How to Install a Synthetic Grass Lawn

Installing a synthetic grass lawn and making it look good just requires following a few simple steps. Following these steps will ensure a clean, professional looking installation. All it takes is a little hard work and attention to detail.

Steps

1.Remove the existing grass (or weeds, as the case may be). You can use a sod cutter for this task. A sod cutter can be rented from your local tool rental company or home good store. The advantages of a sod cutter are: they cut evenly across the lawn, they are much less destructive to existing water lines and irrigation and if you have grass you can roll it up and dispose of it which saves time.

2. Excavate to an average depth of at least two inches. While you can get away with less, you won't get as good drainage which can be especially important if your turf will be coming in contact with pets and their associated byproducts (ie. urine and feces).

3.Install a bendaboard border along the perimeter of your installation, if desired.The advantages to using bendaboard are that your turf will definitely not come up and cannot be pulled up by dogs. Alternatively you can use 60d six inch nails every 4 inches (10.2 cm) on the perimeter.

• If you elect to use a bendaboard border, be sure to use a composite board material that will not corrode. Wood won't suffice.
• Dig a slight trench along the border approximately six inches deep using a "mud gun" (layman's term for a small jackhammer with a shovel bit - can be rented) or a trenching pick and trenching shovel.
• Put the bendaboard in the trench so the top of the bendaboard is approximately one inch to 3/4" below the finished surface - for example, if the turf lawn has a cement slab next to it, the bendaboard border should be about one inch below the slab height.
• Stake the board to the ground so it is secure and backfill with gravel or the dirt that was excavated and compact thoroughly.

4. Cap any existing irrigation heads. Alternatively you can reconfigure them to "spritz" the turf and keep the irrigation system. This works well for really hot days to cool the turf or for pet owners who want to wash the turf down automatically.

5. Add gravel. Quarter inch self compacting gravel is recommended. Large gravel - half inch or above - will make getting a nice grade very difficult. Add gravel so it comes about a quarter inch above the bendaboard and is higher in the middle. If your area is a 20' by 20' square, it's best to make the middle of your install one inch higher than the edges. This will create a nice "mound" look. Flat synthetic turf installs have a tendency to look fake!

• One cubic yard of gravel will cover 300 square feet one inch thick. Also, one cubic yard will weigh about 2000lbs.