I was recently invited by a concerned resident to inspect a newly completed artificial turf installation around the pool area of a residential complex.
Unfortunately, what I saw demonstrated something I have encountered many times during more than 45 years in the synthetic surfacing industry: a successful artificial turf project depends on far more than simply buying some turf and laying it on the ground.
The installation appeared to use a short-pile, plain-coloured domestic turf that was not well suited to the location or the visual result the residents expected. There were also issues with the finishing, including loosely fitted sections, roughly cut and overlapping joins, visible fixing points, poorly trimmed edges and areas that appeared incomplete.
The end result looked unnatural and, more importantly, did not reflect the standard you would expect from a professionally specified and installed synthetic surface.
Before
After
The Right Turf Starts With the Application
One of the biggest mistakes people make when purchasing artificial turf is selecting a product based primarily on price or appearance.
Not every synthetic turf performs the same way in every environment.
Before selecting a product, consideration should be given to:
- Where the turf will be installed
- How the area will be used
- Expected foot traffic
- Exposure to sun, shade and weather
- Drainage and the existing base
- Required appearance and pile characteristics
- Edge treatment and adjoining surfaces
- Installation method
- Ongoing maintenance
- Expected service life
A pool surround, playground, residential lawn, commercial landscape or sporting surface can each require a very different product and installation approach.
The objective should always be to select the right surface for the job — not simply the cheapest or most readily available turf.
Installation Quality Matters Just as Much as the Turf
Even a premium synthetic turf product can produce a poor result when it is incorrectly installed.
Joins should be planned and finished carefully. Edges should be properly trimmed and secured. The base needs to be appropriate for the application, and the finished surface should appear consistent and professionally integrated with the surrounding area.
You would not normally engage an inexperienced handyman to install premium carpet, vinyl, hybrid flooring, tiles or paving and expect a professional result.
Artificial turf should be treated with the same level of care.
The product, preparation and installation all work together as a complete surfacing system.
Experience Can Prevent Expensive Mistakes
Over more than four decades working across synthetic turf, sports surfaces, playgrounds and landscape applications, I have inspected many projects where the problem could have been avoided before installation began and been asked to repair or rectify the problem.
In many cases, the surface itself is not the real problem. The failure started earlier – with the wrong product selection, inadequate preparation, an unsuitable specification or an inexperienced installation approach.
That is why professional advice at the beginning of a project can be far more valuable than trying to repair a poor result afterwards.
Buyer Beware: Ask the Right Questions
Before committing to an artificial turf project, ask your supplier or installer:
- Why is this particular turf suitable for my application?
- What preparation does the site require?
- How will joins and edges be finished?
- How will drainage be managed?
- Who will actually carry out the installation?
- What experience do they have with similar projects?
- What warranty applies to both the product and the installation?
A reputable synthetic surfacing specialist should be able to explain not only what product they recommend, but why it is appropriate for the application.
After 45+ years in the industry, one lesson continues to prove itself:
Get the surface and specification right at the start, and you are far more likely to get the right result at the end.
Mark Waterford
Director
Superlawn International Pty Ltd
