Artificial Grass - Soft Surfaces

5 Reasons Why Your Artificial Grass May Have Melted

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Synthetic grass surfacing is starting to become a popular choice for homeowners who want a high-quality grass lawn but with as little maintenance as possible (no watering, weed killers or mowing). With the quality of artificial turf improving and its prices becoming more affordable, it’s no wonder that people are leaving behind natural grass and opting for a simpler alternative.

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Artificial Grass Melting

Although there are many benefits of having an artificial turf lawn installed and contractors take great care in testing their products to ensure they offer the best possible quality and durability, there are also disadvantages that come with this type of surfacing.

We have recently been seeing a number of cases where lawns have needed repairing, or even resurfacing completely because the artificial grass has melted. This can happen when the temperature of the grass increases above the melting point of the polymer in the turf yarn. It then leaves you with, disintegrated, melted or even burnt artificial grass. This bizarre problem can be caused by a number of factors:

Reflective Surfaces – The top 4 possible reasons why your artificial grass has melted are as a result of intense heat being indirectly applied to the turf through sunlight reflecting off different surfaces in the surrounding area of the lawn:

Windows – A large surface area for sunlight to reflect off for a sustained period of time. You may have noticed artificial grass burning from windows on a nearby building reflecting light onto it.
Polished Gutters – Often dark colours which absorb heat and reflect light from their shiny surface.
Mirrors – Reflects sunlight at a high intensity off a large surface area.
Reflective Panels – On doors, sheds, outbuildings etc. These can also have a big surface area which light can reflect off for a long time.
Direct Heat- The final reason for synthetic turf melting is through direct application of heat:
Fire – Either through vandalism or stray embers from a barbecue. This kind of intense heat applied directly onto an artificial lawn can burn and melt the grass.

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Solutions To Artificial Grass Melting

Artificial grass lawns can be repaired of resurfaced if they suffer damage from heat or sunlight. However, the best method of keeping your turf in the best condition is prevention – stopping the problem before it starts.

It is vital that a contractor installing a synthetic grass lawn assesses the area and identifies potential risks. They should find any areas which could be damaging to your artificial turf surface and deal with the problem. This could mean installing a screen to the outside of a window. You could even apply affordable non-reflective paint to panels or gutters which reflect the sunlight.

If preventing the reflection of light onto a particular area of your artificial grass is not possible, you could install an alternative feature. Things such as pebbles, a soil area with plants, a small tree or even a pond can work. This way you can enjoy the aesthetics of the high-quality grass surface whilst eliminating damage to the problem area.

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To find out more about artificial grass surfacing for your garden, as well as repair kits to combat existing damage, please visit our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/. Also, don’t forget to share this post and leave a comment if you found it helpful!

Artificial Grass Pitch Construction in Liverpool, Merseyside

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on artificial grass pitch surfacing in Liverpool, Merseyside and are able to fit surface nationwide.

In addition to installation, our team can offer artificial grass pitch surfacing repair services for existing artificial grass pitch surfaces within this location, so if you have currently got a artificial grass pitch surface that needs either resurfacing or rejuvenating, feel free to get in touch with us today.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our artificial grass pitch construction that we carried out in Liverpool, Merseyside.

Below you can see specific information for this install, as well as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

As always, if you are interested in any of our artificial grass services we offer throughout Liverpool or the entire Merseyside area, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

Artificial Grass Pitch Surfacing in Liverpool, Merseyside

What was the specification? : 3G artificial grass
What was the size of the job? : 4500m²
How long did the job take?: 6 weeks on site

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Artificial Pitch Installation

Our team installed a brand new synthetic turf pitch in Liverpool, Merseyside. Check out the full work from start to finish in this video below.

Video Transcript

Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today i’m going to be showing you a 3G Artificial Grass Construction in Liverpool.

So for this job, the client came to us with an existing tarmacadam surface, but wished to have a new surface fitted that would be better suited to sports like football and rugby al year round. We explained why we felt our 3G surfacing could be the perfect match for what they were looking for, and shortly after we were booked in to install.

So here at Soft Surfaces we’ve been installing and maintaining 3G Surfaces nationwide for over 20 years now, and pride ourselves on the quality of both the materials we use, and the installation we carry out.

3G is an excellent option for those looking to have the feel of natural grass for sports such as football and rugby, but without the tedious traditional maintenance often needed. This makes it a very practical option for places like schools, universities, football and rugby clubs etc.

3G synthetic surfaces are also great due to the fact that they’re able to be used all year round, making organised sporting events across the year much easier than on traditional grass sports pitches. All of these factors are why 3G is becoming so popular here in the UK.

At Soft Surfaces, we’re happy to work on jobs of all shapes and sizes across the country, so whatever it is you’re looking for, please feel free to get in touch if you are interested.

