Compared to a few years ago artificial grass has made significant improvements. The lifespan of synthetic turf depends on some variables such as maintenance, and wear & tear. Synthetic grass is designed to be resilient and durable in many types of situations. In general, you can expect the “fake grass” to last 20-25 years with good maintenance and proper traffic.
How To Maintain Artificial Grass:
Artificial turf requires little maintenance, especially when compared to real grass. If the homeowner has pets it is particularly important to have an understanding of proper lawn maintenance. Outlined below are the steps needed to improve the lifespan of your turf.
- Raking the infill lightly over compacted areas, usually in high traffic areas, will prevent bending of the grass. Raking should be done lightly. Just enough to break up the infill to add more height and help hold up the blades to give it a more natural look.
- Rinsing areas where pets relieve themselves will eliminate odors and prevent discoloration. If the pet uses a particular spot regularly, that spot should be rinsed well once a week. Rinsing the lawn once or twice a month with a pet friendly cleaning product like Uricide will keep the dust down and rinse away any dirt that may blow into the yard over time,
- Minor repairs are easy to do. They typically consist of: Painting over discolorations or stains and replacing small sections of turf if tears or rips have occurred. A slight separation may become noticeable if the seams are near a high traffic area. This can still be fixed easily. In most cases, hiring a landscaping professional is the best option to avoid any noticeable signs that work has been performed.
Compared to using real grass; you will be saving time, money and effort. You will also be helping to improve the environment with water conservation, decreased pesticide use and gas pollution.
How Wear & Tear Effects the Longevity of Artificial Grass:
Wear and tear can mainly be attributed to two things: The amount of traffic on your turf and the type of turf you are using. Before deciding what type of artificial grass is right for you, you should understand basic aspects of your lawn beforehand.
Will there be a high amount of traffic on the grass? Do you have children that will use the grass regularly? Will family members be playing sports on the turf? Are your pets constantly outside on your yard? If you answer yes to these questions you will need a higher quality product (link to product) in order to improve the longevity of your purchase.
Artificial Turf Backings Compared; Latex or Polyurethane, which is better?
We get this question daily – the answer is that the Polyurethane backing for synthetic turf is better and will last much longer than the latex backing, resulting in much longer warranties on Polyurethane (PU) backed products.
- As a homeowner, if you buy latex backed artificial turf with only a 6, 8, or 10 year warranty.
- Your artificial grass will deteriorate within 1-2 years after the end of the warranty period, resulting in an 8-12 year maximum lifespan. You will need to re-do the job in a relatively short time frame at the same initial expense.
- Your return on investment will be reduced by 50% compared to what you would get by using synthetic turf with a polyurethane (PU) backing and our 18 year warranty (which could be 20-25 years of use.
- Polyurethane backing is the superior choice for households with pets because it is easier to clean, does not absorb pet urine, and will reduce odors caused by pets. The latex backing tends to absorb pet urine, and is more likely to be damaged by it.
- Manufacturers only give a minimal warranty on The latex backed synthetic turf since it will not last more than 8-10 years, and in many cases as little as 6 years.
- Use of polyurethane backed synthetic turf will give you a longer lasting, superior performing artificial lawns.
- Latex backed turf is heavy and more difficult to install then the PU backed turf.
What Are The Main Components of Artificial Turf?
Blades – This is what is seen on the top, green nylon blades that are resilient, soft and resistant to UV rays (sunlight).
Backing – The backing is made of 3 layers of fabric and glue, or composite coating on top of fabric, latex or polyurethane. This is what holds the turf together.
Thatch – The thatch is the part that looks like dead material, just like in real grass. In synthetic turf it has two purposes; to hold the blades up and give them a little support, and for aesthetics, it makes the grass look realistic.
Face Weight – This is the number of ounces per sq. yard of just the fiber. SimpleTurf is available in 40 to 102 ounce weights.
Total Weight – This is the total number of ounces per square yard of the blades and the backing combined. Generally the heavier the product weight, the better the durability of the turf.
Height – The length of the blades. (longer blades are more expensive)
Color – Made in many standard colors and custom colors can be special ordered.
Also known as – Synthetic turf is also known as fake grass, artificial lawn, or by many brand names such as Astroturf.
What Are The Benefits of Installing Synthetic Turf?
- Environmental – You will be helping the environment by saving water, which we all know there is a lack of in Los Angeles County.
- Synthetic Turf is green all year round – Unlike traditional turf that needs constant care and which is only in peak condition 50-75% of the time.
- Sprinkler system controller adjustments – You no longer need it. No more adjusting time between the summer and winter and back again.
- Water Bills – No rising water bills over time.
- City Code – No need to comply to changing city sprinkler restrictions from year to year.
- Pet Friendly – You no longer see yellow dead spots due to your pet doing it’s business on the lawn. It’s easy to wash and you don’t need to change out sections like you do with sod.
- Harmful Chemicals – There is no longer a need for harsh chemicals. Not only are you saving money but this also benefits the environment.
- Additional Safety Factors – Safe for children and easy on joints.
- Built to Survive the Rigors of High Traffic & Aggressive Sports Play – Unlike sod, it’s designed to play sports on and it will not be damaged.
- 18 Year (residential) & 10 Year (commercial) Limited Warranty – With sod you do not get any type of warranty. If your turf fades or is damaged, you will receive replacement.
In conclusion, you will spend more up front but will save money and more in the long run by installing a brand new synthetic turf lawn instead of the traditional sod.