Installing Artificial Grass - DIY Guide
6 Step DIY Guide For Installing Artificial Grass
For the DIY kinda person, here’s the steps for everything you need to know to correctly install artificial grass. If you haven’t purchased your lawn yet, put your details in the quote form for a great price on Adelaides best quality artificial grass.
Step 1
Pre-Installation Recommendations and Check List
Underground hazards
On site check for any underground hazards is priority, our recommendation is to contact Dial B4 U- Dig for all service location plans, then engage a service locater for the mark up of where these services have been located less then 100mm below ground level. Insurance companies will void a claim if you have failed duty of care.
Prevent grass and weeds
Three weeks prior to site excavations apply 2x applications, 7 days apart of selected herbicide for prevention of grass roots and weeds.
Remove unwanted irrigation
Terminate any unwanted irrigation lines and sprinklers not required, turn on and check system for any uncapped or damaged lines that may pose a problem.
Plan out your drainage
Plan the installation of a drainage system if necessary, are strip drains or sumps required. As the contractor you are responsible for the efficient drainage, correct falls and safe discharge of all surface water, adhering to Australian Standards 3500.3:2018. This can also prevent the possible damage to the subbase and screed sand.
White ant treatment if necessary
Does the site require any white ant treatment, or is the contractor notifying the homeowner to commission a reputable termite company for an on-site inspection and or application of white ant treatment? Treatment is applied after excavation works has been completed, ensuring the site is compliant to Australian standards 3660.1:2014 and 3660.2:2017.
Slab edge waterproofing
Slab edge waterproofing treatment must be applied where the installation of the artificial turf abutting the exposed concrete slab dwelling, or tiled concrete slab, adhering to Australian Standard 2870-2011.
Step 2
Excavation Calculations
Depth
Calculate the depth of excavation that is required, e.g 100mm road base + 20mm dolomite screed sand + 25mm or 45mm depending on the selected synthetic turf.
Excavate
Excavate the site to your required depth, allowing for minimum of 75mm road base for pedestrian traffic, or 100mm OPC PM-21 road base for light vehicle traffic (such as front verge).
Additional weed prevention
You may also consider a layer of Geo-Textile Fabric under the road base to assist in weed prevention.
Step 3
OMC PM 21 Road Base
Spread and compact
Install the PM 21 road base and spread out evenly. OMC road base is recommended for a uniform moisture consistency. Compact via a vibrating plate.
Depth over 100mm?
Should rubble depths exceed 100mm in depth, then install and compact in every 100mm layers.
Spread dolomite sand
Install 20mm of dolomite sand, rake out, add a light amount of moisture content, then screed to obtain the desired falls and compact by vibrating plate.
Repeat screeding and compaction
The dolomite screed process is repeated several times until the final level and compaction has been achieved.
Step 4
Installation of the Artificial Turf, Joins and Pins
We recommend that after taking final measurements of space to allow an extra 50mm around the perimeter for final trimming, but most importantly ENSURE THE TURF FIBRES RUN IN ONE DIRECTION WHEN LAYING AND DO NOT TRIM THE EXCESS UNTIL ALL JOINS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
Match any seams
It is typical that during installation of the artificial turf there will be joins, therefore the matching of these seams is important, and the turf should be cut as close as possible to the grain, this will allow for a smooth and unobtrusive joint using our Turbo Tape or 300mm Geo-Fabric strip on high traffic areas with our synthetic grass adhesive (Installation and technical data sheet are provided).
Step 5
Pinning the Turf
Stretch the turf
It is important to stretch the turf as much as possible when pinning, to ensure there are no wrinkles. Be aware that different temperatures/ climates can make the turf more or less pliable (stretchable).
Use correct pins and spacing for edges
Next Generation recommends the installation of our 150 galvanized flat head pins to the outside perimeter of the turf at 300mm spacings and between 20mm and 40mm in the trimmed edges.
Spacing for rest of turf
To the remaining centre of the turf, our recommendation is to install 1 x 150 galvanised pins per m2 of artificial turf.
Avoid pinning the grass blades
Finally, to achieve a professional finish avoid trapping the blades of grass under the nail heads during installation.
Refer to all recorded data and photos showing cable and stormwater locations prior to any pin installation to avoid possible damage or injury to these services.
Step 6
Standing Up the Turf
Brush up the fibres
The final but crucial stage of the installation is to brush up the artificial turf fibres with a power broom brush, working against the grain.
Spread kiln dried sand
By using a mechanical seed/ fertilizer spreader, evenly distribute Next Generation kiln dried sand for every m2 of turf (see recommendation below).
Settle the sand
Power brush the entire site to distribute and settle in the sand. Inspect, repeat if necessary.
Sand m2 recommendations
- 12mm Sport Turf - 6kgs per m2
- 30mm Turf - 6kgs per m2
- 35mm Turf - 8kgs per m2
- 40mm Turf - 10kgs per m2
- 45mm Turf - 12kgs per m2
Bolster the edges
Finally, for a professional finish we recommend in bolstering down the turf approximately 25mm from the edges, then applying a light mist of water to the new turf, this will assist in compaction and settling the sand.
Clean up
Our Tip is to clean up and avoid leaving any residual 'left over sand’ this always looks unsightly and unprofessional.
Need Artificial Lawn?
Fill in your details for a great price on Adelaides best quality artificial grass