You can see now that the job has been fully completed, and looks outstanding as their new synthetic sports facility. The client love their new sports pitch, and were extremely pleased with the work we carried out for them.

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Despite being a nationwide company, from doing plenty of work in the Liverpool area we now rank in Google for these keyphrases:

Merseyside 3G Pitch Company
Best Artificial Grass Installers Liverpool
4G Pitch Builders Merseyside
3G Surfacing Specialists in Liverpool
Fake Turf Experts in Merseyside
And even more than that.

So thanks a lot for watching today’s video guys, and to enquire today please contact us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk or simply give us a call at 01625 445 760.

Benefits of Artificial Grass Surfacing in Liverpool, Merseyside

Having a artificial grass surface installed in the Liverpool, Merseyside area has many benefits, these include the following:

In the heat, your artificial grass surface wont die or become dehydrated like natural grass.
Artificial grass is a super versatile surface, not only does it look incredible in the garden, it can also be used for a wide range of purposes including decking, pool sides, roof terraces, play areas and balconies.
Unlike natural grass, artificial grass is not susceptible to flooding or drought. The turf we install drains quickly, so it wont get waterlogged or flooded. Likewise, it does not require watering, so it will not be affected by a lack of water or drought.

Why Choose Us?

At Soft Surfaces our team have over 25 years of experience installing artificial grass surfacing in Liverpool, as well as across Merseyside in general.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality material for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Liverpool artificial grass surface looks brilliant no matter the specification you desire.

Additionally our team can also take care of the maintenance post installation too, making the process of caring for your new artificial grass surface a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this is something you would be interested in, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other Merseyside Area we Install Artificial Grass

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to installed artificial grass surfacing throughout the Merseyside area, including the following areas:

Artificial Grass Installation in Southport
Artificial Grass Installation in Birkenhead
Artificial Grass Installation in Formby
Artificial Grass Installation in St Helens
Artificial Grass Installation in Maghull

and any other surrounding area.

Contact us Today

If you would like artificial grass surfacing installed in Liverpool, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works and more.

Thank you for taking a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch with us today.

5-a-Side Football Pitch Construction With 3g Artificial Turf

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

We have installed a number of 5-a-side sports pitches across the UK to various schools and sports club facilities. One of our latest projects was a 5-a-side football pitch construction with 3G artificial turf for a primary school in London.

The school chose to have a synthetic grass pitch installed as the 3G specification is much easier to look after than natural grass. You can also use it throughout the whole year, even in wet weather.

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5-a-side Football Pitch Construction

This school had an existing natural grass area which wasn’t suitable for use as a sports pitch so they decided to resurface it in 3G artificial turf. The first part of the 3G football pitch construction was to excavate the natural grass surface and prepare the ground for the new pitch to be installed. We ripped up the old grass, leaving a smooth layer of soil beneath which could then be used for the rest of the 5-a-side football pitch construction.

When the ground had been excavated to the right depth, we could then install a soakaway system. This aids in drainage and helps to prevent flooding to the sports facility. Next was the application of a sports sub base. For this type of project, we typically use a dynamic stone sub-base. This is porous and gives the rest of the pitch a solid and even foundation.

We compact the stones down to make sure that they lock together and the sub-base is completely smooth. After the dynamic sub-base has been compacted, a layer of macadam will be applied. This gives the pitch a durable and long lasting base layer. It also creates a smooth foundation to lay the 3G grass carpet onto.

3G Turf Installation

After installing the groundworks and sub base, the next stage of this 5-a-side football pitch construction project was the 3G turf installation. This synthetic grass surface type is popular for football pitches. It has a specific design to replicate the performance of natural grass. 3G pitches have a sand and rubber infill layer installed between the synthetic fibres to improve comfort and enhance the playability.

The 3G turf carpet was installed in separate rolls which were then glued together at the edges and the seams. We do this to secure the carpet into place. Inlaid line markings were then applied in white, along with the sand and rubber infill. We spread this evenly throughout the synthetic fibres to ensure an even playing surface. This is one of the main benefits of the surface as it doesn’t become muddy or uneven during wet weather. Visit this post to find out more about the benefits of these surfaces.

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After the 5-a-side football pitch construction was complete, the primary school had a top quality sports surface. They can now use this for training and playing football matches. The 3G artificial turf will be a long-lasting all-weather surface. It should also be able to withstand a lot of heavy use all year round. You should carry out 3G pitch maintenance regularly to keep it in top condition.

If you’d like any further information on 3G synthetic football pitches or any of the other sports facilities we specialise in, please have a look at our website on http://softsurfaces.co.uk. To discuss costs and designs for a sports pitch installation, fill in our contact form. We’ll send you over some product sheets and a price quotation for the works.

