Did You Know: One square foot of lawn uses 55 gallons of water per year?
Synthetic Turf Installation Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is a synthetic lawn?
A: Synthetic lawn is surface of synthetic fibers made to replicate a grass-like ground cover that looks as much like natural grass in appearance and function. Although originally designed for sports arenas, it has gained momentum and popularity in residential and commercial use. It provides a consistent year-round all-weather surface that will withstand heavy use without the need for downtime recovery.
Q: How is a synthetic lawn made?
A: Most of today’s synthetic lawns are made up of several layers, starting with your natural subgrade, then a geotextile, then drainage stone with a drainage pipe, then a leveling layer, then the backing layer with weep holes, then the infill (infill is a topsoil-like material created with granular filler, usually a granulated recycled tire rubber, sand or other infill materials, these help provide the necessary stability and uniformity to create the natural look), then comes the synthetic fibers that create your blades of grass. The length of the synthetic fibers and amount of infill depends on the application being used and what your desired look is, from a short cut grass, like that of a putting green, all the way to a longer synthetic fiber, like that of a late summer lawn.
Q: Why have synthetic lawns become so popular in recent years?
A: Synthetic lawns save time, because it requires little maintenance, no mowing, no trimming and no watering. Synthetic lawns offer a eco-friendly alternative, because it saves water and eliminates harmful chemicals from the environment. The need for little water and little maintenance saves you money. Many regions are even offering tax incentives and rebates. Synthetic lawns also make enjoying the backyard and even parks more easily accessible to those with varying levels of handicaps.
Q: How are synthetic lawns being used in the landscape and recreational markets?
A: Synthetic lawns offer lush, attractive landscape solutions that require minimal resources and maintenance. Places like Disneyland to Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base to your neighbor’s yard, thousands of other homes, businesses, golf courses and public areas have begun using this eco-friendly solution to the “real lawn”. Synthetic lawns can be installed where “real lawns” can’t grow or be effectively maintained. Some of these spaces include highway medians, closed landfills, rooftops, playgrounds, pet parks, airport grounds, tennis courts and business/commercial developments.
Q: How popular is synthetic lawn for landscape and recreation?
A: The numerous innovations due to growing popularity of synthetic lawns have made them safer, more cost effective, eco-friendly and as lush and beautiful as a “real lawn”. By the end of 2014, the United States had seen approximately 40 to 45 million square feet of synthetic lawns installed. There has been staggering growth in all sectors of this industry, from sports fields, to landscape and recreation, to municipalities, to community parks. Often synthetic lawns are installed where “real lawns” just won’t grow or water is a concern due to drought conditions.
Q: Are synthetic lawns safe?
A: With more than 50 independent and credible studies conducted by groups such as the California Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to OSHA, have certified the safety of synthetic lawns, citing “no elevated risks”, that both health and environmental risks were generally below respective regulatory limits. The preliminary life cycle assessment suggests that environmental impacts were lower than an equivalent “real lawn”.
Q: How do synthetic lawns impact the environment?
A: Synthetic lawns have a positive and quantitative impact on the environment. Synthetic lawns save the United States approximately 55 gallons of water per square foot a year. The average lawn size in California is 7000 square feet, that equates to 385,000 gallons of water a year for the average California “real lawn”, eliminating “real lawns” can have a monumental impact on California reservoirs, leaving more water in California reservoirs for its long periods of drought.
Replacing a “real lawn” with a synthetic lawn also eliminates the need for harmful pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, all of which have significant health and environmental ramifications. Storm run-off is the number one cause of water pollution, often because of “real lawns” being excessively fertilized and excessive amounts of pesticides and herbicides being used on them. Synthetic lawns also help reduce harmful emissions (a push lawn mower emits as much pollution in 1 hour as 11 cars, a riding lawn mower emits that of 34 cars in that same 1 hour period) and diminishes the amount of grass clippings, grass clippings are the third largest contributor to municipal solid waste in landfills.
Q: Should I be concerned about lead in my synthetic lawn?
