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Shockpad Artificial Grass Underlay for Enhanced Lawn Support and Comfort
£43.99
Out of stock
SKU
AC08
Artificial Grass Shockpad Installation Guide (Detailed)
Installing artificial grass with a shockpad provides extra cushioning, making it ideal for play areas, schools, nurseries, or gardens where safety and comfort are priorities. Follow this step-by-step guide for a professional finish.
✅ Tools & Materials Required
- Shockpad underlay (rolls or interlocking tiles)
- Artificial grass
- Sub-base material (MOT Type 1, granite dust, or sharp sand)
- Compactor / vibrating plate
- Utility knife
- Joining tape & outdoor adhesive
- Landscaping pins or U-pins
- Measuring tape
- Spirit level
- Weed control membrane
- Broom or mechanical brush
- Wheelbarrow, shovel, rake
Step-by-Step Installation Process
Step 1: Planning & Measuring
- Measure the entire area where you’ll be installing artificial grass.
- Plan for drainage – artificial grass and shockpads need proper water runoff.
- Order materials, allowing for overlap and trimming. Include 5–10% extra shockpad and grass for cutting wastage.
Step 2: Excavate the Area
- Remove any existing grass, topsoil, rocks, or debris.
- Excavate to a depth of approx. 75–100mm to allow space for the sub-base, shockpad, and artificial grass.
- Ensure the ground is slightly sloped (1–2%) to aid water drainage.
Step 3: Install Weed Membrane
- Roll out a high-quality weed membrane across the surface.
- Overlap the edges by 100mm and secure with landscaping pins.
- This prevents weeds from growing through the drainage holes in the grass later.
Step 4: Lay and Compact the Sub-Base
- Fill the area with 50–75mm of MOT Type 1 (or compacted crushed stone).
- Rake level and compact it using a vibrating plate or roller.
- Top with 15–25mm of sharp sand or granite dust and level again.
- Ensure the surface is smooth, level, and well-compacted with no dips or bumps.
Step 5: Install the Shockpad Underlay
- Unroll the shockpad (or lay tiles) over the entire area.
- Allow the shockpad to settle for 1–2 hours if it arrives rolled or curled.
- Cut to shape using a utility knife – ensure a snug fit around edges, curves, or obstacles.
- Butt joints tightly – do not leave gaps between sections.
Step 6: Join and Secure Shockpad
- Use shockpad joining tape and outdoor adhesive to bond all seams.
- Apply adhesive evenly, press down firmly, and allow it to dry.
- For extra security, you may pin the pad edges with U-pins if needed.
Step 7: Lay the Artificial Grass
- Roll out the artificial grass over the shockpad.
- Make sure the pile direction faces the most viewed angle (e.g., toward the house).
- Let the grass rest for 2–3 hours to flatten out any creases.
Step 8: Trim and Join Grass Sections
- Trim edges with a sharp utility knife to fit your area perfectly.
- For multiple rolls, align the pile direction and cut along the backing stitch for a clean join.
- Apply joining tape and adhesive under seams, press together firmly, and let cure.
Step 9: Secure the Grass
- Fix the perimeter using landscaping pins or U-pins every 30–50cm.
- Avoid pinning through visible areas—lift the pile and hide pins in the backing.
- Brush the pile upward with a stiff broom to lift the fibers and blend joins.
Step 10: Final Touches
- Check for any loose areas and secure them.
- Brush again for a natural look.
- If infill is required (e.g., silica sand), spread evenly and brush in.
Additional Tips
- Always install on a dry day for best adhesive bonding.
- A 25mm+ shockpad is ideal for children’s play areas where fall protection is needed (check for fall height compliance if used in playgrounds).
- Good drainage is critical — ensure no pooling by checking levels during the base prep.
- Regular brushing will maintain the upright pile and appearance.
INSTALLING ON EXISTING GRASS OR SOIL TYPE OF FLOOR WITH AN EXISTING CONTAINMENT BOUNDRY (WALL OR RAISED LEVEL/FENCE ETC.)
Ground Preparation :
To start installing artificial grass you first need to prepare the area chosen.
- The first step is to decide on the desired height of the finished lawn, taking into consideration that around 100mm will be removed from the existing ground to bring your new artificial lawn up to the same height as your previous ground level.
- Once you have decided on the height of your new lawn the next step is to remove the existing lawn or top soil to a depth of around 100mm, more or less can be removed at his stage to alter the final height of the finished lawn. The surface must then be compacted, it may help to hire a whacker plate/compactor to help with this task. You may apply weed suppressing chemicals at this stage.
- Fill the compacted area with a good quality fine aggregate, (25mm-75mm) level and compact again
- Once the area has been compacted with aggregate, install sharp sand to a depth of 15-20mm. Level and compact once again.
- Cover the area with a geotex material weed membrane to discourage weed growth. Stretch out taught and secure with (minimum 15cm) galvanised pegs or ground nails every 0.75m.
- Unroll the artificial grass and ensure it is flat without any ripples with a minimum of 50mm excess around the perimeter. If possible it is advisable you run the pile pointing towards the property (i.e. looking into the pile), this will give your new lawn the most natural look when viewed from the property.
