Artificial grass has become a fashionable choice of many homeowners as of late and for a good reason. It is durable, easy to maintain, and environmentally friendly. Not to mention the newest generation looks so good it’s hard to differentiate it from real grass at times.
Furthermore, thanks to the massive technological improvements, artificial grass and turf have become safer than ever, with no greater risks of injury than playing on natural grass.
The Average cost
According to online calculators, the installation of artificial grass has a medial cost of $5-20 per square foot. The total price averages between $2,750 and $6,662 depending on the size of the area and the type of grass you’ve opted for.
DIY Installation
Installing artificial grass can be a fun and challenging multi-layered DIY project for people who wish to save money or simply relish improving the home area with their own hands. However, doing things wrong can result in complications that will end up costing you more money down the road.
To install your artificial grass properly, follow these steps:
- Measure the area – You will want to have a general idea of how much material you will need to order. In some ways this is the most important step, so make sure you triple-check your measurements. The closer you are to the precise amount, the less money you will spend on wasted material.
- Prepare the ground – Your goal is to cut out any grass along with its roots and remove any surplus soil. You will also want to make sure the area is properly graded (1% is generally recommended), in other words, slope the ground so that there is sufficient drainage.
The targeted depth will depend on the area you live in – arid climates can be shallower as they have less rainfall. Likewise, the ground will contract and expand in a cold climate, so you will want your base to have enough space to handle these changes. - Lay the base – For the best results, you should start with a crushed stone base. You will want this layer to be as compact as possible but it can be hard to achieve that with rocks alone, which is why you will then add sharp sand to complete the layer. It is instrumental to make sure there are no hollow areas or dips. Alternatively, you can go with a concrete base.
- Geotextile membrane – While not a mandatory step, it is advisable to lay the geotextile membrane on top of a crushed stone and/or sand base. Its purpose is to prevent any seeds from reaching the bottom layer. A concrete base does not require this layer.
- Lay the artificial grass – A single turf roll can be cut and trimmed to fit the area after you lay it down. If you are placing multiple turf rolls, make sure they are all facing in the same direction. In addition, you will want to seam the rolls together – in short, anchor them and apply a sufficient amount of adhesive to the tape area and leave it to dry for a day.
If you feel uneasy about passing through all the steps with flying colors, you can always hire trusted professionals to do the installation for you. Many of the best companies also offer a free survey if you live within a certain range from their base of operations.
In addition, there are many cool concepts available nowadays. For an affordable price, you can even turn your backyard into a rubber playground flooring with different amazing themes to choose from.