A: Assuredly NO, while in 2008 concerns arose when several fields in New Jersey showed elevated levels or lead, often due to the age of the field, at the time lead chromate was used to promote colorfastness, it was encapsulated to prevent it from being readily absorbed by the environment or person’s body. Synthetic lawn manufacturers, today, are no longer using lead in their pigments; this was a responsible and voluntary response by manufacturers in the synthetic lawn industry.
Q: What impact does heat have on my synthetic lawn?
A: During summer months or hot sunny days synthetic lawns can be 10 to 30 degrees hotter than a “real lawn”. You can opt to water your synthetic lawn to cool it down for use or install misters around your synthetic lawn to the lawn and yourself/guests. On a typical day the misters may use up to 5 gallons of water an hour, still significantly lower that what would be used by a “real lawn”.
Q: Does a synthetic lawn make me more susceptible to MRSA/Staph infection?
A: Short answer, NO, MRSA and other Staph infections are due to poor hygiene, not the surface that you are playing on or using. MRSA/Staph is mostly spread by people in close contact with each other, such as athletes to firefighters to daycare centers and many other groups. No studies conducted have shown any difference of survival rates of MRSA/Staph on synthetic lawns versus “real lawns”, in the studies conducted it also showed that synthetic lawns are an inhospitable environment for microbial activity.
Q: How does the cost of a synthetic lawn compare to a “real lawn”?
A: While the upfront costs of a synthetic lawn are far more expensive than that of a “real lawn”, a synthetic lawn can for itself as early as 3 years or as late as 5 to 8 years. The average cost of installing a 2500 square foot “real lawn” is approximately $6,100 and has a yearly upkeep of approximately $2,225. So over a 15 year period (the average life cycle of a synthetic lawn) it will cost you, including the install, approximately $39,475. Installing all synthetic lawn over 2500 square feet will cost approximately $20,000 (at $8 per square foot), but that will be it, so after about 5 years you will actually start making money off of your synthetic lawn due to its low maintenance and no water needs. You could even reduce the upfront costs of going synthetic by only having 1500 square feet of synthetic lawn with a 1000 square feet of rock landscape, having a cost of $12,800 (synthetic lawn at $8 per square foot and rock and fabric at 0.80 cents per square foot), this way you could start making money off your synthetic lawn in as little as 3 years.
Q: Are all synthetic lawn products the same?
A: No, there are various types of synthetic lawn products and systems. They range in costs and quality. Consult your installer for the best options for your needs.
Q: Do synthetic lawns fade?
A: Yes, but the degree to which it fades depends on the amount of direct sunlight and its intensity. A lawn in California won’t last as long as one in Washington. The warranty though guarantees a certain number of years before it begins to fade. Check with your installer.
Q: Can a synthetic lawn hold up to heavy use?
A: Yes, this is a major advantage of a synthetic lawn versus a “real lawn”. A “real lawn” in most cases shouldn't be played on or used when it is raining or immediately after to prevent tearing up the lawn and creating mud holes. You also can't use a “real lawn” after applying fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides for several days; where as a synthetic lawn is always ready for use, since there is no worry for tearing it up when wet and it has excellent drainage. Synthetic lawns also don't require the use of chemicals, so no downtime for that either.
Q: Does a synthetic lawn require maintenance?
A: Yes, but very little. You may have to wash occasionally to remove dirt or pet waste and urine. You may also have to brush it every now and then to stand it up again.
Q: What are the different types of infill materials used in synthetic lawn applications?
A: Crumb Rubber: crumb rubber is made from recycled car and truck tires that we ground up into granules. There are two types of crumb rubber: ambient and cryogenic. These two types of crumb rubber are the most widely used infill in the sports field and landscape markets. Crumb rubber infill is essentially metal free and should not exceed .01% of the total crumb rubber weight or .6 pounds per ton of liberated fiber, according to the STC (Synthetic Turf Council).
Coated Rubber Infill: Both ambient and cryogenic crumb rubber infill can be encapsulated with colorants, sealers or anti-microbial substances. Encapsulated rubber will provide additional decorative appeal.