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Synthetic Grass Surfacing Options

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

When you choose to install a brand new artificial sports pitch for your school, college, club or leisure centre, it’s important that you explore all the options to ensure you get the best synthetic grass surfacing for the activities you want to play. There are a number of different specifications that we can offer to suit many sports including football, tennis, hockey and rugby. If you have any specific sports that you’d like to use the facility for, or if you want it to be suitable for all activities, we can help.

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Take a look at some of the different sport surfacing specifications we install:

3G Synthetic Grass Surfacing

The 3G artificial grass specification is the most advanced synthetic turf sport surfacing option and is commonly used for football and rugby pitches. A rubber infill layer is installed into a 3G synthetic pitch to give natural playing characteristics. This then helps to protect players’ joints and muscles from injuries during sport. The rubber granules are applied within the fibres of the pitch along with an application of silica. This is designed to create a stable and comfortable playing surface for training and competitive matches. Many schools and clubs throughout the UK choose to have this type of artificial turf flooring installed. This is often done to replace damaged and worn out natural grass pitches which may be unsafe and unsuitable for use.

2G Sand Filled Turf

The sand filled synthetic grass surfacing specification is a versatile surface type which can be used for multi sports such as football and hockey. This all-weather pitch system has a layer of silica sand applied within the artificial turf fibres of the pitch surface. The infill helps to keep the fibres upright and promotes good playing characteristics. Sand filled artificial turf is a durable and long lasting pitch material. This is why it is very popular with schools and leisure centres where sports facilities have to withstand a lot of heavy use.

2G Sand Dressed Surfacing

The 2G sand dressed specification is very similar to the other 2G system as it has a layer of infill installed within the turf fibres. However, there is only a thin layer of sand as these artificial pitch carpets tend to have a shorter pile height. These qualities make sand dressed sports pitches perfect for playing hockey. The short pile height allows the ball to glide smoothly across the surface and the turf fibres are kept stable.

Multisport Needlepunch Surface

The Multisport needlepunch sports pitch material is a durable and hard wearing surface option which is similar to the Playrite Matchplay 2 system. The curly yarn fibres make the needlepunch synthetic specification an ideal choice for multi use games areas and athletics track facilities. This fibre bonded synthetic grass surfacing is commonly installed at primary schools in the UK as it comes in a range of bright colours. It also provides a soft impact absorbing sport surface to prevent injuries. It can also be designed with different coloured squares and sections so the a number of activities can be done at the same time.

Alternatives to Artificial Grass Pitches

If you’re thinking of installing a multi use games area, but you don’t think a grass pitch would be right for the sports you want to play, there are some alternatives which provide great playing characteristics for activities like tennis, netball and basketball. Polymeric rubber and macadam court surfaces are very common in the UK as they are suitable for use in all weather conditions and provide excellent ball bounce capabilities for a number of different sports. Polymeric and macadam surfaces can have anti slip paint coatings and line markings applied in contrasting colours to distinguish between the sports you choose to play.

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We install a wide variety of different sport surfacing options at various locations in the UK and we would be happy to discuss your enquiry with you. Please fill in the contact form on this page with as much detail as possible and we’ll get back to you with some information about pricing and quotes for your project. If you’d like to find out more about the synthetic grass surfacing options and services we provide, please take a look at our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/ where you can see details of surfaces, specifications and maintenance. Get in touch with us to discuss the costs for these different products and we’ll provide you with a quote as soon as possible.

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below!

Artificial Grass vs Natural Garden Lawns

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

A common debate which gardeners all have is whether to choose synthetic lawns or natural garden lawns. Both come with positives and negatives, but people seem to always choose one over the other. In this blog, we will be having a look at what the actual difference is and which one you should choose.

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What is Artificial Garden Turf?

Artificial turf is a surface that is made up of millions of synthetic blades which are made to replicate the look and feel of grass. However, these turfs are obviously fake, meaning that they are man-made and do not grow or require the same levels of care. Find out more about leisure grass if you are interested in the different products.

Synthetic grass is usually produced out of factories and is created in rolls, meaning that you can just roll the synthetic turf over the surface you wish to cover and not having to place a bunch of tiles or pads down.

Benefits of Synthetic Lawns

Synthetic lawns come with a huge amount of benefits which will not only affect one factor like most things but multiple! These include:

Little to no maintenance – with the surface being artificial, the synthetic surface does not require any watering, mowing, pesticide or fertilizer. This means the amount of time dedicated to keeping your lawn clean and looking great is greatly decreased, giving you more time to get along with.
Customisation – a lot of people try and get natural grass to look a certain way but struggle to get it to spot on. Colours are hard to promote, and patterns become a nightmare to replicate.
Synthetic grass eliminates this problem immediately by allowing the user to choose what patterns and colours they want on their lawn without any stress whatsoever.
Perfect for struggling areas – sometimes people may have a shaded part on their lawn which stops the blades from growing at the same rate and stops it from turning the right colour or they may have high traffic areas which a lot of people damage the turf by walking across it. Artificial grass can handle these issues since shade won’t affect it and it isn’t as easily damaged as real surfacing.
Small areas are perfect for turf – with synthetic turf being incredibly flexible with placement, small spaces which might be hard to place turf on can easily be done with synthetic turf. Plus, this again, allows you to spend less time on maintaining areas that might not be too important. These are often good options for outdoor nursery surfacing.
Types of synthetic turf – one of the best perks about synthetic grass is how you can acquire a wide variety of different types. For example, if you have kids who will be playing on the surface for a while, then you can have shock pads installed underneath, you can have pet resistant turfs installed which eliminate the chance of the pet tearing up the artificial lawn.

