Lawn for Life Artificial Grass

1. What is your artificial grass installation process?

The success or failure of an artificial grass installation does not just depend on the quality of the products used. Its success is largely reliant on how well it is installed. Not all installations are equal in quality. Therefore, it is important to know the steps involved in a good installation process and thereby recognize signs of a poor installation. Indicators of a poor installation might be sunken areas within the overall lawn or areas that might not drain well, where water might pool. Likewise, the growth of weeds through your artificial lawn may be another sign of installation issues.

Listed below are the recommended installation guidelines according to the industry recognized Association of Synthetic Grass Installers (ASGI). It outlines the steps and the materials required for a good installation. When you ask your prospective contractor how they install, compare their installation process to the ASGI recommend guidelines. This should tell you whether you are getting a good quality installation or not.

Steps & materials required:

• Excavate out 2″- 4″ of your native soil. (If your soil is clay or dense, it might require that you are on the upper end of the recommended excavation for better drainage).
• Lay down porous Soil Stabilizing Materials separating your native soil from the base materials
• Install 2″- 4″ of base materials, e.g. Class II Base Rock, on top of the soil stabilizing materials and compact the base rock.
• Lay down the water permeable Artificial Grass Surfaces. Seam where appropriate.
• Install Seaming Materials underneath areas where the artificial grass joins together.
• Use Nails along the perimeter of the artificial grass and along the seamed sections to hold the installation in position.
• Install Infill between the blades of the artificial grass.

2. Does the prospective contractor use infill when installing artificial grass?

Infill is material such as crumb rubber, silica sand or quartz granules/resin coated sands, which are dropped between the blades of artificial grass. It plays a vital role in keeping the turf blades vertical, making them look and feel like real grass. It also helps keep the backing of the artificial grass and its seams in position.

Some synthetic grass installers claim that their grasses do not require infill. However, infill plays a vital role in protecting the individual blades of artificial grass and in turn adding approximately 25% longer life to the installation. Without it, synthetic grasses can appear matted and flat, lacking the rebound that infill gives the grass system. Grass blades will also be more prone to UV damage when they get matted down. This is why non-infill synthetic grass which receives an average amount of wear and tear will not last as long as an infilled synthetic grass.

3. What type of infill does your installer use in their synthetic turf installations?

As previously mentioned, the most commonly used infill for artificial grasses are crumb rubber, silica sand and quartz granules. Each infill has its’ own set of advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the pros and cons of each will help you make an educated decision when choosing your artificial lawn installer.

Rubber infill is great for sports fields for reducing hardness and giving better responsiveness and bounce for players. However, it can heat the artificial grass to temperatures more then 50-70 degrees higher then other non-rubber infill. This may not be ideal on an average lawn where your kids and your dog might play. Rubber also tends to stick to shoes, clothing and skin, which makes it more prone to be moved outside the installation. Some rubber infills can also give off a distinctly rubber odor and release heavy metal into the soil.

Silica sand, although inexpensive to purchase, has a tendency to absorb moisture and can be dusty, which can lead to problems with static electricity. It also has a tendency to shift around the installation, which results in requiring more sand to replace it, hence slightly more maintenance.

The newer generations of infill are products like quartz granules. The have natural pigments added so, unlike rubber, they don’t release any odors or heavy metal. They are anti-macrobial, dry easily and don’t absorb moisture due to their resin coating. This is obviously ideal for use with pets and kids. Many of them have built in UV protectors and are virtually dust free, thus eliminating problems with static electricity. Their major disadvantage is that they are more expensive then silica sand and rubber. They are heavier in weight than sand or rubber so they are less likely to shift around the installation.

Always ask you synthetic grass installer what infill they use and make the best choice for your project.

4. Does the synthetic grass look similar to the grass in your neighborhood?

When deciding to install artificial grass, it is important to choose a grass that has a realistic look and color. If you choose a grass that compliments the natural grass in your neighborhood, it will blend in and look more natural. There is now a wide variety of artificial grasses on the market. They all look different in color and texture, varying in appearances. So before you decide which grass to choose, take a look at your existing grass and your neighbors’ grass.

