What Goes Under Artificial Grass or Fake Grass ?

February 10, 2024 Kathleen Cuff

Artificial grass is renowned for its lush green appeal, pet-friendly, and ease of upkeep, but what's beneath it? Explore the crucial base layers for a perfect fake lawn.

Key Takeaways

Base Layers for Artificial Grass

Base layers are essential for drainage, stability, and weed prevention under artificial grass.
Common base materials include weed barrier, crushed stone, weed membrane, Astro-Cushion (for padding), granite dust, and sub-base.

Infill for Artificial Grass

Infill (material between grass fibres) helps blades stand upright, protects backing, and provides drainage and cushioning.
Popular choices include silica sand, rubber infill, and Durafill sand.

What Goes Under Fake Grass? Understanding The Base Layers

1)Geo-Textile Paper/Mesh Weed Barrier

These resemble the mesh membranes intended to prevent weeds from sprouting in your artificial turf. The ideal way to protect your lawn is to keep the weed cloth at least 100 mm thick and overlap it with a combination of crushed stone.

2)Crushed Aggregate/Gravel

The drainage field is created by a permeable compact rock base made of crushed aggregate or Gravel . For both kinds of applications, the gravel is compacted every few inches, which aids in the creation of a quick and stable drainage foundation. ⅝ minus is used for installing fake grass, and ⅜" minus is utilized for installing greenery.

3)Weed Membrane

What lies beneath your artificial turf is determined by two things: the state of the site and previous usage. If the region is highly susceptible to weed development, or if you simply want to stop those annoying weeds from growing through your artificial turf, a weed membrane is advised. Your artificial lawn will not be ruined by weeds growing through the turf if you have a high-quality weed membrane installed. The effects will be the same whether your weed membrane is installed on top of the grano dust or beneath the sub-base. Laying a weed membrane is not advised if you have pets and plan to install pet-friendly artificial grass for your dogs to use frequently because it can slow down the flow.

4) Astro-Cushion

Installing Astro Cushion initially could be a good idea if you wish to lay artificial grass on hard surfaces like concrete, decks, or patios. When used by young children, Astro Cushion contributes to the creation of a softer surface, which is perfect. Due to its total porosity, Astro Cushion permits regular moisture movement, which is crucial for artificial lawns. The Astro Cushion is 10mm thick and meets UK regulations for the necessary critical fall height if it is installed in a playground or school. If pets are going to use the hard surfaces, it is not advised to use Astro Cushion or artificial turf on top of them.

5)Granite Dust

If you want to guarantee the longevity of your artificial grass, you must design a solid, high-quality drainage system. For artificial grass, the drainage system is the most crucial component. An unstable or useless artificial grass might result from improper drainage system design or installation. For your lawn, it is advised that you install a drainage system using granite dust. This material is robust and highly porous, allowing moisture to pass right through. Depending on where you're putting the turf, you can lay this Granite Dust down to a depth of about 25 mm. A wacker plate should be used to condense granite dust to provide a robust surface.

6)Sub-base

Once the ground has been levelled, apply a thin coating of crushed granite stone or any other crushed stone aggregate to help it consolidate. It is advised to apply a 25mm layer on a sturdy base with an effective drainage system. If you want to maintain the finest possible appearance of your artificial lawn throughout the year, drainage is crucial. A layer of Geo-textile cloth can also be added, which aids in preventing undesired weeds from emerging from the ground. Additionally, you may now add a layer of sand or shock-absorbing material to enhance the feel of your new turf underfoot. To achieve the greatest finish, if you are adding the weed membrane at this point, make sure it is pinned down as evenly and firmly into the ground as possible.

Choosing Base Layer for Artificial Grass

7)Artificial Grass Infill

Generally speaking, infill refers to the materials used between the artificial grass fibers. The major objective of infill is to assist the blades of grass in standing or in returning to an upright position following walking. Additionally, infill aids in protecting artificial grass backing from damaging UV radiation. Your artificial turf's sand infill will assist keep the weed membrane and fake grass rolls from wrinkling or folding. It aids in keeping them stationary.

• Silica Sand

Silica sand forms as a result of wind and water erosion of quartz. Small granules formed from the erosion of quartz are utilized in a variety of commercial applications, including artificial grass infill. This silica sand aids in keeping the artificial turf's blades positioned upright.

• Rubber Crumb Infill

Another material that's utilized as infill for artificial grass is rubber, which gives the grass a softer, more realistic feel. Rubber gives your grass a natural bounce and increases its porosity. Crumb Rubber infill gives your fake grass volume, which makes it look lusher and fuller and aids in the blades' ability to stay erect.

• Durafill Sand

Another kind of filler for artificial turf is Durafill Sand. Built specifically with artificial grass in mind, Durasill sand has a rounded quartz core. Its ability to maintain its coolness keeps your artificial grass from heating up. It also possesses the superb characteristic of having an anti-microbial property that aids in the destruction of bacteria. Because of its rounded shape, Durafill sand enables natural impact absorption without harming the fake grass's fibres.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Infill for Artificial Grass:

Table with Light Green Color

Layer	Purpose	Pros	Cons	Ideal Use
Weed Barrier	Prevent weed growth	Controls weed growth	Can degrade over time	Underneath artificial grass
Crushed Aggregate/Gravel	Provide drainage and stability	Allows for drainage	May shift over time	Base layer for artificial grass
Weed Membrane	Suppress weed growth	Prevents weed penetration	Can be punctured	Beneath crushed aggregate/gravel
Astro-Cushion	Cushioning layer	Provides impact absorption	Requires maintenance	Underneath artificial grass
Granite Dust	Fills in gaps between stones	Improves stability	Dust can be messy	Between artificial grass panels
Sub-base	Provides structural support	Distributes load	Requires proper compaction	Beneath crushed aggregate/gravel

Factors to Consider When Choosing Infill for Artificial Grass:

Factor	Silicon Sand	Rubber Infill	Durafill Sand
Drainage	Silica sand (good drainage) for low to moderate needs	Good drainage	Durafill sand (excellent drainage) for high drainage needs
Foot Traffic	Silica sand (low cost) for low-traffic areas	Rubber infill (softness, bounce) for moderate traffic (consider the heat in direct sunlight)	Durafill sand (durability, impact absorption) for high-traffic areas
Budget	Silica sand is the most affordable infill	Rubber infill is moderately priced	Durafill sand is a premium infill option