How to Lay Artificial Grass Yourself

When you are looking to install artificial grass indoors or throughout your garden, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This is why we created this comprehensive how-to guide, to help all of those weekend warriors out there looking to DIY it up. With the help of our grid space project planner, you’ll find it easy to purchase the correct amount of grass, necessary tools, and more, with the least amount of waste possible. Our detailed instructions will help you along the way, and you’ll soon find yourself laying artificial grass like a pro – so let’s get started!

For those of you who aren’t quite as intrigued by do-it-yourself projects, our team of artificial grass installers provide top notch artificial grass installation throughout the UK. Our professionals provide services to most of the northwest areas, to better serve homeowners and business owners alike. Whether your home garden needs a spruce, or you’d like to create a more professional atmosphere at the office, you can bet our team members are up to the task. Additionally, for individuals outside of our service area, our detailed guide will provide the necessary direction.

Before you roll your sleeves up and get started, please feel free to request a sample of artificial grass, price quote, and more. With a simple phone call, we can discuss your space, needs, and budget, as well as the type of artificial grass for your project. Our team is ready to guide you through the process, with tips on choosing the best product, making a purchase, all the way up to installation.

Using a Project Planner for Your Space

A project planner can be an extremely helpful tool, providing an area to sketch your outdoor or indoor space. This type of planner assists by calculating the appropriate amount of artificial grass for your project, in order to prevent unnecessary waste through reduced cut-offs, etc. Because one project is not the same as the next, we strive to understand the entire scope of your project before we even begin. In most cases, this enables us to better serve our customers, and provide a satisfactory installation. How can you get started, what is necessary?

Roll of Artificial Grass
Geotextile Membrane
Adhesive Joint Tape
Tubes of Adhesive

Begin by measuring your garden before plotting the dimensions onto the project planner’s blank grid (found on the second sheet). It is set to scale to 1 metre/square, however, you may adjust scaling to suit your needs. Individual rolls of artificial grass are produced in 2m or 4m widths, up to a 25 metre lengths. Accurate plotting means overall waste reduction, which means it’s always best to measure more than once to ensure your numbers are correct. Remember, in order to get the most use out of your new artificial turf, it’s of vital importance to adhere to the appropriate steps.

Remember, when considering potential artificial turf layouts, you must keep the fibre pile facing in the same direction. This provides a high quality, professional finish, regardless of it was a DIY installation. This installation method also produces a more realistic appearance, especially in terms of outdoor gardens. After you have configured the best layout for your space, you can add up joins and total required lengths. The necessary amount of jointing tape is determined by the length of join between sections, so you can calculate it this way, as well as required adhesive. Since 3 metres of tape requires one tube of adhesive, it’s easy to determine how much is needed.

A Complete DIY Guide to Installing Artificial Grass

When it comes to laying artificial grass in your residential garden or outdoor commercial space, utilizing the correct practices will go great lengths in producing the desired result. Essentially, for anyone looking to avoid an installation service, there are nine steps you must be careful to observe when you choose to install artificial turf DIY style. The correct completion of each of these steps further ensures optimal results, in addition to overall longevity.

The Preparation

Measuring out your installation area is the first step in planning out your project, especially in terms of the necessary amount of materials. By measuring more than once, and calculating the length of artificial turf required, etc., you will cut down on excess, as well as waste, while also spending less. In regard to measuring your work area, although you can’t go wrong by utilizing a regular tape measure, there are also a variety of phone apps capable of measuring distances. Again, we cannot stress the importance of measuring spaces more than once, if only to ensure accurate numbers. This helps you to catch possible mistakes before you order or begin cutting.

Lawn Removal

An important step in preparing a garden for the installation of artificial grass, is the removal of a pre-existing lawn. Although removal plays an essential role, it can be one of the most physically demanding steps of all. Removal also requires a collection of specific tools, which drives weekend warriors to depend on spades and wheelbarrows as an alternative. The biggest tip we can impart, however, would be to water the sod a few days before removal, which goes great lengths in preventing a big, dirty mess. On the other hand, you must also be careful not to overwater, which creates a soupy, muddy mess that will be difficult to dig up.

If a spade is your tool of choice, it’s best to cut the sod into small squares around 10” wide by 10” long by 2” deep. This allows DIYers to remove large amounts of the roots, depending on the depth and type of grass in your garden, with a square that is easily lifted away once the spade is slid underneath. Sometimes, this process may require separating the roots and sod into two layers for removal, which is exactly the reason this is the most physically demanding task. If you find yourself feeling tired quite easily, take plenty of breaks and drink lots of water – especially if you’re in direct sunlight.

For those of you looking to put your sod to use after removal, you may consider sharing it with friends or family, or even posting it for sale locally. Strips of sod are easily rolled up for transportation or even storage. For the best, tightest roll, you will need to remove any existing clods of soil from the roots, providing the ability of stacking flat grass sections.

