Artificial grass

mushtafa · 22 Apr 2016 at 21:29

I plan on replacing my lawn with artificial grass.

My original plan was to use grass from expressgrass.com which doesn't need sand brushed in on top. http://www.expressgrass.com/ashton-elite-artificial-grass.html

I've now got some samples from grass-direct.co.uk, and that requires the sand on top. http://www.grass-direct.co.uk/california-artificial-grass.html

I originally thought the lack of sand was a good thing. I had visions of it being walked into the house, or picked up by the wind. But from my little reading, it seems the sand could make the grass last longer, and look better, and won't be picked up. It also helps to keep the grass flat.

Can anyone chime in and shed any light on this?

R.O.S.S.I · 23 Apr 2016 at 12:05

Im in the same situation as you. I've ordered samples of both and even though Grass Direct says it needs sand infill, i've spoke to many fitters (had about 6 people round to quote) who have all said as long as you use a good quality, heavy, grass it doesnt need sand infill.

All of them have said sand infill was something that was needed when fake grasses first came out as they werent as thick and dense as thhey are now.

Look for something that is over 2200g/sqm in weight and you should be good to go.

I'm just going checking out the B&M stuff today but have been impressed with the samples ive got from Grass Direct, they have some great lines in the sub £20sqm range.

If you can, try and find a Grono supplier near you. I had a fitter round with some of their samples and its really good quality. Bit pricier than others (starts at around £20 sqm) but definitely a very good quality, and heavy turf!

Whatever grass i get im going to make sure its a heavy one and won't be bothering with the sand infill.

mushtafa · 23 Apr 2016 at 21:01

Thanks for the input.

I had a search for Grono, the only supplier near me is Jewson - they don't give prices online.
I'm doing all the work myself, so have decided not to get anyone in to price it up. It's hard to know whether they'll just say what I want to hear to get a sale.

I think we've decided on the Ashton Elite grass from Express Grass now; http://www.expressgrass.com/ashton-elite-artificial-grass.html

2.2kg per m2, 10 years warranty, 29mm pile and doesn't require sand on top.

R.O.S.S.I · 23 Apr 2016 at 22:02

I've looked at pretty much everything sub-£20 psqm and have settled on one from B&M of all places.

If you've got one of their Garden Centres near you do go and check them out. The quality is leagues above what I've seen from Express Grass and Grass Direct, in particular the Clumber. It is 35mm pile, very thick and dense and has a W shape yarn which is excellent for bounce back. It is a tad more expensive at £20 psqm but worth it IMO. Not seen anything for that price that comes close in quality.

Lol I sound like a right sales man But I've literally just made my mind up today. If you don't have a B&M GARDEN store near you just Google Clumber grass, there's quite a few stockists online if you need a sample but some are quite a bit dearer than B&M.

Chief Wiggum · 23 Apr 2016 at 23:18

We have lazy lawn here, it's been down for almost a year and still looks great (needs a brush off though!). They used kiln sand on it when they put it in, no adverse effects, you can't tell it's there but apparently it helps with the weight and anti-theft.

We have he shorter of the two wonder yarns, the longer one looked like it needed a cut, but I was 50/50 and I wonder how it would look on a large install, ours is 54sqm.

mushtafa · 24 Apr 2016 at 09:16

R.O.S.S.I said:
I've looked at pretty much everything sub-£20 psqm and have settled on one from B&M of all places.

If you've got one of their Garden Centres near you do go and check them out. The quality is leagues above what I've seen from Express Grass and Grass Direct, in particular the Clumber. It is 35mm pile, very thick and dense and has a W shape yarn which is excellent for bounce back. It is a tad more expensive at £20 psqm but worth it IMO. Not seen anything for that price that comes close in quality.

Lol I sound like a right sales man But I've literally just made my mind up today. If you don't have a B&M GARDEN store near you just Google Clumber grass, there's quite a few stockists online if you need a sample but some are quite a bit dearer than B&M.

I found the Clumber grass on B&M website, but it doesn't really give any information on it. It doesn't give the weight, or state whether it requires sand or not. How long is the warranty on it? Do you have any extra info? Our local store is very small, and never seen artificial grass in there.

I think 35mm pile sounds too long. I'll look through my other samples and have a look later.

Chief Wiggum said:
We have lazy lawn here, it's been down for almost a year and still looks great (needs a brush off though!). They used kiln sand on it when they put it in, no adverse effects, you can't tell it's there but apparently it helps with the weight and anti-theft.

We have he shorter of the two wonder yarns, the longer one looked like it needed a cut, but I was 50/50 and I wonder how it would look on a large install, ours is 54sqm.

Does the sand ever come to the surface? Is it disturbed by strong winds? If I was to wash it with the pressure washer, surely it'll blow the sand out? - Have you tried that?

Chief Wiggum · 24 Apr 2016 at 10:51

Initially when it was first new we had some come to the surface with static, but none since. It's definitely still there though and not blown away! I was initially worried about it in the same way you are, but it seems fine. I have a three year old and when she's been out on it, even after rain there isn't a trace of sand on her. You wouldn't notice it was there unless you looked for it, it's not like play sand or anything like that (though that's on my grass too - curtousy of aforementioned three year old

)

/edit - haven't needed to pressure wash it thus far, maybe if you got really close it it, but it would brush back in anyway. I've got to clean ours, so will get the leaf blower out to sort it and then do a weed kill on it which they said to do twice a year

R.O.S.S.I · 24 Apr 2016 at 12:21

mushtafa said:
I found the Clumber grass on B&M website, but it doesn't really give any information on it. It doesn't give the weight, or state whether it requires sand or not. How long is the warranty on it? Do you have any extra info? Our local store is very small, and never seen artificial grass in there.

I think 35mm pile sounds too long. I'll look through my other samples and have a look later.

As said earlier, they sell the Clumber grass on various other websites which should have a bit more info.

http://www.therange.co.uk/clumber-artificial-grass/garden/The-Range/fcp-product/83775

http://www.greenergrassuk.com/artificial-grass/clumber-35mm-artificial-grass

http://www.grassshop.co.uk/ScProduc...tificial-grass-with-springback-yarn_1058.aspx

It doesn't require infill as it is a heavy grass. You will find most modern grasses that are heavy (more than 2.3KG+ per sqm) and don't need the infill. Every fitter i've spoke to when they have been round to quote for work at my house has said they simply don't need them and the only time you would is if you used a poor quality turf.

Just from a quick Google and the links above the Clumber has a 10 year warranty, pet proof, drainage holes, high UV stabilisation and ive seen a weight quoted as 3.5kg per sqm.

I'd really recommend getting a sample as in my opinion it is a great grass. I was against getting something longer than 30mm but that is because the ones id felt samples of werent that great and were quite "thin", this is really dense and plush.