Introduction We have created the following DIY guide for individuals who wish to install artificial turf. This guide is broken down into six sections: ▸ Step 1: Prepping the base. ▸ Step 2: Installing weed barrier. ▸ Step 3: Acclimate the turf. ▸ Step 4: Positioning and trimming. ▸ Step 5: How to fit, tighten and secure the turf. ▸ Step 6: Finishing touches.
Before You Begin - Installation Tools Needed The following list of tools may be needed during your artificial turf installation: ▸ Shovel, hoe, wheelbarrow, sod cutter, measuring tape, spray paint or chalk line, landscape rake, compactor, hand roller, trowel carpet cutting knives, trimming shears, roof flashing tape, carpet kicker, and nailer boards. ▸ NOTE: Most local home improvement stores rent equipment, or you may wish to rent power tools to make the job easier and more efficient.
Before You Begin - Size & Weight ▸ When determining the size you need, keep in mind most artificial turf comes in 12-15 ft widths. To fill larger areas, artificial turf can be seamed, but the idea is to have the least amount of seams possible. To get the amount of square footage that you will need, multiply your length times your width in the space you want to cover. Let’s say you have a 30 feet wide yard at its widest point and 60 feet long—30X60=1,800 sq. ft.
Before You Begin - Bordering & Turf Direction ▸ ▸ Bordering is an essential aspect of the installation process because this is where your turf will line up with your other landscape. Installers have used decorative rock, mulch, trek boards. Artificial turf is directional. You must note the direction of the fibers on your rolls. Once you have decided how you would like the fibers to run, you must continue to run the seamed pieces’ fibers in the same direction.
Before You Begin - Measuring & Outline ▸ Measure the width and length of each area by using irrigation flags or landscape stakes. ▸ Then use spray paint or chalk to mark your turf rolls. Note the direction you had decided to lay the turf when you did your planning.
Step 1 - Preparing the Base - Rough Grading ▸ Removing Topsoil: ▸ Utilizing a sod cutter, hoe, or shovel to cut grass, sod, or any other unwanted vegetation from your marked areas, remove sod or any additional topsoil currently in your project area. Remove any large rocks or roots that are unwanted. ▸ With a landscape rake, rough grade your turf application areas. ▸ Next, compact the area with a plate compactor or a heavy drum roller.
Step 1 - Base Type ▸ The purpose of the base material is to provide drainage. The base allows the turf to drain up to 30 inches of water per hour in most cases. In most artificial turf installations, the best base to use is a ¾” down to a ¼” crushed drain rock. Some common names for the base rock material are crushed stone, breeze rock, chat decomposed granite (DG), crusher fine gravel.
Step 1 - Base Depth & Application ▸ Base Depth: ▸ Sub-base heights may vary from climate to climate and from project to project. A 4” base is the standard recommended base; however, in some arid climates, the sub-base may be as low as 2”. In colder climates, a deeper base of 4” will most likely be needed to aid in the ground’s expansion and contraction due to freezing weather. ▸ Base Application: ▸ As a general rule of thumb, 1 TON (2,000 LBS) of rock base will cover approximately 100 sq ft.
Step 1 - Grading ▸ Using a sod roller or plate compactor, you will lightly compact the sub-base up to 90%. The goal is to have the sub-base as smooth as possible yet solid when walking on. You may have to wet the area to get the best compaction. You will need to compact the areas to meet your needs. If you have an area with depression, you will add a small amount of screening or stone dust material until the compacted level.
Step 2 - Installing Weed Barrier ▸ Weed Killer: ▸ With the ground completely cleared, it is good to apply a weed killer and a grass blocker to the area. Additionally, some customers like to use a weed barrier material. Cut the material to fill the area. ▸ Edging Installation: ▸ Once the area has been cleared and the weed killer is applied, it is time to install your selected edging.