EPDM Infill: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a polymer elastomer which has high resistance to abrasion and deterioration and will not lose its solid form due to high temperatures. Typically EPDM infill comes in green or tan. EPDM has proven staying power as an infill product in all climate types due to its exceptional elasticity and resistance to both atmospheric and chemical agents.
Organic Infill: There are several different types of organic infill available in North America. The most common is coconut fiber and cork, which are completely environmentally friendly. Organic infill can be utilized in both sports fields and landscape applications. At the end of its life cycle, organic infill can be recycled directly into the environment.
Sand (Silica) Infill: Pure silica sand is a natural, non-toxic infilling material and is one of the first infilling methods ever used in synthetic lawn applications. Silica sand is shatter resistant and chemically stable. Silica sand is typically white, tan or off-tan depending on the plant producing it. Silica sand will not contain any heavy metals. Silica sand can be used simultaneously with many other infills to provide a more realistic and safer playing and recreational surface.
Coated Silica Sand Infill: Coated sand silica is a high purity silica sand that is encapsulated in a soft or rigid coating that is specifically engineered for synthetic lawns. The coating is either elastomeric or acrylic. The coatings bond with the silica sand grain which seals it from bacteria. The coating will ensure durability and high-caliber performance in the life of the lawn. All of the coatings are available in various colors and are non-toxic. Coated silica sand can be used with or without a pad depending on the amount of infill used. Coated silica sand is typically used as a systematic infill that provides both shock absorbing and ballast qualities to synthetic lawn applications.
TPE Infill: Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) is a heavy-metal free and non-toxic infill. TPE is available in an assortment of colors that are 100% recyclable and reusable as infill when the field is replaced. TPE is also very long-lasting and resists fading. TPE infill, when utilizing virgin-based resins (resin produced directly from petrochemical feedstock, that has never been used and has no recycled byproducts used in it), TPE infill, will grant more consistent performance and superb G-max rating (measurement of surface hardness) over wide temperature ranges.
A: Synthetic lawn is surface of synthetic fibers made to replicate a grass-like ground cover that looks as much like natural grass in appearance and function. Although originally designed for sports arenas, it has gained momentum and popularity in residential and commercial use. It provides a consistent year-round all-weather surface that will withstand heavy use without the need for downtime recovery.
Q: How is a synthetic lawn made?
A: Most of today’s synthetic lawns are made up of several layers, starting with your natural subgrade, then a geotextile, then drainage stone with a drainage pipe, then a leveling layer, then the backing layer with weep holes, then the infill (infill is a topsoil-like material created with granular filler, usually a granulated recycled tire rubber, sand or other infill materials, these help provide the necessary stability and uniformity to create the natural look), then comes the synthetic fibers that create your blades of grass. The length of the synthetic fibers and amount of infill depends on the application being used and what your desired look is, from a short cut grass, like that of a putting green, all the way to a longer synthetic fiber, like that of a late summer lawn.
Q: Why have synthetic lawns become so popular in recent years?
A: Synthetic lawns save time, because it requires little maintenance, no mowing, no trimming and no watering. Synthetic lawns offer a eco-friendly alternative, because it saves water and eliminates harmful chemicals from the environment. The need for little water and little maintenance saves you money. Many regions are even offering tax incentives and rebates. Synthetic lawns also make enjoying the backyard and even parks more easily accessible to those with varying levels of handicaps.
Q: How are synthetic lawns being used in the landscape and recreational markets?
A: Synthetic lawns offer lush, attractive landscape solutions that require minimal resources and maintenance. Places like Disneyland to Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base to your neighbor’s yard, thousands of other homes, businesses, golf courses and public areas have begun using this eco-friendly solution to the “real lawn”. Synthetic lawns can be installed where “real lawns” can’t grow or be effectively maintained. Some of these spaces include highway medians, closed landfills, rooftops, playgrounds, pet parks, airport grounds, tennis courts and business/commercial developments.