- Trim the grass using a sharp knife to fit, cutting from underneath. Trim back gradually until the required size is achieved
- Secure the grass in place using (minimum) 15cm galvanised pegs or ground nails every 0.75m
- When fully fixed the whole area should be sand dressed with a high quality kiln dry sand. This needs to be brushed into the grass, the sand helps to hold the grass in position as well as maintaining the pile upright. If this option is used simply apply the sand evenly over the grass and working against the pile brush in.
INSTALLING ON EXISTING GRASS OR SOIL TYPE OF FLOOR WHERE THERE IS NO EXISTING CONTAINMENT BOUNDRY .
Ground Preparation :
To start installing artificial grass you first need to prepare the area chosen.
- The first step is to decide on the desired height of the finished lawn, taking into consideration that around 100mm will be removed from the existing ground to bring your new artificial lawn up to the same height as your previous ground level.
- Once you have decided on the height of your new lawn the next step is to remove the existing lawn or top soil to a depth of around 100mm, more or less can be removed at his stage to alter the final height of the finished lawn. The surface must then be compacted, it may help to hire a whacker plate/compactor to help with this task. You may apply weed suppressing chemicals at this stage.
- Batten out the perimeter of the area to be covered with pressure-treated (tanalised) timber to create a frame. Fix the frame to the ground using wooden pegs around 1-foot-long (the size of pegs needed may vary depending on the ground conditions). The purpose of the frame is two-fold as not only does it contain the aggregate but it also provides a secure frame onto which the grass can be fixed using galvanised screws
- Fill the compacted area with a good quality fine aggregate, (25mm-75mm) level and compact again.
- Once the area has been compacted with aggregate install sharp sand to the height of the timber frame, levelling and compacting ensuring that the finished height is level with the timber frame.
- Cover the area with a geotex material weed membrane to discourage weed growth. Stretch out taught and secure with (minimum 15cm) galvanised pegs or ground nails every 0.75m.
- Unroll the artificial grass and ensure it is flat without any ripples with a minimum of 50mm excess around the perimeter. If possible it is advisable you run the pile pointing towards the property (i.e. looking into the pile), this will give your new lawn the most natural look when viewed from the property.
- Trim the grass using a sharp knife to fit, cutting from underneath. Trim back gradually until the required size is achieved.
- Secure the grass to the timber frame using galvanised screws.
- When fully fixed the whole area should be sand dressed with a high quality kiln dry sand. This needs to be brushed into the grass, the sand helps to hold the grass in position as well as maintaining the pile upright. If this option is used simply apply the sand evenly over the grass and working against the pile brush in.
FIXING OVER DECKING OR FLAGGED AREAS
To start installing artificial grass over decking or flagged areas you first need to prepare the area chosen.
- The area should be reasonably smooth and free from dust. It is advisable to use decking underlay over decking and flagged areas, particularly where there is a wide gap between the decking planks or flags, the underlay will prevent the grass sinking into the grooves. This will also add to the underfoot comfort factor when laying grass directly onto a hard surface. As with all of our grasses, the decking underlay has holes in it to allow free water drainage. If the surface has a slight incline this will help disperse rain water, if there is no incline it's recommended that a few drainage holes are made in the surface
- To secure artificial grass to flag stones;
- You can either do a full stick down by covering the whole of the grass backing with adhesive before sticking or alternatively, simply apply a line of glue around the edges of the grass.
- If fully glued down, we recommend the surface be fully rolled with a weighted carpet roller or similar tool periodically for an hour for good adhesion. Leave the adhesive to dry for 12 hours before you make use of the new surface.
- To secure artificial grass to decking we recommend that staples are used, this will allow the grass to be removed at any time with minimum damage to the decking
JOINING ARTIFICIAL GRASS TOGETHER
Where you have a requirement to join two pieces of grass, the join should be made before fixing to the frame pinning to the ground. You need to ensure that the pile on both pieces runs in the same direction, if not the end result will look like two completely different pieces of grass.
How to join
- Lay both pieces of grass out so the edges to be joined are lined up accurately and you can see how the grass will look when joined. Adjust the pieces to get the best fit possible. If necessary, trim back any excess backing so that the closest fit is achieved. Then roll back each piece to leave a gap in the middle between the 2 pieces of grass.
- Place the joining tape between the two pieces of grass and apply a zig-zag line of adhesive to the whole of the joining tape.
- Fold back both pieces of grass over the joining tape and press firmly on the join ensuring that both edges are stuck down firmly – taking care not to get glue on the pile
- On larger joins work in small sections (approx. 2m to 3m) and follow the same instructions as above
FREE DELIVERY on all orders above £299 within the UK Mainland.
We offer Standard Delivery on all orders within the UK Mainland at the rate of £14.99. If you live outside of the UK Mainland the delivery charges and time may vary based on your location(calculated on checkout). We aim to deliver the ordered goods within 1 to 3 working days. If for some reason we were unable to deliver the desired product within the stated time period, we will then contact you via email or telephone to update you on the delivery status. We offer a 30-day peace-of-mind return policy on any product brought from us. If you aren't completely satisfied with any product you have purchased from us, please contact us within 30 days of your original purchase date and our customer service team will guide you through the return process.
If you are unsure about any of our products or just have a general interest in the quality of the turf. You can order a set of feeler samples from our website. We will send you a variety of different turf samples carefully selected from our range of high-quality artificial grass.
