USES:
The beauty and realistic look of the landscape grasses available today allow
you to expand design outside the box. Lawn areas can be any shape; gently
rolling, crowned, slopes. flat; if the base is built to suit the weight
load and local water shed, synthetic grass areas can be used for any
type of activity.
Our
GALLERIES are full of commerical and residential examples of how
artificial grass and synthetic turf have been installed in real-world
projects - Visit artificial turf grass galleries and browse photos
here
- Any terraced surfaces (grass stadium seating,
hill side projects)
- Any
entertainment venue (outdoor restaurant seating, weddings & events
facilities, wineries)
- Walkways
and pathways—low impact
- Park play, leisure sports and picnic areas
- Daycare & Senior Centers (install can be
ASTM & ADA Compliant)
- RV Parks and leisure sports activity areas at
campgrounds
- Temporary surfaces for hardscape areas
- Sloping areas that also need erosion/weed control
- Over concrete and asphalt
- On top of roofs and outdoor patios
- Atriums—indoor
and out
- Sports exercise gyms and therapy spas
- Medians and parking islands
CC&Rs
and Development Design Guidelines:
There
are no county, state or federal CC&Rs that are evident
in the public record that restrict the use of synthetic grass
and artificial turf, properly installed, on private or public land.
Public works projects do have standard specifications to accommodate
accessibility, drainage, etc. and some environmentally sensitive
areas may have additional restrictions.
Two environmentally sensitive projects, completed years ago in Northern California,
are the Tahoe City Marina, approx. 3500 SF of lawn area, 50 feet from Lake
Tahoe (5 years old); and a all-purpose sports field (50,000 SF) that was
purchased by the Squaw Valley Water District for the community and visitors,
installed in the heart of a delicate estuary. Tight local environmental controls
and stiff penalties would have been levied against the owners of these properties
if that hadn't met or exceeded required standards. They are great examples
of low-impact landscape applications.
Water
Studies:
Water studies, commissioned on a private basis, have proven significant water
savings by using synthetic turf for leisure sports and landscape uses. A
study done in the Marin County Water District, demonstrated a 43% savings
in water, for the site, after installation of the first play field in the
area.
Prevailing
Wages:
Public works contracts must be negotiated in California using prevailing
wages set by local labor unions. Private works are exempt.
HOAs:
Home Owner Associations and other developer/builder design guidelines that
restrict the use of artificial and synthetic products for residential use,
may still allow for their use for common areas, leisure sports and public
parks. Always check with the association to comply with their rules and
policies.
Water
Districts:
Water districts that manage our most precious resource are exposed to the
benefits of synthetic grass because of the increase in the installation of
sports fields. Many are now developing or have implemented rebate programs
that reward property owners with reimbursement of expense if they replace
natural lawn areas with artificial. Rebate
Programs
Reclaimed
Water:
Areas that have adopted reclaimed water systems require additional certification
before a contractor can perform any work on a contract that includes irrigation
work they perform. Work may require the filing of a plan to spec, inspections
and/or fees. Plan for adequate time to get approvals.
Sewage
Assessments:
Many
city lots and environmentally sensitive areas are accessed for water
and sewage fees based upon the amount of “lawn” that the property
supports. In Northern California, some residential homes may pay $40 per
month for their water and are assessed another $300 per month as a “waste
water reclamation fee”. What and where are the hidden costs?
Optimize Use:
By
its nature, synthetic grass can matt down in high traffic areas—plan
for these thoroughfares to be landscaped with concrete, asphalt or pavers.
Grooming
and Maintenance:
Maintenance and grooming surfaces are a must, though a fraction of the workload
for a natural lawn area. Grooming information is detailed on the ASGi ONLiNE
Pages.
Sanitation:
Claims of virulent viruses and septic sores. Granted, the turf solutions
of the 60s and 70s could be a abrasive, however, even the Center for Disease
Control helped mussel this recent attack. Penn State has published a wonderful
report that states emphatically that outbreaks of illness between players
that use synthetic turf fields has everything to do with their personal
hygiene and locker room grooming practices and nothing to do with the turf
materials or a properly groomed turf system.
Reports
Available at ASGi ONLiNE.
With turf that is soiled, the owner can generally clean the area
using most household cleaners; one that contains no alcohol, is
biodegradable, easily rinsed through is the best choice. For challenging
messes (feces and other body fluids), enzyme cleaners can remove
threats from ecoli and other pathogens, when applied properly.
To remove the threat of viruses, such as “parvo” virus
in kennels, saturate surfaces with a solution of 10% bleach and water.
Companies are available to test turf for pathogens: request contact
information by emailing our offices. [ Testing Info Request ]
Installing
it on ROOFs
Weight factors are one of several aspects
of roof-top construction that can limit use of infilled artificial
turf materials. [ Professionally installed, 3rd Generation synthetic
turf products require infill to help maintain the turf's resiliency,
weigh it down to keep it in place and for safety (reduces wrinkling
significantly) and for UV protection of the backing and the base of
the blade fibers].
Consider UV, Infill and Turf Weight
when considering your artificial grass options!
Silica Sand and Crumb Rubber hold moisture
and review should be made of local rainfall, roof drainage solutions,
run-off path (any Clean-Water Act restricitions or environmental considerations)
and the roof and building's structural integrity before selecting
your turf solution.
Synthetic grass surface materials will
reflect the contours and anomalies of the surface below it - overlapping
roofing materials, creating raised seams, bumps or low spots will
show (they may appear as if the seams are showing through the turf,
creating a pattern, wrinkle or buckle). Smooth roof surfaces are optimal.
All roof areas should be grounded. Installation
and use of synthetic grass might create static electricity - you can
reduce this by treating the affected surfaces with fabric softener
(conditioner). Conditioning the surfaces should eliminate static with
only one treatment - saturating the surfaces with solution. Should
it return - another treatment may be needed, however, one or two treatments
are generally all the surfaces will require.
A
Well Known "Roof" Top Project
One of the most well known "roof" top garden installations
of artificial turf grasses was installed by California's First Lady,
Ms. Maria Shriver for
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's outdoor executive patio area.
This area is one of the only places where the Governor
and his executive staff can find privacy, outside of his office. The
tent provides much needed shade on hot, sunny California days and
insures that Governor Schwarzenegger and his guests can have privacy
from onlookers that might view them from the windows of the offices
several floors above the light well.
Prior to the installation of the synthetic
grass, the outdoor patio is an intense, dreary, drab, dusty, hot
and uninviting space.
After the installation was complete, the area
felt cooler,
it stays cleaner and is definitely more inviting.
