

If you only require artificial grass for a small or temporary space, take a look at our artificial grass offcuts – you might just find the bargain that you are looking for.

 

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