How To Install Synthetic Turf
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on 14-04-2009
How To Install Synthetic Turf
When installing synthetic turf the first things that you want to start with are grading, slopes, and drainage. For example: if you are installing synthetic turf on a flat area you are going to want to make sure that you have graded a proper slope for drainage so that when and if it rains the water does not puddle up on the surface.
So when you are grading you could either eyeball the slope as you are cutting the area of the soil that you want the water to drain toward and filling the area of soil that you want the water to drain from. Or, you could use a level, preferably a four-foot or longer level, assuming that your “to have synthetic turf area†is longer or wider than four feet.
Installing And Compacting Chat
After you have graded your future synthetic turf area for drainage the next step is to lay down a chat base of two to three inches thick. You can use a gauge-rake to get the thickness of the chat exactly two or three inches thick or a regular rake and eyeball the areas that need to be leveled as you lay the chat down on your future synthetic turf area.
Next you will need a plate compactor to compact the chat and create a nice solid foundation for your synthetic turf. You can rent a plate compactor from your local equipment rental dealer or Home Depots tool rental will usually have one for rent. When you have the plate compactor on site assuming that you know how to use it just run it back and forth on the chat and it will compact it down nice and flat. After running the plate compactor over the chat you will end up with highs and lows on the chat surface so naturally you will want to fill in the low areas with more chat and run the plate compactor over the surface of the chat again. Just wash rinse and repeat this process until you have a nice flat solid foundation.
Installing Your Synthetic Turf
Ok believe it or not but the hard part is done. Now, what you have to do is measure the different sections of your chat area or unless it is just one main body area, then cut a piece of synthetic turf off of your roll, lay it on top of the area to be covered with synthetic turf and trim it in. Be sure to have as many large areas covered with pieces of synthetic turf as possible. If your area to be covered can be covered with just one piece of synthetic turf then lay it on top and just use a razor knife to trim off all corners and edges of the synthetic turf that hang over or outside of your edging. After the piece of turf is cut and fitted now you will take three or four inch galvanized nails and nail your piece of turf to the ground. Naturally you will want to start from one end of the turf and install the nails across the piece of turf toward the other end. Do this to eliminate wrinkles of any kind.
Ok voila. After you have nailed your turf to the ground you are done. You now have a finished product.
All that you have to do now is clean up. Now you will be able to enjoy your new turf area for the rest of days.
Talk Soon
Nick
Hi, very nice post. I have been wonder’n bout this issue,so thanks for posting
How soon will you update your blog? I’m interested in reading some more information on this issue.
Installation of artificial turfs is a very simple and easy process. The tools needed for the process are very common and can be obtained at any hardware stores. If the surface is smooth and stable, artificial grass can be applied on any surfaces like wooded, concrete etc.
If you already have natural grass, then you would need to cap all the sprinkler heads. You would be required to dig around every sprinkler to remove the head and the caps with the help of a sod cutter. After this, you will need to separate the root level of the natural grasses.
Ok, we like this plan, but wha exactly is “chat” and where do you get it?
Thats pretty cool guys. I’ve never installed synthetic tuff before but you’ve described it very well. I feel like I need to put in a putting green in my back yard now.
Chat or DG (Decomposed Granite)… They both are crushed and refined materials that compact very well. You can find “chat” at your local rock supply yard. Just look up rock yards and your hometown name on google and you should have a list of them that pop up. Call those local companies and ask them if they have chat or a compactable material to go under synthetic turf.