Installing your own artificial turf doesn’t seem so hard when you see a tutorial on YouTube on how to do it. Believe it or not, many people attempt to do it themselves. However, majority of the time, they end up running into trouble for missing important steps. Installing artificial turf is a difficult job but with the proper education, quality materials, and tools you can experience a successful install. Below are 3 things you should know before installing your own artificial grass.
1. Proper Prepping
Many people assume that you can install artificial turf right over your existing dirt. Doing this can lead to your lawn flooding, have lumps or uneven areas, and even smell horrible if you have pets. For a successful install, the existing dirt and natural grass needs to be properly excavated from the area. You may read from other resources that you only need to remove 2 inches of dirt; however, we recommend three to four inches for optimal drainage. Three to four inches doesn’t sound like a lot but when you start digging you’ll be surprised with how laborious that can be. This step can take several days depending on the size of the area and how many people are helping. Our artificial grass crew has a lot of experience with this step and can get it done pretty quick. Be sure to reach out if you are needing help.
2. Proper Compacting
Once you’ve properly removed an appropriate amount of existing dirt and grass, then you’ll need to focus on compacting the base. This step will help with obtaining a smooth surface and prevent any dips later down the road with the ground settles. You’ll need to lay a quality base on top of your compacted ground. You have several options of base material to use. Decomposed granite is the most common and affordable but is known to crack and get lumpy over time, especially during the rainy season. Be sure to explore your options and ask yourself does the base match the purpose it’s going in. You’ll also need to think about how much base you’ll need for the area. Without experience in this it can be difficult to estimate. Measure the area and depth so someone can help you get a close estimate. You may need to pay a delivery fee to get the base to your home or business. Once you get the base to the installation location you’ll need to figure out how you’re going to move the base and compact it. We suggest you look into renting equipment to have it compacted properly.
3. Proper Install
If you’ve done the previous steps properly then you’re ready to install your artificial grass. Before you begin make sure you have more than enough turf to cover the area and a little extra for repairs down the road. Typically, the place that you order your turf from should assist you in selecting the right turf and make sure you purchase more than enough. You also want to plan your measurements out ahead of time so you can have the least amount of seams. Once you have all the turf in place, it will need to be anchored down and infill will need to be evenly distributed to the surface of the turf. Professional installers have tips, tricks and equipment to get this done properly. When you install artificial turf yourself, you may need to plan several days to figure all this out.
Reach Out!
When you stop and think about all the work that comes with installing artificial turf on your own and making sure it’s done properly, it may be more then you’d like to dive into. If this is the case, don’t just give up on the idea of having artificial turf. Our professional team can assist you in the process. If you’re needing more than a little assistance on it then reach out and get a quote. Artificial Grass Turf Warehouse can give you a free installation estimate. Call 844-768-8873 today to make an appointment for a quote.
