Are you curious about whether you can successfully install artificial grass yourself?
More and more homeowners are opting to install artificial grass in their gardens, as it’s becoming a popular choice for a low-maintenance lawn.
We find they tend to be split into two camps; those who go to an installer or artificial grass specialist, and those who look into doing some garden DIY.
Some ask us whether you can indeed install artificial grass yourself, which is why I thought I’d put together this blog post. There’s a lot of factors to consider before you try it, otherwise it could be a huge waste of money.
Below, I’ve outlined how you can install artificial grass yourself, what’s involved, and the main factors to consider.
Can you really install artificial grass yourself?
The good news is that yes – you CAN install artificial grass yourself! I find a lot of homeowners who want to do this tend to want to save money. For the grass, they tend to source it from places such as Homebase or B&Q, although you should be aware that the grass sold here tends to be not as high quality as the kind you can get from an artificial grass specialist.
In fact, it can look quite a bit cheaper, so it’s worth comparing a few different ranges before you make your decision.
It’s also worth bearing in mind you’d have to carry out all of the same installation work an artificial grass specialist would do.
Let me explain…
What does installing artificial grass yourself involve?
Once you’ve chosen your grass, a typical artificial grass installation involves:
- A full dig-out of the existing area
- Installing a full new sub-base
- Adding a weed barrier
- Installing the artificial grass itself
- Gluing any joins (if applicable)
- Cutting the grass in to fit the space
- Securing the grass
- Brushing in the silica sand (Specialists use a mechanical power brush for this, which is expensive, but necessary for a professional finish)
It takes a lot of work to result in a good, finished fake lawn that lasts its full life expectancy. But, again, it’s completely your choice which route you want to go, how much you want to spend, and how long you want your grass to last.
Things to consider when installing artificial grass yourself
There are a few factors to consider that you may not have thought about when choosing to install artificial grass yourself. These are things you must get absolutely right, and include:
1. Levelling out the ground
You must carry out a full dig-out of existing area, taking ground down to required depth ready for the weed membrane and hard core base. The ground needs levelled out with a rake, but this doesn’t need to be perfect, as the Type 1 sub-base will level it out.
2. Ensuring the sub-base is correctly installed
You need to ensure you use enough sub-base, and that it’s installed correctly to be fully porous. The risk here is that if it’s not, your lawn won’t drain correctly, resulting in puddling and sinking in areas. Not great if you want your new lawn to truly last the distance!
3. Securing the joins
If your artificial lawn requires joins, these need to be secured properly. The risk here is that they could become a tripping hazard. In the past, we’ve had to fix an artificial lawn that had been joined together with tent pegs and as a result was unsafe to use.
4. Ensuring the grass runs the correct way
This is important if you want your artificial grass to look as natural as possible, and not out of place.
Advice from an artificial grass specialist
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when laying a new lawn. We’d only really advise people to do this themselves if they’ve had experience and previous knowledge of what is required – otherwise, it can be a big waste of money.
It may be cheaper to install yourself, as you’re cutting the costs of an installation, but you still need to buy all the materials for the sub-base, the grass itself, any edging required, and skips etc. Then, there’s the time it takes you to do all of this.
However, if not done correctly, paying someone to come and rectify it can also be very costly. That’s why it’s essential to do your research and buy all of the correct products needed for a successful finish. You may also want to check your artificial grass comes with a good guarantee.
Conclusion
So, now you know that you can install artificial grass yourself! However, I cannot stress enough that you shouldn’t do this unless you have the relevant knowledge and experience. At least do some careful research first, and ensure you have all of the right products and equipment before you begin!
Do you have any questions about whether you should install artificial grass yourself? Everyone’s situation is different, so if you want some advice, leave a comment below!
Or alternatively, get in touch with me directly. I’ll be happy to help!
