Synthetic Grass and Turf Installation Guide

Tools Required For Synthetic Grass and Turf Installation

Wheel Barrow	Shovels	Picks	Grading Rake	Hammer
Measuring Tape	Carpet Knife	Cutting Blades	Carpet Stretcher	Carpet Scissors
Drop Spreader (For Infill)	Vibrating Plate Compactor	Power Broom	Blower (for clean up)	Broom (for clean up)

Materials Required for Synthetic Grass and Turf Installation

Drain Rock	Decomposed Granite	Galvanized Nails: 40 D, or landscaping spiral nails of 6”-7” in length.
Seaming Tape: To be used for jointing the seams. Protecto Super Stick Building Tape by Protecto Wrap Company or similar product: 6”-12” wide tapes are recommended.	Infill Materials: To be used only when necessary. Medium or #30 Kiln Dried Sand. Depending on the pile heights, infill amount may vary. Special infill made for pet turf is available, please contact local dealers for details	Bender Boards: Only used when needed

Artificial Lawn - Site Base Preparation

• Remove 3 - 4 inches of existing sod and/or dirt. Cap and/or remove any sprinklers. Be sure to set a rough grade for drainage.
• Lay 2 - 2 ½ inches of drain rock, hose down, then using a vibrating plate compactor, compact to 90%.
• Lay the barrier fabric over compacted drain rock.
• Lay 1 – 11/2 inches of either class II road base or decomposed granite.
• Hose down and then use a vibrating plate compactor to compact to 90%.
• Make sure base surface is as level and as smooth as possible.
• Create a slight grade for optimal drainage.

Synthetic Turf Installation

CAUTION: Turf should be rolled out under the sun with blades facing down at least 1-2 hours before installation. This will allow the turf to acclimate and as a result make it easier to work with.

• Lay out turf onto base and position where needed. Using a carpet knife/razor knife, cut off excess turf on the backside (3 stitches in from sides). Cut turf (on backside) to fit area.
• Fasten one end with 40-D nails or landscaping spiral nails of 6-7 inches in length, spaced 3-4 inches apart along the edges. Stretch turf and fasten with nails as you move across to the opposite end. Place a nail every 12-24 inches throughout center and every 3-4 inches along the perimeter.
• Fasten together any seams using 40-D galvanized nails spaced 1-2 inches apart. Do not counter sink nails along seams. Seaming tape should be used to secure seams. Apply tape lengthwise to the bottom side of turf, leaving 3 inches (if using 6 inch wide tape) stuck to turf and 3 inches hanging off. Lay turf back down (tape should be sticky side up, do not peel away the liner until the seam looks acceptable) and secure opposite piece of turf to tape.
  Note: Be sure the seams are taut and precise, the grain of the turf is all facing in the same direction,
  and the space at the seam is the same as the stitching gauge.
• After turf is installed, power broom before applying infill. Apply infill onto turf using a drop spreader.
  Spread infill as evenly as possible with a grading rake or broom until infill settles into the base of the turf.
  Note: Never use regular sand for infill.
• Power broom again so that the blades are standing straight up. Use carpet scissors to trim off the excessive turf blades. Clean the surrounding area with a blower or a broom.

Tips for a Professional-Looking Synthetic Grass and Turf Install

• Prior to installation lay turf out under the sun for at least 1-2 hours to allow turf to acclimate. This will make the backing less stiff and the turf easier to be power broomed. Always stretch and install turf taut. One yard of base materials will cover 80 square feet at 4 inch depth (1 Yard = 1 Ton). Do not overlap seams. Never drive nails into base too far because this will create a noticeable dip.
• Always power broom prior to filling.
• Always run grain of turf in the same direction. Use a 2x4 (straight line installation) or 1x2 (curve line installation) of synthetic or pressure treated wood bender board around the perimeter of turf area to frame and protect the turf from soil and debris.
• Use only Kiln Dried Sand, crumb rubber or acrylic sand for infill when needed. Infill amount will vary. An 80 Ib. bag of sand will typically cover a 60 sf. of turf.

Artificial Grass Installation - Facts You Need to Know

• Melting: Beware of highly reflective windows on the south or west side of your home. In certain conditions, sunlight hitting these windows has created a "magnifying glass effect", that acts much like a laser and will melt your turf. A coating on the outside of the window will prevent this.
• Weather: Our turf gets installed in the mountains, where rain and snow drain very well with no flooding issues. Wind is not a worry if the installation has been done properly. In the hot Southwest part of the US, the grass can get quite warm to the touch during the midday direct sun. The grass does not retain heat in the shade or darkness like rock does. The turf can easily take even the hottest direct sunlight without damage providing that there isn't any strong reflection or sun magnification.
• Pets Smell: The best solution for getting rid of pet’s smell is to use ZeoFill. It works as a molecular sieve creating a cation exchange which occurs when two or more positively charged compounds or elements exchange places on a negatively charged host. This exchange process removes charges and essentially removes ammonia in pet waste.