Overall, synthetic turf comes with a huge number of benefits that can help you maintain a perfect garden in which you can be proud. Find out more about synthetic turf installation to see how the process works. If you are interested in the sound of it then make sure you enquire today with Soft Surfaces so we can help you through the process of everything.

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Natural Grass Garden Surfacing

Natural grass garden surfacing is made up of organic grass blades and has soil attached to it. Due to this, it requires a lot of care and attention and during transportation; it is usually handled with care due to its brittle nature. Check out this post to see more about the different types of the garden surfacing available.

Coming in rolls, the natural surface is presented in the same manner as synthetic turf but the two are easily distinguishable since natural grass has soil underneath it. Natural surfacing will also have a softer feel to it but will be a lot weaker compared to synthetic turf.

Benefits of Real Grass for Gardens

Real grass may not seem like it, but it does have a lot of benefits just like artificial turf. Some of these benefits include:

Better for the environment – Real grass benefits the environment in an amazing way. Just 2,500 square feet of grass produces enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe. If everyone understood this statistic, then a lot more grass would be planted and kept.
Improvement of wellness and stress – Natural surfacing carries a lot of positives for a person as it has been shown to increase levels of wellness and decrease stress. This is due to the chemicals grass lets off which impact the body positively.
Cheaper – Even though an artificial lawn will save you money over time, the first installation of it is a lot more expensive than normal grass. If you are on a tight budget, then real turf will be the best option to fulfil that requirement.

Even though many people say organic grass isn’t that good, it does carry a lot of very useful benefits and can really help a lot of different factors in your life.

Which One Should You Choose?

When it comes to picking one or the other, it’s important that you know what your budget is, how big the area is and if you’re the type of person who wants to maintain their garden. I would recommend artificial grass if your budget is high, whatever size you want and if you don’t wish to maintain the garden. However, if you’re the opposite (low budget, medium/small area and you want to maintain) then definitely go for the natural option.

In the video below you can see our team installing the artificial lawn surfacing for a garden in Surrey:

Personally, I prefer synthetic turf due to how it pays itself back over the years since you are not spending much money on maintenance compared to if you got natural grass. But, the choice is up to you. If you are looking for advice on the situation or are wanting one of the services then send us, at soft surfaces, a message and we’ll get right back to you!

5-a-Side Football Pitch 3g Artificial Grass Surfacing in Liverpool

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on 5-a-side football pitches in Liverpool, and are able to fit this surface nationwide.

In addition to installation, our team can offer 5-a-side football pitch repair services for existing 5-a-side football pitches within this location, so if you have currently got a 5-a-side football pitch surface that needs either rejuvenating or resurfacing, feel free to get in touch with us today.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our 5-a-Side Football Pitch installations that we carried out in Liverpool.

Below you can see the specific information for this install, as well as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

As always, if you are interested in any of our 5-a-side football pitch services we offer throughout Liverpool or the entire Merseyside area, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

One of our recent projects was the installation of a 5-a-side football pitch at a football and tennis sports centre in Liverpool. The existing area was a tennis court facility inside an outdoor sports structure, however the sand filled synthetic grass tennis court surface had become worn out and the carpet was starting to rip.

This meant that the surface was potentially dangerous and could not be used to its full potential so the sports centre decided to upgrade the court and transform it into a brand new 5-a-side football pitch facility.

5-a-side Football Pitch Construction

Many clubs choose to have a 5-a-side football pitch or full sized sports pitch installed to replace natural grass surfaces which can be difficult to manage and become waterlogged in wet weather. The advantages of 3G synthetic turf are that they require much less maintenance than real grass and they can be played on throughout the year during all weather conditions (excluding snow).

Professional football clubs often use 3G pitches for training and lower league teams even resurface their main pitch in 3G grass to save money on maintenance and generate extra income by renting the facility out to others. Some leisure centres and clubs install 3G surfacing to upgrade an existing 2G facility which has become worn out, just like this project.

The first stage of work was to remove the existing sand filled tennis court carpet which had become damaged and ripped over time through heavy use. Once the worn out artificial grass surfacing had been ripped up, the macadam sub base underneath was still suitable for use with the new layer of surfacing. An engineered macadam sub base is preferred for sports pitch installations because it creates a smooth and even foundations which are extremely durable and long lasting.

