How to Choose the Best Artificial Turf for Playgrounds

playground artificial turf

Artificial turfs can be used for many projects as they project a very welcoming, eye-catching, and beautiful appearance for your playground and add versatility to space without the hassle of growing and caring for actual grass. It so happens that the population chooses artificial turf over natural grass because of comparable feel and aesthetic, saving on the fronts of time as well as money and a durable surface with excellent drainage that remains luscious all year round. Playgrounds made of artificial turfs can be set up indoors or outdoors depending on the needs of the individual. Some of the most popular Turf companies for Artificial Turf in Florida are known for providing smooth and durable synthetic lawns for playgrounds. These sports and playground turfs account for an ideal option since they have previously shown successful results in sports fields, home-landscaping, golf greens, pet areas, and other projects. If you are venturing into this market for the first time the following pointers will help you choose the appropriate artificial turf for your playground needs.

Select the suitable material and bottom of your artificial turf

Getting straight to the point, the most important criteria for choosing a turf should be its quality and feel which depends on the raw materials used for creating the product. Three main types of raw materials that can be used are polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon. Nylon was the earliest grass fiber used in the market and gives a comfortable and soft feel to the consumer, whereas polypropylene is a strong grass fiber that is mainly utilized in tennis courts and runways. Polyethylene remains the crowd’s favorite by a huge margin because it has slightly better wear than the former materials and is the closest to the natural grass consistency. Always ensure that you purchase from a vendor who guarantees lead-free products. There are various kinds of bottom options to choose from like PP knitting, net bottom, Vulcanized wool PP, and braided. All have their respective advantages and you can select one based on your area and requirement by consulting the suppliers. Sir Walter Buffalo Turf supplies Sydney an Australian turf that is developed and bred locally to survive extreme climates.

Do not forget to ask some important questions about the safety of the artificial turf

Whenever you want to make an investment, it requires some sort of brainstorming. Similarly, when you think of renovating your playground by artificial turf, you need to evaluate certain parameters. Planning a playground today with installing artificial turf is a multi-step process because here you have numerous factors in front of your eyes to consider along the way. You will be required to examine the location of the playground, consider who will use it, and think about ways to make it appealing and accessible to all children. Apart from the area of the playground (either in sq ft or in sq km), you need to consider many other factors. Whether it is a school playground or a sports playground, kids’ playground, or a golf course, the quality of the grass is of utmost importance. 

Coming back to the affordable and durable qualities of the synthetic turf for playgrounds, every manufacturer has a different style so there cannot be a standard set of safety advantages that accompany the artificial turf. A solution to this would be surveying your local suppliers by asking some standard questions and comparing their responses. It is extremely important to keep the children’s safety in mind while installing artificial turf for a playground so prepare a questionnaire consisting of questions like what is the critical fall height i.e the height to which a surface is certified to be safe to fall on. Also consider enquiring if the turf is appropriate for pets, specify if you have or plan to get any. 

Opt for the artificial turf that does not require much maintenance or aftercare

Costs should be considered for both installations as well as maintenance. If you go for cheap prices to have installation costs on the lower side, it will be obviously an affordable option. However,  have you thought of the maintenance costs it may need? 

Laying quality fake grass for your playground can be expensive but the long term benefits are considerable in energy and money saved. Having turf fitters at your doorstep to renovate your playground is indeed a thought to be considered. Have your playground entirely made out of synthetic and installing artificial grass can seem like the first step in that direction. The artificial turf laying has very minimal requirements on the base and may be applied on asphalt and cement with a short cycle if you wish to go for concrete flooring.

The most crucial aspect of artificial turfs that tends to determine the final costs of the products is its maintenance. The ones that cost more require comparatively less amount of aftercare and vice-versa. The foot-fall on the grass determines the frequency of cleaning rounds that it might require hence you should choose an option that has high drainage, strength, and traffic resistance. Regular removal of debris and other organic matter will help you make the most of your artificial turf and ensure that it has a long life.

Finally, ensure that the suppliers provide a reliable installation service

When you opt for buying fake grass, the must checkpoints you need to ensure include:

  • Traffic of pets, kids or sports person on your playground
  • Quality and soft touch of polypropylene, polyurethane or latex
  • Length of grass blades aka pile heights
  • Turf density and weight (required per square feet)
  • Infill materials like rubber crumb and sand
  • Shades of turf for its aesthetics (dark green, olive green, lime green, etc.)
  • Weather conditions in your area (for regular maintenance)

Do not consider the turf installation a fun DIY project as it is far from that and can turn into a disaster pretty easily. Always ask for professional help while getting it installed in your desired area for a beautiful and seamless playground. They shall clean the area and rid them of any weed or obstacle that might hinder the proper installation and do a good of installing the artificial turf into the playground such that it lasts for a long duration of time.

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Senter Vina

Senter Vina is an ardent writer who generates best-in-class posts on a wide range of digital marketing tools and techniques. She also produces well-researched and factual posts on various other topics. In her free time, you will either find her spending quality time with her loved ones or reading a brilliant book.