Installation Artificial Grass

• cutting: as far as possible, we cut from the back and between the loops of the fibre of the grass mat, at which the knife will catch just below the black tuft fabric in order to touch the fibres minimally. If the field consists of several rolls of which the seams do not fit perfectly, there will be an overlap of 3 cm that is finished manually. When the mat is rolled out, the direction of the fibre needs to be respected. This is sometimes indicated at the back of the mat with a small arrow;

• glue band: * after all seams have been folded over, a specially developed seaming tape is placed in the center with the woven side on top. This should be fixed to the ground at both ends and in the middle using galvanized nails in order to prevent the tape moving before the seams are joined;

• gluing: * only when all trimming work is finished and the sections of artificial grass are perfectly fitted with the fold over seams, should the two-component glue be mixed using a medium sized mixer drill bit with a heavy duty electric drill (a light battery operated drill would not be appropriate as the glue is very thick). The glue can be decanted into a smaller container (a cut down lemonade or coke bottle) to make pouring it easier. The grass should be laid and glued in dry weather conditions of minimum 15°C. The mixed glue should be used within 30 to maximum 45 minutes after the mixing, as it hardens rapidly. The use of thin disposable gloves is recommended and having paper towels at your disposal helps with the removal of any excess glue. This should be done immediately. One 13 kg pot of glue is enough for approximately 40 run meters of glue band; too much glue can form a scar through the perforations or the seams between the fibres. Applying the glue too thickly must be avoided. Apply the glue sparingly to the centre of the seaming tape and spread immediately with a toothed spreader comb, from left to right as opposed to up and down. Apply the glue sparingly and in stages, closing the seams as you proceed. Ensure that the fibres of the grass do not touch the glue and then firmly press into place. Check regularly that there is no glue on your shoes. All left over glue must be discarded;

• repairs: * imperfections or less successful seams; hardened glue rests between the fibres or even small manufacturing errors in the mat can be repaired almost invisibly. In that case, the affected part will probably have to be cut from the top. It is important at that point that the fibres are held upright. A fixed form, as for example the round lid of a can, could be used to make sure that the old and the new piece of artificial grass have exactly the same size and shape;

• infilling: depending on the use, artificial grass is optionally infilled until just below pole height with quartz sand and/or rubber granules (granules of 0,5-2 mm), every particle being responsible for optimal water drainage. The infill material, spread with a stiff broom, surrounds and supports the artificial fibres in the same way that soil does with natural grass. An important positive esthetic impact of infilling is that it hides the seams superbly. Recycled rubber is a clean and pure product derived from shredded car tires from which all pollution such as glass, brick, sand are filtered and the last remnants of steel have been removed with big magnets. The rubber granules are not only available in the original black colour but also in coloured coatings, as for example several shades of green that re-enforce the natural look of artificial grass, which, because of the reflection of the sunlight, absorbs considerably less heat than black rubber granules. The result is a bouncy and elastic subsoil. Rubber epdm basic 20% is not fireproof and has less shock absorbing capabilities than rubber epdm pro 40% which slows the fire.

* only if the field consists of several rolls.