Is It Difficult To Install Artificial Grass?
When you begin planning to fit artificial grass, you might imagine that this is a straightforward procedure: 'roll it out and step back to admire the lovely, neat garden.' In fact, it is nothing of the sort, although it does demand good practical ability, attention to detail and a degree of patience. Getting the lawn looking smooth and staying that way for years on end is entirely dependent on meticulous preparation of the ground, accurate measurement, strong edging and effective joining, and therefore the work could appear easy or rather finicky according to the garden and how perfect you want it to be. If you have a small, rectangular garden, then it is definitely within the realms of a competent DIY'er. Complicated gardens with awkward corners or uneven surfaces can usually become more technical in practice quite quickly. Artificial grass can be installed relatively easily, provided one applies the correct approach and has a sense of where to put in the effort. The final lawn should be virtually upkeep-free and very appealing.
What Makes the Job Easier or Harder?
Many factors contribute to how difficult it feels.
1. Flat, firm ground is much easier to work with than ground that is on an incline, or that is bumpy or uneven. A base of pre-existing paving or concrete is also very helpful, though it does need more preparation in different ways. Soil and grass ground typically means a lot more digging out, more levelling and more laying of base material. In essence, more effort and less optimism.
2. The size of the space is also very significant. A small, enclosed courtyard is obviously going to be simpler than a large garden designed for a family, especially if there are curves, flower beds or difficult access points to negotiate. Large spaces are certainly not an impossible task; however, they will inevitably demand more precision and more seams and be less forgiving.
3. The quality of artificial grass also adds its influence. A higher-quality product will generally look more natural and be easier to lay, as it will not move about as easily. Lower-quality grass can be more difficult to handle, less stable and unforgiving when cutting and fitting. That sort of problem is not something that you really want to find out when halfway through the task.
4. Then there's the draining. If your garden is already holding water, it's not going to suddenly get sensible by introducing a fake surface. First and foremost, you've got to have the groundwork, including a well-prepared sub-base. Skimp on that and you'll end up with a perfectly lovely lawn, slowly turning into a soggy nightmare.
Pro-Tip: Before you go buying anything, scout the garden and the landscape in exactly the way that one would scout an enemy. Have a look for dips, soft spots, awkward slopes, drainage problems, whatever's likely to complicate an installation. It can take five minutes, and could potentially save you five hours.
What is Typically Involved in the Installation Process:
There's a certain order involved in fitting artificial turf; it depends on the site and the substrate, but the general procedure is similar in most cases.
The most difficult part is getting rid of the existing surface. This could be natural grass and weeds, topsoil, old turf, worn-out existing artificial turf, or even wood chippings. The site is then dug to the correct depth, and a firm, level and well-draining base is laid. This is generally constructed using a stone product which is well consolidated to create a solid foundation for the artificial turf.
A weed membrane is then applied to inhibit any unwanted weeds, and turf is then laid, allowed to settle, trimmed and joined if required. Once cut and stitched, the edges of the lawn are then fixed, and the fibres brushed up so they stand vertically.
It's not overly challenging, but the trick is that every single stage of the job impacts the final result. A less-than-perfectly straight base will result in a less-than-perfectly straight lawn. A poorly joined seam will remain a very visible seam throughout the life of the lawn, and any cheap-looking quick-edge fix will result in the turf becoming lifted at a later date. It's not hard in the "daredevil stunt" sense; it's hard in the "even slight inaccuracies will show up very clearly" sense.
Is it Possible to DIY?
The good news is that most people can do it themselves, particularly if they have a relatively small and simple job. The essential components are patience, time, good equipment and an attitude prepared to crack on with doing some very unglamorous work carefully.
• A budget garden or a simple patio area is more easily completed using DIY. The greater the area, the more complex the shapes required, or the more soil preparation needed, the harder it will become. Anyone who can confidently handle a tape measure, a spirit level, a utility knife, and a few compacting tools has got a major head start.
• This is not a 'can-do spirit will see me through' kind of a job. Your desire is not something that the artificial turf can register; only preparation, precision and patience will influence it, and the type of person who will do well on this project is probably the type that has to consciously stop, measure twice and know the final look is entirely in the detail.
• Especially if the job is huge, or you've got complex sloping and drainage, or you want a really clean finish, maybe a pro is the way to go. Nothing wrong with that. Often, paying an expert isn't a sign of idleness-it's just smart planning with fewer expletives.
Pro-Tip: For jobs with curves, steps, corners or multiple edges, sketch out the plan before you cut the grass. It’s way cheaper to draw a rough design on paper and then use some actual math than to use expensive turf to try and figure out some basic geometry through trial and error.
Also Read:-
Laying Artificial Grass – The Complete Guide to Everything
A Step-By-Step Guide To Laying Artificial Grass On Concrete
Artificial Grass Cost Estimation For Your Artificial Lawn
What Goes Under Artificial Grass
The Base is Typically the Most Challenging Element:
And here's where the job can easily be underestimated. A roll of artificial grass is often sold as a simple, stylish upgrade, but it's the quality of the base that dictates whether the final effect is luxury or vaguely depressing.