Putting Down a Base Layer of Granite Dust

It is highly recommended to lay a base layer of crushed granite dust, before laying artificial grass, in order to ensure even distribution, and binding of the subbase’s top. We prefer to utilize a unique blend of granite aggregate, which is comprised of stone and dust. You can purchase this product through building merchants, although sand can be another viable option for those of you who do not have dogs. With ruler in hand, measure for a depth of 50mm approximately. It’s best to measure the patch’s depth before adding granite dust, if only to ensure there is appropriate space available. This will prevent you from wasting an entire weekend, and creating a pit of dust.

While it’s best to utilize a tamper, you will need a tool that enables you to flatten out a layer of sand. A plank of wood will work, but it can lengthen the time required for the job. This is why our team of professional installers are prepared to get the job done right the first time. By utilizing the appropriate tools, artificial turf installers are well equipped to put artificial grass in right, the first time.

Utilising Geotextile Membrane

The use of a geotextile membrane isn’t strictly necessary for the correct installation of artificial grass, however it has it’s pros. A weed membrane serves to prevent unsightly weed growth from beneath your artificial turf, and sits beneath your artificial grass. This isn’t a difficult process, and requires zero additional jointing material. When installing geotextile membrane, you simply unroll a sheet of said membrane across a subbase. It is, however, important to ensure it is laid evenly, to prevent the creation of an uneven surface. You’ll want your artificial grass to be even and smooth once it’s installed, which is where an even layer of membrane comes in handy.

A high quality membrane prevents the growth of weeds, and is easily purchased online. After the membrane is cut to the desired shape, and installed, you can easily affix the geotextile membrane through the use of small nails. This holds it in place, and prevents it from moving around once the artificial grass is unrolled over top. To allow for water run off, take care to ensure the border of the membrane does not sit higher than the artificial grass. This is especially important for fit and installation, if you decide to add a border to your garden.

Installing the Artificial Grass

If you have reached this point in your project, give yourself a round of applause. By this stage, due to the need of extensive planning, you would have achieved the most difficult portions of the installation. From here on out, it’s important not to rush the process, in order to produce the most professional smooth finish.

Lay your artificial grass out by utilizing the planner for minimized cuts. In areas where you’re joining two or more pieces, you’ll need to ensure the pile runs in the same direction, and that they all fit well together. Once it’s in, allow creases to fall out by allowing artificial turf to sit untouched for a minimum of 24 hours. Stretch it out along the edges to create a flat surface, before anchoring it to the edge with pins.

At this point, take the time to assess the area, and cut the grass as needed. A simply Stanley knife will serve as the perfect tool for a tailored fit to your garden. Again, it’s important to measure everything twice, especially before making any cuts. You don’t want to run the risk of cutting away too much, and having to replace pieces. Taking time to make sure everything is done properly, will go great lengths in creating a seamless look. When making the final joins especially, hastiness could cause irreversible damage.

Creating Smooth Joins

Ensuring your joins each have piles running the same direction will provide a seamless look once the installation is complete, and also makes the process more simple. There are a few ways to secure joins, while also guaranteeing a smooth appearance. Here are a few more steps that will help with your task of joining artificial turf:

If present, cut the manufacturing edge strip off, or remove another stitch to ensure there’s very little backing to the next stitch as possible, before butting edges together.
Fold edges back, and position the jointing tape with the smooth side down. This allows the turf’s edges to meet straight down the middle when joined with tape. More often than not, it’s easy to affix tape with a nail to prevent sliding.
One cartridge of adhesive provides three metres of application. Simply apply adhesive to the rough side of the tape with a zig-zag motion.
Work your way down from one end to another, by folding the carpet back into the wet adhesive. You will make this task a lot easier if you have an extra pair of hands, so call on friends or neighbours to see if they’re willing to help. A helper can prevent artificial turf from folding into the glue improperly.
It’s important to maintain contact on seams until glue has cured. Because of this, people often weigh down seams for better hold. The more time you’re willing to put into this step, along with the aforementioned steps, will produce neat, less visible joins.

Using and Dispersing Filler Sand

Kiln sand should be spread evenly across the artificial lawn once you have affixed joins. This builds depth through layers, through the use of a stiff-bristled brush, and a gentle brushing motion. However, pay attention to how you apply your sand, avoiding total application at one time. Pay close attention to the weather as well, as sand is more difficult to brush effectively once it’s damp. This also affects the final look if brushed when wet, so it’s best to wait for better weather.

Once you are done applying an even layer of sand, brush the sand into your artificial grass with a firm, vigorous stroke. Additionally, brushing against the pile direction will encourage fibres to stand upright, similar to natural grass tufts.