Artificial Turf Buyer's Guide

Simply put, artificial turf is synthetic grass. It’s made of artificial materials, but designed to look and feel like real grass. It requires far less maintenance, never needs watering, and can withstand almost constant use.

Artificial grass was first introduced in the 1960s, when it was used in Houston’s Astrodome, and became widely popular in the 1970s for indoor and outdoor baseball and football fields because of the ease of maintenance. There was some backlash in the 80s and 90s among players and spectators because the rough texture of turf posed a greater risk of injuries, but the technology has vastly improved since then.

Modern artificial turf is nearly indistinguishable from natural grass in appearance and texture. It has a sand or rubber infill that acts as a cushion, making it as safe to play on as real grass and boosting its popularity once again. Professional sports teams remain major customers for artificial turf dealers, but a host of smaller-scale commercial uses have emerged.

Schools and city or town recreation departments are increasingly turning to artificial turf for playing fields in a variety of sports – from football to soccer or field hockey. Some have waged public campaigns to drum up local support for the cost of installation by creating Web sites that explain the benefits of modern turf to players and the environment.

Artificial turf is popular for commercial landscaping – it is used for golf courses, zoos and outdoor shopping centers. It’s also ideal for school playgrounds, daycare facilities or other high-traffic areas where natural grass is tough to maintain.

Advantages of artificial turf

One of the greatest benefits of artificial turf is that it requires very little maintenance when compared to natural grass. There’s never a need for mowing, watering, weeding, or reseeding. Particularly for school or parks departments that have to maintain multiple fields, this saves thousands of dollars each year on water bills, fuel costs, and employee hours.

Artificial turf holds up to wear and tear far better than natural grass. It doesn’t need to “rest” between uses – making it possible to schedule back-to-back games on the same field – and can be used year round. It’s even possible to play on an artificial turf field in heavy rain thanks to a porous bottom layer that allows the turf to drain. Playgrounds with artificial turf can stand up to years and years of daily use.

Other benefits of artificial turf include:

• It always looks perfectly manicured – no bare or brown spots
• No grass stains on clothes or skin
• It’s environmentally friendly – conserves water and eliminates the need for pesticides
• No cancelled games due to mud or frozen ground

However, artificial turf does have its disadvantages. It tends to get hotter than natural grass and materials on the surface don’t break down as easily – making it necessary to disinfect the surface from time to time. Despite the advances in technology, less expensive types of artificial turf still may not have as much give as grass.

Materials, maintenance, and life expectancy

Artificial turf is constructed in much the same way as the carpet in your home. There are two major components – fibers and backing. The fibers, or “blades,” are made up of tough nylon or a material called polypropylene, while the backing is typically plastic or polyester.

Generally, artificial turf lasts beyond 20 years with proper upkeep, but potentially up to 30 years. Many dealers offer warranties of 8 years or more. Most varieties of turf have a coating to protect against UV rays and prevent fading.

Although maintenance is minimal, it is important to “freshen” the turf and remove debris from time to time using a leaf blower, rake or brush. To clean up animal waste, simply pick it up and rinse off the turf, allowing the water to drain.

Cost of artificial turf

There’s a significant upfront investment required to install artificial turf. However, much of that cost will eventually be recouped through savings on maintenance, watering and landscaping.

The turf itself, without factoring in installation costs, typically runs between $2 and $6 per square foot. If you’re going to do the job yourself, factor in another $2 or $3 per square foot for other materials. The turf is typically sold in rolls that are 15 feet wide and 60 to 100 square feet long – totaling up to 1,500 square feet and weighing hundreds of pounds.

Professional installation runs about $8 to $20 per square foot, but the price is heavily influenced by variable factors such as how much preparation the site needs and local fuel and labor prices. A dealer or contractor will likely have to visit your site before giving you an exact price for the project.

At a median price of $14 per square foot for professional installation, a 600-square-foot playground would cost $8,400. A professional football field, at 57,600 square feet, would run more than $800,000. Obviously, most commercial projects will fall somewhere in between these extremes.

Installation

Proper installation is crucial if you want a level playing field with a long lifespan. Before artificial turf can be installed outdoors, the site needs to be leveled and configured for proper drainage. A contractor that meticulously prepares a site and takes the time and care to properly install the turf may charge more – but the extra cost is well worth it.

In most cases, an outdoor surface or playing field needs to be leveled with a bulldozer and then smoothed with a steamroller before turf can be laid down.

Once installed, most turf is “filled” with a rubber of sand that helps support the fiber blades. The fill is poured on top of the blades and raked down between the fibers. This is the modern advancement that makes artificial turf feel more like natural grass and prevents player injuries. It’s a necessary step for most uses – particularly playing fields – but can sometimes be skipped if the turf is only for show.

Tips for buyers

• Be wary of quality – there’s a big difference between outdoor carpet and artificial turf. Just because the turf is green and looks like grass doesn’t mean it’s safe for playing sports or will hold up to years of high traffic.
• Ask dealers what materials they use to make the blades – nylon and polypropylene are the most durable – and whether they use an infill for cushioning. Make sure the turf comes with a warranty of at least 8 years.
• Define your needs ahead of time. What types of sports will be played on the field? Does the field need to accommodate multiple sports? These questions are crucial to help you decide how large the field should be and how much or what type of infill should be used. A field with too little infill, for example, may not be suitable for football or other rough sports.
• Set a budget ahead of time. Figure out how much you want to spend and stick to it. Don’t forget to factor in maintenance costs, no matter how minimal they are with artificial turf. Someone will have to be paid to clean and rake the field.