• A well-laid base should be level, compacted, firm and well-draining. If the earth below is soft or uneven, the turf can shift; if not compact enough, dips and ripples could form; if not well-draining, standing water could lead to the low-maintenance dream to be just slightly soggy.
• The base must be suited to its position. Soil gardens will likely need much more work to get to a suitable state than solid bases like concrete. For a patio, cleaning and levelling may be the order of the day, along with bonding the turf; for soil, a far deeper sub-base construction process is often required.
And that is why many say the laying of artificial grass is "easy", only to admit the prep was almost their undoing. The turf is the surface layer; the base is what allows the lawn to behave.
Cutting & Joining Can Test Anyone’s Patience:
Once these initial preparations have been made, the work begins in earnest, or as earnest as one can be when laying artificial grass. It's also the point where accuracy can have a significant impact on the finished article.
• Cutting artificial grass is not complicated, though it can take time and attention. It requires cutting from the back, and so you have to try to keep the cut neat to prevent any "holes" showing. If cut too far out, it can look strained; if cut too close, then it's still not quite right.
• Joining pieces is where artificial grass either looks naturally installed or quite artificial. Seams should be carefully aligned with consistent pile direction and joined properly. If done correctly, the seam disappears. If it's done poorly, then it's that one thing that guests don't overtly notice but subconsciously recognise.
There is truly a need to spend a good amount of time in this phase of the work; artificial grass really does not forgive rushed application in these details. It really is one of those materials where patience is rewarded.
Pro-Tip: Be aware of the direction of the pile when joining pieces together; this can often make a difference when the light hits.
Tools Are More Important Than Most People Realise:
Getting the installation correct is infinitely easier when you have the right equipment. The work isn't a science laboratory complex, but it does benefit from prior preparation.
1. The bare essential equipment will at the very least be a quality tape measure, a sharp utility knife, a straight edge, a compactor, a joining medium, and turf-friendly fixings. The equipment that makes the installation much easier includes a wheelbarrow, a rake, a shovel, a broom and a spirit level. A lack of speculation generally leads to an enhanced finish.
2. The bottleneck in most DIY situations is not the lack of a particular tool but a general deficit of commonplace implements. An artificial grass installation proceeds much more smoothly if all the materials and equipment are on site and organised before any work commences. Searching for the lost utility knife mid-project or finding the adhesive has been left in the garage is just the sort of disruption that transforms what could be a manageable job into a disgruntled one.
3. Planning correctly also involves ensuring that there’s sufficient grass, base material and fixings on site before starting the installation; not running out part-way through is another aspect that seldom adds to anyone's elation.
Weather Can Be a Nuisance:
Obviously, Britain has its take on working outdoors.
• Very wet weather means messy excavation and hard work compacting. The high heat does make a few materials less amenable to being picked up. Wind provides other cheery problems- large lumps of turf, and lightweight underlay, are not shy in showing that they have a life of their own.
• Dry conditions work best for installation- the weather allows time for the base to settle, and installation itself to be done cleanly and with minimal fuss. This, obviously, is not always permitted, due to the weather’s own sense of theatre. An installer makes the best of the situation that they have, but the decision to work in sensible conditions according to the weather report makes sense.
The point is not perfection, but avoidance of those conditions which may not only make a tedious task a miserable one, but may be more inconvenient.
Is Hiring a Professional Installer Worthwhile?
Sometimes definitely.
• If there's a large, difficult or techie job, then the hassle and time saved by getting a professional to help can be worth every penny. Professionals know how to deal with levelling, joins, edgings and drainage issues- and this experience can really show in the finished project.
• This is particularly the case where a high-end, seamless finish is required. A lawn where the seams can be seen, there are dips and awkward cuts, is technically "completed," but you won't achieve the zen look that is key to the appeal of artificial grass.
• This doesn't mean DIY is out of the question for the average small garden or a person who actually loves mucking about with this kind of work, as the size of the garden and the level of finish required needs to be honestly assessed. A small strip up the side of the house is different to a full family lawn.
Choose what suits your ability, finances and temper best- there's no gold medal for making things too difficult for yourself.
FAQs:
1. Can artificial grass be installed by a DIY beginner?
Yes, provided it is a small area and relatively straightforward. The installation is easier when the surface is flat, the space is simple, and the installer is prepared to take his or her time to prepare and cut.
2. What is the hardest part of installing artificial grass?
The foundation is generally the most complicated element. Raking and levelling the site, setting a solid foundation and providing free drainage all count for a whole lot more than the turf.
3. How long does it take to install artificial grass?
That will vary depending on the size and condition of the space. Smaller spaces, such as a garden, may only take a weekend to clear and prepare, while larger or more complex spaces could take days once the tidying up is factored in.
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