For Artificial Turf Installation, Contact Us Today. 

Artificial turf is a great alternative to grass lawns for a myriad of reasons: It’s low maintenance, there’s no mud, it stays green, and it’s child and pet proof. In this blog, we’ll go over the process of artificial turf installation we use here at GRO. 

Preparing the Ground

First, we start by clearing the designated area. This means removing soil, plant material, and any other above ground materials. The area will then be rough graded (creating a solid top soil foundation to build on). Any sprinklers will be capped at the pipe level and not the head level to avoid unwanted leakage. Relocation of irrigation and any wiring will also be performed during this stage if necessary. We will also install any perimeter barriers in his step if included in the project.

Next up is adding the base material, which is a mix of gravel and sand (to allow for proper drainage). The depth of this material varies depending on average rainfall and budget. Generally, the deeper the base material, the better the drainage. Which, in the Pacific Northwest, is especially important. We then level and compact this layer to ensure a smooth and sturdy final surface. We recommend adding decomposed granite atop the gravel/sand layer in order to create a softer finished surface but it is not necessary. 

Preparing the Turf

Once the drainage layers have been installed we will install a weed barrier. This helps prevent potential weeds and pests from trying to surface. Sheets of weed barrier are unrolled and nailed down to secure the material while the turf layer is installed.

Up next is the turf itself. The layout of turf rolls will be decided (they come in 12-15’ rolls) and then wavy seams will be created to help diminish the visibility of where they join. Once the internal seams are made and set, the edge of the turf can be cut. Edges are cut with a spare inch and then tucked into the perimeter barrier (bricks, bender board, etc…). For our artificial turf, we prefer to use the EPS Supreme Dark because it offers a very realistic look and feel.

Finishing the Turf with Filler 

The turf is combed upright with a large powered brush in order to help the filler fall to the base of the turf. There are a variety of options for filler, all of which help keep the turf strands positioned upright and the turf itself weighted down. The main varieties are made of sand-like materials or rubber and each have specific use cases. To learn more about the different fillers, check out this article. 

Once the filler has been spread we will go over the surface once again with the powered grooming brush to ensure the filler is settled and the turf strands are drawn upwards. 

Final Product Diagram