Are you considering installing artificial grass yourself, and want to know what to avoid?
If you like the idea of saving money by doing a lot of the work yourself, we’d definitely recommend doing your research first. After all, there are many factors to consider if you want your artificial grass to be installed successfully.
And getting it wrong could be a very costly mistake. If you don’t get it right, your new fake grass won’t last, and your installation may need to be rectified by a professional. In the end, it’s fair to say it could end up costing you more money than if you’d hired an artificial grass specialist in the first place!
That being said, there’s nothing to stop you installing artificial grass yourself. Just be aware of the amount of work that goes into a successful artificial grass installation, along with all the right tools you’ll need for the job.
As an experienced artificial grass specialist, let me explain more about these common mistakes below.
1. Not levelling out the ground
It’s important to properly excavate the existing area. You must do a full dig-out that takes the ground down to the required depth necessary for the weed membrane and hard core base.
Once the area has been dug out, you can then level out the ground with a rake. Remember, it’s not essential for this to look 100% perfect, as the Type 1 sub-base will be able to level it out.
2. Incorrect levels of sub-base
Always make sure you’re using the right amount of sub-base, and that it’s installed in a way that will easily drain water. If you don’t do this, there’s a good chance your lawn won’t drain correctly, in certain areas potentially leading to puddles and sinkage.
Which is never great if you want your new investment to keep looking good!
TIP: Even if you put the correct level of sub-base in, some parts can still dip and sink. This is something a professional installer can usually gage when installing your grass, and would come back and rectify free of charge.
3. Failing to secure the joins
If your artificial grass needs to be joined, you must ensure you secure these properly. Otherwise, they could pose a health and safety hazard that will only get worse over time. We’ve been called out to a job that had been initially secured with tent pegs, which meant it was incredibly unsafe and not fit for use!
4. Not checking the way the grass is running
Need your artificial grass to look as natural as possible? If so, it’s important to check the grass is all running the same way. Otherwise, it can easily look out-of-place and more obviously fake. This is something an artificial grass specialist or installer will know, but it may not necessarily be something all homeowners will think of.
5. Forgetting to add the finishing touches
It’s important to pay a bit of attention to detail to make your grass look as good as possible. Not cutting fake grass in correctly, for instance, can leave your grass looking rough and unfinished. This may cause the edges to fray. The end result? A tripping hazard.
Also, check you have adequate edging. Whether it’s timber edging, or existing edging, this will ensure your grass lasts the distance.
Advice from an artificial grass specialist
It’s important to do your research when buying the right artificial grass for your garden. There are plenty of blogs out there that can help, and show you the process involved. Ask yourself if you have the man power and time to carry out a full dig of your garden, buy all the correct materials, install the sub-base correctly, buy or hire certain tools etc. –
It takes quite a bit of work! Is it really going to be worth it? You also need to choose a fake grass that suits what you’re looking to use it for, as there are so many different types on the market. Whether it be a really soft area for kids to play on and relax, or for heavier sports, older kids playing football with friends. Choosing the right grass will make all the difference.
It should also look as natural as possible (it may include some dead grass infill for example), and have suitable drainage. Most good quality artificial grass products should be fully porous, but if you’re going for cheaper options, you may not always get the correct lifespan from the grass if it’s not as good quality. It also won’t perform as well or look as good.
Saving money in the short-term may cost you more in the long-term.
And don’t forget the finishing touches! These are things that a professional artificial grass installer or specialist will know to do to ensure you get the full lifespan from your grass – but if you’ve got no experience, you won’t necessarily know to do them yourself.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful when thinking of installing artificial grass yourself. It can be very labour-intensive work, and costly if you don’t have the necessary tools to hand! That’s why when most of our customers realise the work involved, they hire us instead.
That’s not to say you can’t do it yourself – just be aware not to make any of the common mistakes above!
Do you have any questions about any of the errors mentioned above? Let me know in the comments’ section. I’d love to hear from you!