A lot of the natural grasses in the Bay Area tend to be “Fescues”. They tend to have a lime green appearance. If the natural grass in your neighborhood tends to be “Fescue”, choose an artificial grass that has yellower undertones. Don’t choose a grass that looks a little too green or a little too blue green, as it will make your lawn stand out and look less natural. Remember, synthetic grass is supposed to eliminate most of the maintenance headaches of natural grass, but it is also important to choose a grass that looks as realistic as possible.

5. Does your installer have suggestions on how to make the artificial grass look more natural?

Your artificial grass should reduce the maintenance headaches you get from your natural grass, but you do want the artificial grass to look as real as possible. Any good artificial grass installer should be able to suggest ways that the grass can be installed to make it look more natural. This is especially important when installing a front or back yard for landscaping purposes. Ask your artificial grass installer to suggest ways that would make the overall installation look more natural. Ask them to make some suggestions and see what they recommend.

6. Does your artificial grass and installation have a warranty?

It is important for you as a consumer to know if the artificial grass that you are purchasing has a warranty. In the artificial turf market, most warranties on the grass itself range from 8-10 years. It is also important to ask your prospective artificial grass installer if they have a labor warrantee. Does the installer guarantee the work they have done on your property? If they do guarantee the work, for what period of time do they guarantee it? Ideally, it is best if an installer offers both a product and a labor warrantee. This insures that you are covered for both defects in the product and the installation process.

7. Does your synthetic turf installer have a D12 Contractors license?

The correct installation of artificial grass is as important to the success of the installation as the quality of the products used. The most qualified person to do this is a Licensed Contractor that holds a D12 license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). A consumer who chooses unlicensed installers to do installations on their property is leaving themselves in a vulnerable position if something goes wrong on the project. The consumer will have no recourse through the law. An unlicensed individual will not have liability insurance to cover any damage they have done to your property. In addition, they will not offer a warranty on the artificial grass or its installation. When you meet with an artificial grass installer, ask for their license number. The best way to verify if someone has a license is to go onto the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) web site and look up their license number. These are the steps you need to take to do this:

• Log on to www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers.
• Go to the “Quick Hits” section on the left hand side of the page.
• Then go to “Check a license or a His Registration”.
• Input the license number and hit the “Search for License” tab.
• If the installer is a licensed contractor the details of the company name, when they were awarded their license and when it will expire will be available for you to see.
• If this information does not become available, then the individual is not a licensed contractor. If the “status” section says “inactive,” “cancelled,” “suspended” or “expired,” the installer no longer has a contractor’s license.

8. Does your synthetic grass installer have liability insurance?

When you are deciding upon a synthetic grass installer, it is important to know if they have liability insurance. In the event that there is any damage sustained to your property during the installation, it is important to know that the cost for repairing that damage is not going to come from your pocket. If the contractor has liability insurance, they are covered for damages that occur during the course of their work on your property. If they are uninsured, you will be left to pay for the repair of the damage. When interviewing your potential installer, ask them to show you proof of liability insurance coverage.

9. Can your artificial turf installer give you a list of your references?

The best way of seeing if your potential installer will deliver on everything they have promised you is to talk to their previous customers. Ask to speak to at least three of their past customers. Once you speak to their customers, you will begin to get a picture of the type of installers they are. Make a point of physically going to see at least one completed project so you can judge for yourself. Ask the customer if they encountered any problems with the installation. If they did, ask the customer if the installers rectified the problem in a timely fashion. Also ask the customer if the project came in on time and on budget? Did the contractor do everything they said they would? Once you can see for yourself the quality of the installer’s work and have had positive referrals from their past customers, you are in a better position to make a decision about your project.

Now one question for you as the customer:

10. Have you gotten three bids before you choose the contractor to install your artificial grass?

As a consumer, it is important to know that you are getting the best service and value for money that you can. The best way to do this is to get a minimum of three bids. Ask each installer the questions above and see who you think does the best job at answering them. Look at your budget and determine not just who is the most affordable, but who delivers the best value for money based on your scope of work. If you get three bids, you can be assured that you are getting a good picture of what is available in the market.