The next step was to install the new 3G 5-a-side football pitch flooring onto the macadam sub base. This was done by rolling out the 3G grass carpet in separate pieces and then joining the pieces together with a specialised glue at the seams and the edges to secure it in place.

Inlaid football line markings were then applied in white to create a professional finish and accurate scoring for matches. The final part of the 5-a-side football pitch construction was to put sand and rubber infill within the grass fibres, this helps to keep the fake grass pile upright and improves the playing qualities for a good sporting experience.

Completed 3G Football Surface

The final result of this 5-a-side football pitch construction was a brand new top quality synthetic sports surface in the best technology of artificial turf. The 3G football pitch can be used all year round and even gives the sports centre the opportunity to rent it out to gain some extra revenue.

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We are specialists in installing synthetic sports surfaces such as 3G pitches and multi use games areas for schools, clubs and public sports facilities in the UK. You can find out more about the products and services we specialise in by looking at our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/. If you’re in need of a quote for a project similar to this one or for another sports surface installation, get in touch with us.

We can give you professional advice in regards to costs and specifications for the sports pitch surfacing and any extra features you might need. Send us over the area size, post code and a rough idea of the works you’re looking to carry out and we’ll give you a price estimate for the project.

Don’t forget to leave a comment in the box below if you’ve got a question and feel free to share this article with your friends if you enjoyed it!

Why Choose Us?

At Soft Surfaces we have over 25 years of experience installing 5 a Side Football Pitches in Liverpool, as well as across Merseyside in general.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Liverpool 5 a Side Football Pitch looks brilliant no matter the specification you desire.

Additionally, our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface post installation too, making the process of caring for your new 5 a Side Football Pitch a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this is something you would be interested in, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other Merseyside Areas we Install 5 a Side Football Pitches

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install 5 a Side Football Pitches throughout the Merseyside area, including the following areas:

5 a Side Football Pitch Installation in Southport
5 a Side Football Pitch Installation in Birkenhead
5 a Side Football Pitch Installation in Formby
5 a Side Football Pitch Installation in St Helens
5 a Side Football Pitch Installation in Maghull

and any other surrounding area.

Contact us Today

If you would like a 5 a Side Football Pitch installed in Liverpool, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer more information on designs, colours and prices along with in depth advice on preparation works and more.

Thank you for taking the time to have a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch with us today.

4 Reasons Why Schools Have Artificial Grass

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Artificial grass has quickly become hot property for schools and sports centres. But why is this? Does artificial grass look and perform just as well as natural grass? Won’t it cost extra to install and maintain? Not necessarily!

If you’re interested in redeveloping a school playground or sports surface with artificial grass or turf, there are plenty of great reasons why you should start looking at options right away. Here are four brilliant reasons why schools have artificial grass – and why yours should, too!

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1. Less Maintenance Compared with Natural Grass

Natural grass surfacing may be cheap to grow and easy to keep short, but it is still painstaking to make sure it is safe to use. Natural grass needs to be cut on a weekly basis depending on what you are using it for.

Uneven grass, divots and soil could all cause accidents and injuries, too. While some schools may see real grass as cost-effective, it can be very inefficient in lots of other ways.

Artificial grass for schools is built to be safe, solid and easy to maintain. Unlike natural grass, you’ll never have to cut it or have to make sure it’s free from slippy mud or soil. It can be left to its own devices from season to season! Of course, it’s a good idea to keep it clean – but you’ll save so much time and so many resources.

2. Synthetic Grass is Suitable for All-Weather

Real grass may be nice and soft, but when the rain starts pouring down, it can be hazardous. What’s more, flat grass surfaces can spoil and become waterlogged. This can result in games and matches being called off completely. What’s more, leaving a grass field or surface to air out after a downpour can be a massive drain on your time.

Synthetic grass for schools and other artificial turf standards are weather-resistant. Come rain or shine, kids will be able to head out and play sports and games without fear of slipping or getting too wet underfoot.

Weather resistance is absolutely crucial when it comes to modern play equipment and sporting facilities. Artificial grass lawn solutions are immediately more reliable than real grass for that reason alone.

3. Creates More Opportunities for Outdoor Play

Synthetic grass can help to really encourage kids to get out and play. A high-quality artificial lawn will allow children to play more and do more on school fields and in playgrounds. You can mark designated play areas and zones with ease.

It’s not always so easy to do this with real grass, and you can’t always mark grassy areas in a school environment and expect them to withstand the weather.

An all-weather artificial pitch will encourage kids to head out and play whether it’s raining or fine outside. You’ll be able to host sports days and big events with more flexibility. You will also be able to host fairs and events out on an artificial field where there would otherwise be safety risks on a real grass surface.

You can get really creative with the outdoor play options you can install for your pupils – and they can get even more creative with the games they come up with. Synthetic surfacing inspires activity – it’s true!

