Artificial Grass Installation: A Homeowner's Guide

Artificial Grass Installation: Getting the Base Right

The single biggest factor in a good artificial lawn is the base beneath it, not the turf on top. A poor base means puddles, bumps and a surface that ages badly within a couple of years.

In Pune the base has one extra job: shedding monsoon rain fast. Turf laid on a base that does not drain will hold water, smell and grow algae, so drainage planning comes first.

Preparing the Ground

On soil, excavate a few centimetres, lay and compact a crushed-stone sub-base, then a levelling layer of stone dust, sloped very slightly so water runs off. This gives a firm, free-draining bed.

On a rooftop or hard floor, the surface must already drain to an outlet. A shockpad or drainage mat over the slab both protects the turf and stops water pooling underneath during heavy rain.

• Excavate and remove existing grass or loose soil
• Compact a crushed-stone sub-base for stability
• Add and level a stone-dust layer with a slight fall for drainage
• On rooftops, lay a drainage mat or shockpad over the slab
• Confirm water flows to an outlet, not towards the building

Laying and Joining the Turf

Roll out the turf and let it settle for a few hours so it relaxes flat. Lay all pieces with the pile leaning in the same direction, or joins and colour differences will show in sunlight.

Join pieces with jointing tape and adhesive, keeping the seam tight and the pile brushed over it to hide the line. Secure the perimeter with U-pins or by fixing the edges down.

• Let rolls relax flat before cutting to shape
• Keep the pile direction consistent across all pieces
• Join with tape and adhesive, seams tight and hidden
• Fix the perimeter with pins or edge fixings
• Add a kiln-dried sand infill to weigh down and support the pile

Keeping Artificial Grass Looking New

Artificial turf needs no mowing or watering, but it is not zero-maintenance. Brush the pile upright occasionally against its lean, and rinse off dust, which builds up quickly in Pune's dry, dusty pre-monsoon months.

Clear leaves and debris before the monsoon so drainage stays clear, and hose the surface down after the rains to shift any grime. A quick rinse also cools rooftop turf on hot days.