Artificial lawns or synthetic grass is fast becoming a better alternative for most households. This non-organic and non-toxic grass first gained popularity in 1965. Over the years the synthetic grass has gone through a lot of modification, and today it no longer resembles its hard and carpet like predecessor. The artificial turf of today resembles very closely to natural grass, in both look and feel.
This kind of lawn brings with it a lot of convenience in terms of maintenance because you no longer have to water it, mow it, fertilize it or de-weed it. It will also maintain the same look for years to come.
Installation Cost Of Artificial Grass: Installing this kind of grass is more expensive in terms of the initial cost than growing natural grass from seed. However, over the years the artificial turf installation cost will break even with the maintenance cost of natural grass.
There are two different ways of getting it installed. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. The cost will differ in each case which is as follows:
- The basic material cost of doing it yourself is $4 to $14 per square foot. You will also need power equipment if you want to finish the work soon. If you do not own one then its rental cost also needs to be considered. It will also be a good idea to have a helper with you and you should typically allocate 4-7 days to finish the project based on the size of the garden.
- If you want it installed by the professionals then the cost can be from $8 to $20, depending on the quality of material used.
Basic Material of Artificial Turf Installation: To get a perfect finish, it is better to get it installed by a professional. However, if you are keen to do it yourself, then you will need to layer the basic material correctly. You should also read the turf installation guidelines carefully.
The basic layers of artificial turf are as follows:
- The bottom most layers are of a construction grade fabric that is placed over the natural soil of the lawn.
- Above it is a 2-4 inch layer of crushed rocks.
- Then is the layer of artificial grass.
- On top is a layer of infill. This can be either silica sand or crumbs rubber.
Artificial turf can be used everywhere however it is a great alternative for places that experience extreme climate as it is very difficult to grow natural grass in such places. Even those spots in the lawn that get very heavy footfall are perfect for artificial grass. It is also highly favored by pet owning households as it is very pet friendly.
Although it is very easy to keep your artificial turf looking great throughout the year but it is not entirely maintenance free. If you want your artificial turf looking great or 10-15 years then you should sweep or rake the grass from time to time to keep the grass fibers upright for a more natural look.