Q: How popular is synthetic lawn for landscape and recreation?
A: The numerous innovations due to growing popularity of synthetic lawns have made them safer, more cost effective, eco-friendly and as lush and beautiful as a “real lawn”. By the end of 2014, the United States had seen approximately 40 to 45 million square feet of synthetic lawns installed. There has been staggering growth in all sectors of this industry, from sports fields, to landscape and recreation, to municipalities, to community parks. Often synthetic lawns are installed where “real lawns” just won’t grow or water is a concern due to drought conditions.
Q: Are synthetic lawns safe?
A: With more than 50 independent and credible studies conducted by groups such as the California Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to OSHA, have certified the safety of synthetic lawns, citing “no elevated risks”, that both health and environmental risks were generally below respective regulatory limits. The preliminary life cycle assessment suggests that environmental impacts were lower than an equivalent “real lawn”.
Q: How do synthetic lawns impact the environment?
A: Synthetic lawns have a positive and quantitative impact on the environment. Synthetic lawns save the United States approximately 55 gallons of water per square foot a year. The average lawn size in California is 7000 square feet, that equates to 385,000 gallons of water a year for the average California “real lawn”, eliminating “real lawns” can have a monumental impact on California reservoirs, leaving more water in California reservoirs for its long periods of drought.
Replacing a “real lawn” with a synthetic lawn also eliminates the need for harmful pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, all of which have significant health and environmental ramifications. Storm run-off is the number one cause of water pollution, often because of “real lawns” being excessively fertilized and excessive amounts of pesticides and herbicides being used on them. Synthetic lawns also help reduce harmful emissions (a push lawn mower emits as much pollution in 1 hour as 11 cars, a riding lawn mower emits that of 34 cars in that same 1 hour period) and diminishes the amount of grass clippings, grass clippings are the third largest contributor to municipal solid waste in landfills.
Q: Should I be concerned about lead in my synthetic lawn?
A: Assuredly NO, while in 2008 concerns arose when several fields in New Jersey showed elevated levels or lead, often due to the age of the field, at the time lead chromate was used to promote colorfastness, it was encapsulated to prevent it from being readily absorbed by the environment or person’s body. Synthetic lawn manufacturers, today, are no longer using lead in their pigments; this was a responsible and voluntary response by manufacturers in the synthetic lawn industry.
Q: What impact does heat have on my synthetic lawn?
A: During summer months or hot sunny days synthetic lawns can be 10 to 30 degrees hotter than a “real lawn”. You can opt to water your synthetic lawn to cool it down for use or install misters around your synthetic lawn to the lawn and yourself/guests. On a typical day the misters may use up to 5 gallons of water an hour, still significantly lower that what would be used by a “real lawn”.
Q: Does a synthetic lawn make me more susceptible to MRSA/Staph infection?
A: Short answer, NO, MRSA and other Staph infections are due to poor hygiene, not the surface that you are playing on or using. MRSA/Staph is mostly spread by people in close contact with each other, such as athletes to firefighters to daycare centers and many other groups. No studies conducted have shown any difference of survival rates of MRSA/Staph on synthetic lawns versus “real lawns”, in the studies conducted it also showed that synthetic lawns are an inhospitable environment for microbial activity.
Q: How does the cost of a synthetic lawn compare to a “real lawn”?
A: While the upfront costs of a synthetic lawn are far more expensive than that of a “real lawn”, a synthetic lawn can for itself as early as 3 years or as late as 5 to 8 years. The average cost of installing a 2500 square foot “real lawn” is approximately $6,100 and has a yearly upkeep of approximately $2,225. So over a 15 year period (the average life cycle of a synthetic lawn) it will cost you, including the install, approximately $39,475. Installing all synthetic lawn over 2500 square feet will cost approximately $20,000 (at $8 per square foot), but that will be it, so after about 5 years you will actually start making money off of your synthetic lawn due to its low maintenance and no water needs. You could even reduce the upfront costs of going synthetic by only having 1500 square feet of synthetic lawn with a 1000 square feet of rock landscape, having a cost of $12,800 (synthetic lawn at $8 per square foot and rock and fabric at 0.80 cents per square foot), this way you could start making money off your synthetic lawn in as little as 3 years.