4. Provides Safety Qualities for Playground Equipment

While we’ve already taken a look at why synthetic grass is considered a safer option for sports fields and playgrounds, we should also consider their use as part of dedicated safety surfacing. When installed with a shockpad underlayer, artificial turf and surfacing can be used to help bolster safety with playground equipment.

No matter how safe your playground equipment may be, there will always be a risk of a child falling or hurting themselves. Artificial turf and grass solutions, when built with shockpads, can help to reduce the impact of a fall or trip, and will, therefore, be kinder to kids who may otherwise be playing safely.

While it is always crucial that you make sure children in your care are safe at all times, you are also going to need to make sure that the facilities they use are built with safety in mind. The shockpad is designed to reduce the impact and prevent serious injuries. It can be specified to suit the critical fall height of equipment in the area.

Not only is fake grass and synthetic surfacing superior to real turf in the sense that slips and trips are minimised, it will also help to lessen the blow of any potential slips and falls which may occur along the way. All in all, synthetic surfacing should be considered a viable option for any school or sports club looking to better protect its users.

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School Synthetic Grass Surfacing Designs

School synthetic grass surfacing designs don’t all have to arrive in one colour. Modern synthetic surfacing can be easily marked, which means you can designate certain zones and areas for play.

Why not use synthetic grass for schools as an opportunity to encourage multi-sports? Football, tennis, hockey and more – all can be safely played on a water-resistant and hard-wearing turf which really will pay for itself after a few short uses.

Check out this video below to see one of our recent installations in Derby:

We design and install synthetic and artificial grass for schools and nurseries based on a whole host of factors. No matter your needs and requirements, we will always be happy to discuss your perfect school turf design with you. Whether you are setting up a new play area or are arranging for an old turf to be completely re-laid, our team will run through every option and choice with you to make sure you are completely happy.

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When it comes to providing the perfect playground and sports surfacing for your pupils, you’re going to need to think about safe, fun ways for them to create and explore. With durable synthetic grass, you get all the benefits of a natural grass surface, but without the maintenance, the long-term expense, and the risks to safety.

Considering installing artificial grass for your playground or sports pitch? We can help. Take a look at our previous projects or please get in touch with us to learn more. Our local installers are here to help!

How Is Artificial Grass Installed?

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Recently, artificial grass has seen a huge increase in popularity in a wide variety of locations. Whether that be homes, nurseries and schools, sports facilities etc. people are starting to notice the benefits artificial has over organic.

The process of installing these products should be completed carefully by experienced contractors to ensure that the end result is the best possible quality.

Artificial Grass Installation Guide

Artificial grass can seem incredibly complicated and confusing when first looking into it. Once you know everything about it though, it becomes simpler than organic turf! Installing fake lawns offers so many customisable options and some extra benefits in which the natural surface struggles to meet.

With modern synthetic turf being UV stable, this eliminates the chance of the surface losing its colour through exposure to natural sunshine. You can also pick the shade of green that you wish to see your lawn as. Whether it is a bright green or dark green, any shade of green can be applied to the area for you. Check out this post as well to see the benefits of having an artificial grass garden.

Synthetic Turf Lawn Installers

When it comes to installing synthetic turf, it can be a long, tiring and expensive process to do if you try and install it by yourself. In addition, most people who end up trying to install artificial turf without any help from an installer usually damage the area in which they want to install the fake grass. This can make the process even harder especially when you’re trying to achieve the perfect lawn.

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That’s why professional synthetic turf lawn installers are usually the best option to go with. Before you pick one though, it’s recommended that you do some background checks and receive some client references about the company, so you can understand a bit more about the installation process and timing.

Soft Surfaces can help with the installation of synthetic turf surfacing. We have completed many projects including school artificial grass for playgrounds and other areas.

With over 20 years of experience and a team made up of professionals, installing synthetic turf couldn’t be any easier. Just tell the team what kind of design you would like (colour of turf, depth of grass, measurements etc.) and we’ll get straight on it. Usually, it takes us around 2-3 days to complete an installation fully, but this really depends on the size and requirements of the project.

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These products can be installed to domestic locations along with nursery gardens, visitor attractions and other outdoor spaces.

