Top 3 Mistakes You Can Make Installing Artificial Turf Yourself

No matter who does the work, installing artificial turf is a lot of work. It’s an exacting process that involves many steps. A mistake at any point along the way, and you can kiss your long-term investment goodbye. Oh, your new lawn may look good for a while – after all, artificial grass is naturally pretty. But it won’t be long before you start to notice problems.

If you’re considering saving money by installing your new synthetic lawn yourself, be sure you understand what it takes to do the job right. We think you’ll decide this is one of those times when it’s better to hand it off to someone who does this work for a living. We know that’s hard for a dedicated DIY’er, but there are many other projects you can take on to create beautifully unique finishing touches around your new faux lawn.

Here are just a few common mistakes people make installing artificial grass on their own:

1. Skimping on prep work

There are actually several mistakes you can make when it comes to preparing your yard before you can install artificial turf. But it’s just like building a house. If you don’t have a stable foundation, you can be certain the end result won’t stand up. How could it? Installing artificial turf requires plenty of preparation.

2. Making do with the tools you have on hand

Experienced DIY’ers have usually amassed quite the collection of tools. But you probably don’t own all the equipment required to properly install artificial turf. You’ll have to invest in more stuff. Purchase or rental, that increases the cost of your new lawn. And when will you ever need a ground compactor again?

3. Choosing less-than-stellar artificial turf to install

We know you want to get the best deal possible. If your lawn is of any size, switching to fake grass is a serious investment in the future value of your home’s livability and future resale value. Regardless, you probably have a budget you’d like to adhere to. Unfortunately, saving money up front can be an expensive proposition down the road.

When it comes to artificial turf, the time-honored warning “you get what you pay for” really rings true. Inferior fake grass costs less, but it:

• Won’t perform as well as you want it to
• Won’t look as good as you want it to
• Won’t last as long as you want it to

How can you tell you’re getting superior synthetic turf? Buy from a company that specializes in artificial grass, not a big box store that sells every conceivable thing to do with home improvement. And check the warranty – how long it’s good for and what it covers. Manufacturers that stand firmly behind their products do so because they know they make a quality product. They’re proud of it, and you will be, too.

There are more mistakes you could make, but you get the idea. Ultimately, the worst mistake is that initial decision to install your artificial turf yourself. Earlier, we noted you should purchase top quality synthetic grass you will be proud of – and you should. But with iffy installation your grass won’t stand a chance of living up to your expectations. That would be a terrible disappointment, to say the least.

We all make mistakes. Why make them when you don’t have to? Especially when it’s so easy to make a smart, cost-effective decision instead? By choosing the ideal artificial grass for your project and having it professionally installed, you can look forward to years of enjoyment and peace of mind.