Step 3 - Acclimate the Turf ▸ When the artificial turf is delivered, it will come in rolls. Being shipped and stored in this manner for a duration of time will cause the turf to hold an odd shape. This step is important in re-defining the memory of the turf and making it easier to work with. ▸ How to Acclimate Artificial Turf: ▸ Artificial Turf should be rolled out at least 2 hours before installation.
Step 4 - Position & Trimming ▸ In this step, you will roughly position and trim the artificial turf in preparation of final installation. ▸ This will give you a general idea as to how the sections of artificial turf will lay out.
Step 4 - Artificial Turf Installation ▸ Roll the turf over a clean, flat surface. If you have an additional piece of turf to install or a seam to make, make sure the turf fibers are going in the same direction! ▸ Once relaxed, lay your artificial turf accordingly and for areas that will have seams, cut off the un-tufted edge or one row, and lay it to the base in your intended direction.
Step 4 - Turf Cutting ▸ Whether it is a winding path or an existing new or old border, the artificial turf can be custom cut to fit your yard. You will need a carpet cutting knife or a razor knife. Most contractors mark the back of the turf with a marker pen or chalk line, where they plan to make their cut. Once accomplished, you can roll the turf back and custom cut the turf with your carpet knife. Your cuts should leave the two pieces as close as possible without actually touching.
Step 5 - Fit, Tighten, & Secure the Turf ▸ Once the turf is laid out and roughly cut to fit, it is time to begin securing it to the base, making final fitting trims, and connecting the different sections. ▸ Fasten one end of the turf with 60D nails, spaced 3"-4" apart. Stretch turf tight, and fasten with nails as you move across to the opposite end. Trim any perimeter edges to fit. Place a nail every 3"-4" along the perimeters and every 12"-24" throughout the field.
Step 5 - How to Connect Turf Seams ▸ For those artificial grass projects requiring seaming, this can be a very crucial part of the installation. Mark the areas where your seam will be with chalk. Place the seam tape down on chalk lines where you will have the seams. Nail in two of the 6” galvanized nails at the end of the seam tape to hold it in place. ▸ Next, you will prepare the turf by cutting both edges of the rolls to be seamed. Roll out seam tape the whole length of the seam and apply adhesive.
Step 5 - Perimeter ▸ Secure the perimeter with your 6” inch galvanized nails every 6-10 inches around the edges is one option, but there are a few other options as well. To secure turf in curved areas, you would typically excavate a narrow trench around the perimeter so that you can then bury the edges of the artificial grass. Then you can backfill it with the base material, decorative rock, mulch, straw, or other product. ▸ You can use Nailer Board when you are installing next to asphalt or concrete.
Step 6 - Filling the Turf ▸ Once turf is tight and secure, power broom before in-filling to get the blades standing up as much as possible. Apply Turf Fill and/or Zeolite Odor Control onto turf using a drop spreader. ▸ Apply in-fill as needed. If you don't have a spreader, shovels or wheel barrows can be used - Just be sure and spread the in-fill as evenly as possible.
Step 6 - Infill Optional ▸ Brush or comb the turf with your desired tool such as a push broom, backside of rake, or carpet comb. Apply the infill evenly, one layer at a time, using either a drop spreader or a broadcasting spreader. ▸ You should walk at a consistent speed and adjust speed depending on how fast the sand is falling out of your spreader. ▸ Brush or comb again; repeat these two steps until you are out of sand/rubber bags or have reached your desired level of infill.
Step 6 - Finishing Touches ▸ Using a leaf blower, broom, or plastic rake, you can quickly clean up the area, and this also helps agitate the blades of artificial grass, helping the stand up better.
Step 6 - Turf Care Although artificial grass is virtually maintenance-free, you will need to care for your lawn in the following ways to help maximize the life span or your artificial lawn: ▸ Typically, you will use a push broom if you do not have a rake or blower to care for your artificial turf. It would be best if you blew off or rake your grass once per month to maximize its look, but this isn’t’ required for all projects.
