Top tips for a professional installation of artificial grass in driveways

All driveways look great with a unique design and style of artificial grass trips. But there are many misconceptions of how to properly install it.

Generally, these installations are done with strips of grass to fill in the spaces between the concrete. Other times the grass is installed without alternating with the concrete and without creating a particular design in the driveway.

So, we'll tell you how to do this project correctly while making sure the grass doesn't get ruined, and you still get the 15 years warranty that we offer at Diamond Artificial Grass.

Before signing the contract:

The first thing the client and the contractor must corroborate is to check if the location allows the installation of artificial grass, or if it is needed to get any permits before signing the contract and buying the materials.

To learn more about this topic, we invite you to read our article "Checklist that client and contractor should take into account before installing artificial grass in residence or business"

What to avoid:

Evade installing artificial grass directly on the concrete, especially when the area is not so small. Some installers do it this way when laying strips of grass (which are typically 3-4 inches wide alternated with concrete) because it is easier, faster, and cheaper for the customer, but the contractor must advise on the correct way to work, that usually, it is more expensive, but it's worth it. These are the reasons:

• Concrete itself is waterproof and does not allow water to drain.
• As there is no drainage, the grass will remain wet underneath at all times, and over time a layer of mold and fungus will be created that will damage it or even make residents sick if they are allergic to these organisms.
• In general, the driveways are slightly sloping, so when the rain falls, it drips into the street and accumulates excessively on the driveway, causing discomfort on the road and neighboring properties due to poor drainage.

What to do:

Prepare the ground previously, and add an adequate drainage system like you typically would for an artificial grass project in a backyard, So:

1. Poly boards should first be placed on the perimeters.
2. Fill the ground with sand and compact it so that the surface is even.
3. Lay the grass well stretched and staple the synthetic grass on the polyboard.

In small areas such as where the grass strips will go, and therefore the compactor machine does not fit, this process should be done as follows: place one or more boards of the same width as the ground space filled with sand and press them firmly so that the sand and earth are well compacted. It is best to use a mallet so that with the blows on the wood the ground hardens, becomes unified and there are no undulations.

Keep in mind:

When the client needs to replace the grass because it has reached its useful life, it will be much easier to unstaple it from the polyboard than from concrete. Then it will be much faster to reinstall the new grass on the same polyboard.

Installation on concrete:

When there is no other way, and the installation of the grass must be directly on concrete, the suggestion we have for you is to incorporate a drainage system before installing the grass so the water drains into the conduits, and do not accumulate water that can damage the grass.

Some installers make holes in the concrete to drain the water, instead of placing drainage and then glue the artificial grass to it. But this system does not guarantee a correct drainage because the holes are covered with grass or glue.

The best artificial grass for driveways:

The most suitable synthetic grass for driveways are those with short fibers because these do not exceed the concrete edges in height and therefore are not affected if vehicles circulate or park above it. In addition, these short fibers grass are the ones that best maintain their original shape. However, if the project for this specific installation won't have vehicles circulating, it is very nice to install high fiber grass because it looks more fluffy and adds a touch of particular elegance.

                 

Artificial grass is a billion dollar business. If you want to be a professional in this area, we invite you to join our Diamond University classes. Look for the information on our page and follow us on social media to learn more! Our staff will always be available to assist you. But if you prefer, you can visit us at any of our showrooms in South Florida, from Monday to Friday. We hope to see you soon!