Laying a Fake Grass Lawn

The process of going from a muddy, dirty lawn to a clean, nice looking synthetic surface is quite long but our team will complete it to the highest standards. The process goes as follows:

Remove the existing grass – The top layer of soil is removed to show the bottom layer.
Compact the ground – A roller or vibrating plate is then used to flatten the bottom layer of soil.
Prevent weeds from growing – We’ll place a weed blocking membrane over the ground. This decreases the chances of weeds from growing through and will allow vital drainage.
Lay sand – Sand is then added on top of the membrane, which is compacted and sharp, with a minimum of 40mm.
Place grass edging down – This will hold the artificial carpet in place and stop it from moving about. It’s usually made a bit smaller than the turf so that water can run off the edges.
Rolling out the turf – When the previous steps are done, our team will then start to roll out the fake grass. This process should be done correctly (slowly and steady) or else the weed-killing membrane can be damaged.
Let the carpet settle – For a minimum of three hours (preferably overnight though); the turf is left to settle to stop any wrinkling or creasing occurring.
Cut and trim the edges – Excess synthetic turf is then cut off so the artificial grass fits perfectly in the specified area.
Joining and pinning – Adhesive is applied underneath the grass to glue it firmly to the floor and together. Once the positioning is good, the turf will then be pinned down to hold it in position.
Sand infill – Next we’ll apply a layer of sand throughout the surface which helps to keep the fibres upright and even.
Brush up the carpet – Finally, a simple brush of the fibres will get the fake blades to stand up and look more natural, giving it a beautiful finish.

Not only can synthetic turf be installed on existing grassy areas, but it can be installed on concrete and follows a similar procedure to the one above. Enquire today to see for yourself.

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If any of this interest you, then send us your enquiries now! We offer free no obligation quotations and only the best prices are guaranteed for you. Designs can become reality through us as we will try our hardest to make sure every aspect of your design is met.

Artificial Grass Installation in Swarkestone, Derby

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on artificial grass surfacing in Swarkestone, Derby and are able to fit this surface nationwide.

In addition to installations, our team can offer artificial grass repair services for existing artificial grass within this location, so if you have currently got a artificial grass surface that needs either rejuvenating or resurfacing, feel free to get in touch with us.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our artificial grass installations that we carried out in Swarkestone, Derby.

Below you can see the specific information for this install, as well as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

As always, if you are interested in any of our artificial grass services we offer throughout Swarkestone or the entire Derbyshire area, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

Artificial Grass Surfacing in Swarkestone, Derby

What was the specification? : Artificial Grass at 25mm
What colours were used? : Natural Green
What was the size of the job? : 96m²
How long did the job take?: 1 day on site
What sub base was used? : Porous stone and sand screed

When it comes to installing Artificial Grass here at Soft Surfaces we have a great wealth of experience over many years in the industry supply surfaces across the UK.

Artificial Leisure Grass Installation

In this video below see the full process of how we upgrade a natural grass lawn for Synthetic Grass. Our installation in Swarkestone, Derby will show the range of expertise as we provide an install around Children’s Activity Equipment.

Please see video transcript below:

00:07 Hey, guys. This is Dan from Soft Surfaces here. In today’s video, we’re going to show you an artificial grass installation in the Swarkestone, Derby area.

00:16 The first thing we actually did for this installation was to inspect the natural grass that was already there and obviously make plans for the size of the artificial grass, which was going to be installed. This obviously means measuring up this existing area, which you can see, and obviously just kind of taping off where we feel we need to install the facility.

00:29 Next up, the sub-base and edging is actually installed in preparation for the artificial grass. This means obviously removing the existing surface, fitting the edging and the sub-base and then it’s ready get the grass finish.

00:39 The completed project is actually here, you can see in the photos. The artificial grass is now laid. It looks absolutely fantastic for this little small playground facility. Obviously they’ve got their wooden games that they can play on here with that as well. It’s a great little area for the kids to kind of go and enjoy during their lunch breaks.
Thanks a lot for watching guys, and I’ll see you guys later.

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Swarkestone Information

Swarkestone is a small village in the south of Derbyshire, England. This small village had a population of 187 people at the last census in 2011. This old English village is where Swarkestone bridge is located it is three-quarters of a mile long and has 17 arches.

For any information on the Artificial Grass or any of our range of products call or fill in our enquiry form and a member of our expert team will be happy to help.

Benefits of Artificial Grass Surfacing in Swarkestone, Derby

Having a artificial grass surface installed in the Swarkestone, Derby area has many benefits, these include the following:

Artificial grass always look aesthetically pleasing in all kinds of weather. This is because the weather doesn’t actually have any direct impact on the surface. The surface will continue to stay green all year round.
Artificial grass as a surface requires a lot less maintenance as the surface doesn’t need to be watered, fertilised or mowed like real grass.
You will spend less time maintaining your garden or surface, this means you will spend more time enjoying the surface.
If you want to have artificial grass in your garden for example, the surface is much more weed resistant than natural grass so weeds are less likely to grown through artificial turf than real turf. By laying a weed membrane and applying weed killer, you can be practically weed-free.
Due to the materials it is made from, artificial grass stays pest-free. On the other hand, natural grass provides the perfect environment for bugs and pests which you need to spend to spend time, effort, money and harmful pesticide to rid your lawn of.
Artificial grass is a very durable surface. It can withstand wear and tear, is also weather proof, does not dry out, does not get waterlogged and will not fall victim to pest infestations. It is way more robust tan real grass.

