Artificial Grass Installation Methods: Basic vs. Premium

There are lots of choices to make when it comes to artificial grass. Color, blade shape, blade height, density, Cool Yarn…at Purchase Green we give you a bunch of options so you can choose the perfect grass for you. Another choice you’ll need to consider is which installation method you prefer – basic or premium. Even if you decide to do it yourself, you’ll still want to know the difference.

Generally speaking, artificial grass is always installed the same way – namely atop a well-excavated project area that has been back-filled with a compacted sub-base. The difference between a premium installation and basic installation is found at the edges and concerns one key factor – sub-grade Bend-a-Board.

Figure 1: Basic Installation

In a basic installation, as seen in Figure 1, the artificial grass is simply nailed to the sub-base. In most installations you would secure the turf by using 5-inch, non-galvanized nails every 3-6 inches around the perimeter, about a half-inch away from the project edge, as well as every 3 square feet within the interior. This would be followed by the application of infill – typically 1-3 lbs per square foot depending on your project goals.

In a premium installation, a special product called sub-grade Bend-a-Board is used. Bend-a-Board is a flexible framing material that is used not only to create unique lawn shapes but also to better secure the artificial grass – hence the “premium” designation. It takes more material and more work to install Bend-a-Board but the result is a better overall installation.

Figure 2: Premium Installation

As shown in Figure 2, everything you would find in a basic installation is included in a premium installation. But in the premium installation we see the addition of the Bend-a-Board, which is itself secured using perimeter stakes. The advantage as far as securing the grass goes is that the grass edges can be attached to the Bend-a-Board using a pneumatic staple gun. This process provides exceptional dimensional stability and significantly reduces the potential for wrinkles to appear in the grass. And added benefits of the Bend-a-Board is that it allows the edges of the grass to be tucked. As you lay the Bend-a-Board around the entire perimeter you’ll want to leave a quarter-inch gap between your hard edge and the Bend-a-Board itself. It’s into that gap you’ll tuck the grass edges. This tucking produces a very natural, realistic look as the grass appears to cascade – ever so slightly – over the edge, just as a natural grass lawn would.

So whether you’re doing it yourself or you opted for a turnkey installation, now you know the difference between a basic installation and a premium installation. A basic installation will look good and perform well. A premium installation will look better and perform better. Be sure to think about these two methods when planning your artificial grass project. And if you have any questions, never hesitate to ask us because at Purchase Green we’re happy, helpful and happy to help!