Artificial Grass Sub Base

If you lay synthetic turf on top of an unstable surface it can shift over time and the surface can become uneven. The look and stability of your grass over its lifetime is reliant on a suitably prepared sub base. Installing a fake lawn is a large investment so it’s important that it’s done properly.

Artificial grass is extremely versatile and can be laid on a wide variety of surfaces, from existing lawn area to wooden decking and hard surfaces. So if you’ve been wondering what to put under your artificial grass, below are the most commons bases and application methods.

Aggregate Base

Always recommended where natural turf is being replaced

Type 1 MOT and a suitable blinding surface, such as sharp sand or granite dust, provide a stable, porous base which is ideal for artificial grass. Depending on the sub soil and drainage in the area, you should lay 50 to 100mm of Type 1 MOT, thoroughly compacted, and apply a top surface of 10 to 15mm of sharp sand or granite dust. The area can be edged with timber, composite battening or a concrete haunch.

Below is a typical detail when using concrete haunch

Sub base detail with concrete haunch

Below is a typical detail when using timber or composite batten

Sub base with timber frame detail

Decking

Ensure that the decking is stable, clean, dry and newly treated.

Timber decking can provide a suitable base for synthetic grass but be careful to use a 10mm foam underlay to take up the 'gaps' between the slats, in order to avoid the grass being pushed down into the gaps. You'll see marks appear in the grass over time. Our 10mm Play Pad will provide a suitable underlay for the grass and also assist with drainage between the grass and the decking.

Hard Surfaces - Patio Areas and Concrete

Ensure that the area is smooth, dry and clean. Check for any unevenness and smooth out any bumps, as these will be seen through the artificial grass over time. Our 10mm Play Pad is an excellent product to help provide a smoother surface and can be laid and fixed by simply applying a bead of glue around the perimeter of the area and adhering the underlay to it.

If there is poor drainage, make a few holes in the hard surface.

Once the 10mm Play Pad has been installed just trim the synthetic grass to the required shape and size, run a bead of glue around the top surface of the underlay and then apply the grass.

Roof Terraces and Balconies

Ensure roof is stable, clean and dry. Apply 10mm Play Pad to provide cushioning, take up any unevenness and assist with drainage. Glue the underlay down with a bead of glue around the perimeter and fixing the grass to the underlay using the same method.

Does the size and shape of my garden make a difference?

In short, no! Perfectly Green artificial grass comes in rolls that are either 2m, 4m or 5m wide, and as long as you need up to a maximum of 25m. All that’s required is to measure your garden and calculate the width and length required. The latex backing of the plastic turf means that it’s easy to cut to any size or shape. Your installer will cut around any obstacles such as play equipment, trees, and paths, leaving the turf fitting naturally around just like a real lawn.

With Perfectly Green artificial grass, no garden is too large and no garden is too small. In fact, artificial grass is perfect for injecting some colour into your balcony or terrace. For an extremely small space you may be interested in our artificial grass offcuts. If you have a large garden, it is possible to join multiple rolls together. Perfectly Green have supplied artificial grass in a wide range of locations including football pitches, schools, and play areas, not just private gardens, so you can rest assured that whatever size or shape your garden we can install the grass. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything that we do.

Installation
If you’d like more information on DIY artificial grass installation, view our Preparation and Grass Installation Guide

But if you’d like to leave your artificial grass installation to us just call us on 01825 729389 or email email us now stating your name, address, and contact number. Some basic information about your proposed project would also be helpful.