Last Updated on December, 2024
Many homeowners want to enjoy the benefits of a lush, green lawn without the hassle of constant maintenance, and artificial grass is the best solution.
Are you considering transforming your outdoor space with artificial grass but wondering how long the installation will take?
If YES, keep reading the article.
This article covers the steps and the time frame required to install new turf so you can make an informed decision and enjoy your new lawn sooner.
Quick Summary
- Professional installation of artificial grass for a regular-sized garden takes 1-2 days, with extra time needed for larger areas or challenging conditions like limited accessibility, complex edging, and uneven ground.
- The main steps include clearing the area, ground preparation (excavation, leveling, adding a base layer), laying the turf, trimming and securing it, and applying infill for a smooth, durable finish.
- While small areas or straightforward surfaces can be managed as a DIY project, larger or complex installations, especially on rough or uneven terrain, are best handled by professionals for optimal results.
What is the Average Time Taken for Artificial Grass Installation?
The artificial turf installation process takes 1–2 days for a regular-sized garden. If your garden is more extensive than 100 square metres, it may take an extra few days.
This is how long it will take seasoned professionals when they work 8–10 hours a day.
If you plan to lay artificial turf yourself, you may need more time, depending on your experience level and the number of hours you spend on the project daily.
If you hire a professional service to install synthetic turf, they’ll provide you with a detailed timeline for the installation.
Factors Affecting Artificial Turf Installation Time
Several factors affect the time required to install artificial grass. Let’s look into them in detail.
- Size of your artificial lawn
Typically, it will take a day to remove the existing lawn and another day to install the base.
If your lawn is small, half a day would be enough to remove it, but you need a day or two extra for larger areas.
- Accessibility
If your lawn is easily accessible, the installation process will be smooth and take a short time.
However, if there are stairs, obstructions, or narrow passages, it may take longer.
- Edging
Designing curved edges requires brickwork, unlike straight edges.
So, it will take some extra time to create curved edging or more complex installations, such as a putting green.
- Ground preparation
If the installation surface is relatively level, only minimal preparation is needed.
However, more time is needed if the surface requires significant levelling, excavation, and drainage.
- Weather
You can lay synthetic turf in any weather condition.
However, preparing the ground during heavy rains is difficult, delaying the project.
Steps to Install Synthetic Grass
Here is a step-by-step process to lay artificial grass in your garden.
Pre-Installation Tasks
You must clear the surface where you plan to lay the artificial grass.
Remove any existing natural grass and plants and sterilise the area. You must also remove pipes, electric wires, and irrigation lines.
Preparing the Ground
The ground preparation phase is the second step of installing synthetic grass.
Ground preparation involves excavating the surface about 2–3 inches deep, levelling it, adding a layer of decomposed granite, and compacting the road base with a heavy-duty roller or compactor.
Warning: Ensure the base installed is of high quality. Double compaction is necessary for playground areas. If not, defects will start to appear after a few rain showers.
Laying the Synthetic Turf
After preparing the ground, you can lay the primary components of the artificial turf.
Unroll the turf, allow it to sit for about an hour, and lay it in the designated area. Ensure the blades are placed in the same direction.
You can apply a weed barrier before laying the turf to prevent the growth of real grass.
Trimming and Securing the Turf
Cut the turf to a size larger than your yard’s size initially. You can trim the extra turf later.
Seaming the turfs together is important to prevent buckling and achieve a smooth look. Use nails and a seaming tool such as the Super Seamer for this.
Ensure the nails used for seaming are secure, but not too deep.
Applying the Infill
The infill process is the last step of the artificial grass installation. To improve the texture, spread an infill such as silica infill.
The infill process may vary depending on the artificial grass type.
Finally, power brush the lawn. It removes debris and gives an even finish.
Do You Need a Professional to Install Artificial Grass?
Consider the below points to decide whether you need a professional to get artificial turf installed:
- Small areas don’t need seaming. So, you can lay the turf yourself. For large areas, a lot of seaming is required. Hence, it’s better to hire a professional.
- If your surface is rough and filled with rocks, hire a professional, as it’s difficult to level and smoothen it properly.
- Additionally, consider your experience level and availability.
If you are living in Brisbane, contact Artificial Grass Brisbane to get your synthetic turf installed by experts.
In Summary
The entire process of installing artificial grass will take around 8–30 hours of labour.
The yard size, edging, groundwork, accessibility, and the weather determine the total timing.
You can complete the synthetic turf installation yourself, but it may take time. Professionals complete residential lawns within a few days, but commercial installations may take longer.