Q: Are all synthetic lawn products the same?
A: No, there are various types of synthetic lawn products and systems. They range in costs and quality. Consult your installer for the best options for your needs.
Q: Do synthetic lawns fade?
A: Yes, but the degree to which it fades depends on the amount of direct sunlight and its intensity. A lawn in California won’t last as long as one in Washington. The warranty though guarantees a certain number of years before it begins to fade. Check with your installer.
Q: Can a synthetic lawn hold up to heavy use?
A: Yes, this is a major advantage of a synthetic lawn versus a “real lawn”. A “real lawn” in most cases shouldn't be played on or used when it is raining or immediately after to prevent tearing up the lawn and creating mud holes. You also can't use a “real lawn” after applying fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides for several days; where as a synthetic lawn is always ready for use, since there is no worry for tearing it up when wet and it has excellent drainage. Synthetic lawns also don't require the use of chemicals, so no downtime for that either.
Q: Does a synthetic lawn require maintenance?
A: Yes, but very little. You may have to wash occasionally to remove dirt or pet waste and urine. You may also have to brush it every now and then to stand it up again.
Q: What are the different types of infill materials used in synthetic lawn applications?
A: Crumb Rubber: crumb rubber is made from recycled car and truck tires that we ground up into granules. There are two types of crumb rubber: ambient and cryogenic. These two types of crumb rubber are the most widely used infill in the sports field and landscape markets. Crumb rubber infill is essentially metal free and should not exceed .01% of the total crumb rubber weight or .6 pounds per ton of liberated fiber, according to the STC (Synthetic Turf Council).
Coated Rubber Infill: Both ambient and cryogenic crumb rubber infill can be encapsulated with colorants, sealers or anti-microbial substances. Encapsulated rubber will provide additional decorative appeal.
EPDM Infill: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a polymer elastomer which has high resistance to abrasion and deterioration and will not lose its solid form due to high temperatures. Typically EPDM infill comes in green or tan. EPDM has proven staying power as an infill product in all climate types due to its exceptional elasticity and resistance to both atmospheric and chemical agents.
Organic Infill: There are several different types of organic infill available in North America. The most common is coconut fiber and cork, which are completely environmentally friendly. Organic infill can be utilized in both sports fields and landscape applications. At the end of its life cycle, organic infill can be recycled directly into the environment.
Sand (Silica) Infill: Pure silica sand is a natural, non-toxic infilling material and is one of the first infilling methods ever used in synthetic lawn applications. Silica sand is shatter resistant and chemically stable. Silica sand is typically white, tan or off-tan depending on the plant producing it. Silica sand will not contain any heavy metals. Silica sand can be used simultaneously with many other infills to provide a more realistic and safer playing and recreational surface.
Coated Silica Sand Infill: Coated sand silica is a high purity silica sand that is encapsulated in a soft or rigid coating that is specifically engineered for synthetic lawns. The coating is either elastomeric or acrylic. The coatings bond with the silica sand grain which seals it from bacteria. The coating will ensure durability and high-caliber performance in the life of the lawn. All of the coatings are available in various colors and are non-toxic. Coated silica sand can be used with or without a pad depending on the amount of infill used. Coated silica sand is typically used as a systematic infill that provides both shock absorbing and ballast qualities to synthetic lawn applications.
TPE Infill: Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) is a heavy-metal free and non-toxic infill. TPE is available in an assortment of colors that are 100% recyclable and reusable as infill when the field is replaced. TPE is also very long-lasting and resists fading. TPE infill, when utilizing virgin-based resins (resin produced directly from petrochemical feedstock, that has never been used and has no recycled byproducts used in it), TPE infill, will grant more consistent performance and superb G-max rating (measurement of surface hardness) over wide temperature ranges.