Why Choose Us?

Our team here at Soft Surfaces Ltd have over 25 years of experience installing artificial grass surfacing in Swarkestone, as well as Derby in general.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Swarkestone artificial grass surface looks brilliant no matter the specification you desire.

Additionally, our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface post installation too, making the process of caring for your new artificial grass surface a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this is something you would be interested in, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other Derbyshire Areas we Install Artificial Grass

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install artificial grass surfacing throughout the Derbyshire area, including the following areas:

Artificial Grass Installation in Chesterfield
Artificial Grass Installation in Swadlincote
Artificial Grass Installation in Long Eaton
Artificial Grass Installation in Belper
Artificial Grass Installation in Ilkeston

and any other surrounding area.

Contact us Today

If you would like artificial grass installed in Swarkestone, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works and more.

Thank you for taking a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch today.

Why Choose Artificial Grass for Your Garden?

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Many people would say that the garden is one of the main factors in how appealing a house is. When you have a garden with muddy puddles, holes, torn grass, different shades of colour and dints, it can scare people off.

If these problems are common for you then a synthetic grass garden might be the perfect solution!

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Artificial Grass Garden Designs

When it comes to creating your artificial grass garden, there are so many different designs you can go with. Ranging from minimalistic to post-modernistic, create the atmosphere that you wish to give people when they enter your garden.

Patterns can be placed on the fake turf, allowing for certain styles (like a cut lawn) to be noted by people. Not all the turfs have to be the exact same as each other and can really vary from each person and their tastes.

Benefits of Artificial Turf

Artificial turf has a wide amount of benefits over natural surfacing. With recent improvements in technology, the synthetic grass has become even better than it was a few years ago. Some of these improvements include:

SuDS compliant – Means that the surfacing is not going to hold water or flood.
UV resistant – Stops the surface of the artificial turf losing its colour from sun exposure.
Looks – The turf now has had an improvement in colour to look even more realistic.

Even though there are going to be many new improvements, there are some benefits which will always be around for synthetic surfacing. A lot of people usually overlook some of these factors and believe that natural grass is just better, but once you know the facts you’ll be able to make an informed decision. These benefits include:

Low maintenance required – Lawnmowers are a thing of the past once you get artificial turfing done. The grass will not have to be cut and therefore you don’t have to worry about it getting too long and looking scruffy.
It can suit all your needs – Whether you have a pet which won’t stop tearing up your grass or kids who love to play football on your lawn but take a few tumbles, artificial lawn carpet will be tailored for your specific needs to make sure that you get the most use out of it as possible.
Perfect for outdoor spaces where grass isn’t working – Sometimes you may have a grassy area which people just keep walking over, or a small patch of turf covered by shade. Artificial carpet can make this common problem less of an issue, resulting in less stress for you.
Customisable – Real turf is annoying when it comes to designing a unique garden. However, having an artificial grass garden eliminates that annoyance by quite a mile. It’s a lot easier to design compared with the naturally growing turf as you are not relying on even growth.
Eliminates use of harmful pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides and fungicides – Natural grass usually requires a lot of harmful chemicals to keep it healthy and to avoid problems. With synthetic surfacing, this risk is eliminated completely as the fake turf doesn’t require such harmful chemicals.
Save water – Watering a natural lawn can be such a long and tedious task, especially in the summer. In addition to this, it can waste a lot of water. Artificial turf doesn’t need watering and therefore, you can save a lot of water.

As you can see, artificial turf is incredibly resourceful and beneficial for almost any type of situation. Not only can it be installed in domestic gardens, but it can also be used for school play facilities, sports clubs and commercial facilities. The best thing about it is that over time, the grass will start to pay for itself through the savings on maintenance costs.

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Fake Grass for Garden Lawns

After noticing the benefits and the recent improvements synthetic turfs have had, people start to notice them as a more valid option than just a regular lawn, especially in the UK. With the weather being rainy and dull, synthetic grass can handle it a lot better than just organic turf meaning you can rest assured that not even the British weather can ruin your garden.

Synthetic lawns aren’t just durable, but they’re attractive too. With a recent improvement in technology and aesthetics, fake grass can look even better than a regular lawn. In addition, hardly any care must be taken to keep it looking good, so you’ll never have to worry about getting out that lawn mower again. If you do want to clean it though, all it takes is a brush and you’ll be fine.

Installing a Synthetic Turf Lawn

When it comes to installing your synthetic lawn, there are no better people to call than Soft Surfaces. We’ve had over 20 years of experience of doing installations and done so many ranging from gardens to sports facilities. See this post for more advantages and disadvantages of synthetic garden lawns.

Just send us an enquiry with what you want and one of our team will get back to you as quick as possible and will start to talk you through the process of making your design become a reality. Unlike many installers, we will try our hardest to stick with your design and make sure that the project is completed to the highest standards.