FAQ & History of Synthetic Grass

Find out the history and get questions answered about the origin, costs, install process, maintenance and longevity of Synthetic Turf Grass Putting Greens

Back in the 1950's there was a need to help out kids in the inner city with their physical fitness. From that project an entire industry was born with the use of synthetic carpeting in schools. After rigorous testing in the mid 1960’s that included water drainage, flammability, resistance and durability, the first large synthetic grass installation took place in 1964 at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. The turf was dubbed, “Chemgrass.”

In 1965 the Astrodome was in full swing in Houston housing a MLB team, but was having extreme difficulties growing grass inside the dome. The Astros reached out about installing Chemgrass and in 1966 they opened their season atop the turf surface, which was formally re-named “Astroturf”.  A trademark was later issued in 1967 and Indiana State University was the first to have artifical turf installed in an outdoor stadium. The surface gained traction throughout the 1970’s becoming the go-to-surface for many NFL, MLB  and University football and baseball stadiums. 

As the industry grew throughout the 1970’s, so did advancements to the turf. Longer yarns were created from a softer polypropylene material and “Shag Turf” was invented making it more user-friendly from the original Chemgrass. Fast forward to present times and the third generation of synthetic turf features a much softer polyethylene blade fiber and is used throughout residential, commercial and sports projects. The grass also has longer fibers spaced further apart and “thatch” added in for a real, natural grass look and has become a cost effective and viable option for residential use. 

Plastic pellets that are white act as the base material and are combined with green pellets that hold colors, U.V. stabilizers and other additives. They are melted together and extruded through a perforated steel plate. As the strands exit the steel plate, they move through water which solidifies the mixture. The strands are then pulled through a large pulley that keeps them seperated before rollers stretch the fiber strands until they become as thin as real grass. When a spool of synthetic grass is made, different colors are woven together to form multiple synthetic yarns. Mesh fabric is merged with the synthetic sheeting as synthetic yarn travels through a tufting machine. The turf is then sewn together using over 200 needles while being cut to look like grass blades. The backing is applied and holes burnt into the turf for drainage. After undergoing multiple durability and quality control tests, the turf is ready go. 

Check out this Discovery Channel video for more information and a comprehensive look at the making of Synthetic Grass Turf:

https://youtu.be/b91cXZ1l2uQ  

An artificial turf putting green will save time, money and water while also being very low maintenance. It will not require a special green mower or harsh fertilizers / chemicals and special seeding to make it roll true like bent grass. Synthetic grass is made with environmentally friendly products that are long lasting and offer superior drainage while holding up in all types of weather and will remain strong and durable for years to come. Your investment will add character to your property, save energy on yard work while providing years of fun, practice and entertainment. 

Every green is different and after close consultation, planning and design with the client, we dig in, get to work and pride ourselves on precise and perfect installation that provides the customer years of satisfaction and play on their green. Over a few days we strive to make it painless and nearly invisible to the homeowner as eighty percent of the work is done below the turf to ensure a perfectly smooth base that provides a true roll and adequate drainage.  We build your green to last, enhance your property and give the customer the practice area they have always dreamed about at an affordable and manageable price.  

Our synthetic turf putting greens roll true and replicate putting on bent grass. Speeds vary by turf and can be increased based on the amount of silica sand added and rolling that is done on the green. Custom speeds can be obtained, but typically the green will be rolling around 10 on the Stimpmeter, which is equal to the average speed of most public golf courses.

Bender Board is a newer and greener plastic edging that has gained popularity for putting green and synthetic turf installs as well as for landscaping and concrete shaping. Bender Board is manufactured from 100% recycled plastic, and will not decompose or rot and excels as a forming board for installation of artificial turf and the contours of custom shaped putting greens. It is strong, great to work with as it is resistant to splintering or breakage and is completely insect proof!

**Bender Board is made of 100% recycled polyethylene plastics that are recovered from blue box collection as well as other sources. The result is a pliable and strong “green” product that is able to contour evenly and consistently. 

The cost will vary from green to green as there are many variables that come into play that affect the overall price. Different shapes and sizes, turf types, sand, shipping, time and labor all factor in to make each green unique and priced accordingly, yet reasonable. Depending on the project, an average overall cost that includes design, all labor and materials would range between approximately $16 - $20 per square foot. 

Our synthetic grass turf offers one of the best warranties in the industry and you can rest assured that you will be covered in case of manufacture defects that rarely arise. We will work to ensure proper installation that will help diminish almost all other issues from happening. While life isn’t perfect and problems will sometimes happen, we will do our best to resolve any issues.  With the proper install, green maintenance is minimal and as long as the homeowner takes care of the turf and surrounding areas, the green should provide plenty of putts, smiles and fun while keeping on rolling for nearly two decades. 

Have more turf questions and need more answers? Would you like an estimate for your green? Set up a turf consultation? Want to find out more about products, services and turf grass options available?  
Ask us anything by simply clicking on the button below and emailing us or call us now at: 319-270-5156