A truism is that a poor quality surface, really well installed, will look much better than a badly installed, high quality turf. It will also play and last better. The ideal scenario is a correctly installed, high quality artificial grass surface, where the client receives a defect free pitch.
To achieve this, an experienced installation team is needed, with the right equipment and enough time to complete the work. This may mean allowing extra time in the case of wet, windy or very hot weather. The base should be suitable for the surface, and if installed over a pad, this should be completed before the turf is unrolled, enabling the turf installers to focus on laying the artificial grass. Allowance should also be made for the type of turf being installed. If it has a PU backing, this may be stiffer to work with, but at the risk of causing the installer a little extra work, means longer-term value for the end client.
A correctly installed pitch will have no gaps where rolls are joined together or where lines are cut in, avoiding future potential seam failure. A raised seam is a weakness in the surface, leading to quicker pitch failure and can also be a potential trip hazard for players.
Ensuring that the right depth of infill material is applied, over the entire pitch, edge to edge, is essential for top performance and long term consistency. The infill should be spread in layers and brushed in, evenly, to the desired height. Leaving excessive rubber infill at the top, or even on the fibres, does not mean the pitch is completed correctly. This infill may eventually settle into the fibres, but often doesn’t.
A final inspection of the surface, before the installer signs the pitch over, should confirm that long surface fibres or loops are dealt with, cut fibres from joints are vacuumed and areas around the playing area are correctly infilled. If all this is achieved then the client will receive a well-installed surface.
