Artificial grass, also known as synthetic turf, has been around for a long time. Over the years, there have been major improvements in it, both in terms of appearance and performance.
Artificial grass used to look hard and plastic and felt much the same. Now, there is a wide range of options, many of which look remarkably natural and feel good enough to be a viable alternative to the natural grass it is replacing.
It has also become easier to care for and better for your yard and the environment. A big part of this improvement has been in its increased UV protection which keeps it looking good much longer than it used to.
With all these improvements, artificial grass can be a good replacement for natural grass, particularly in small areas such as around decks and pools.
Today, there are many types of artificial grass that are available. A bit of research can help you be sure you are making the best choice for the specific circumstances of your yard.
For instance, if you want to put artificial grass around pool, you might want to use a different kind of artificial grass than if you were going to cover your entire yard. The different grades of grass, the length of the grass, and even the color of grass are things that can factor into what artificial grass is best for you.
This article will hopefully help you get learn is artificial glass around pool a good idea and get started in choosing the right artificial grass for your pool area. You will want to spend some time working through all the different factors that affect what artificial grass will be best for you. It is a big investment, so you’ll want to get it right.
With that said, let’s get started.
Tips
1. When In Doubt, Ask an Expert
While you should definitely do your own research, it will still pay to find an expert in artificial grass. There is lots of great information available online, but an expert that has worked in the industry for a while can help you sort the good information from the bad you as well as help you in putting it all together. Often, they will have experience with a project similar to yours and can tell you what worked or what did not.
2. Learn Turf Terminology
There are many terms regarding artificial turf that you should know before you get started working with it. Some of the terms are important for you to know so that you can understand what the professionals and online resources are telling you. These are just a few of the terms you need to know, this site will show you some more terms. These terms will help you to know more about your options.
Yarn – Yarn is what the blades of grass are made of, and there are three different materials used for the yarn. You will need to know these terms, as well, so that you know which type you want for your pool area.
Polyethylene – this type looks most like natural grass but has the least UV protection of all the types. It is a combination of durability and softness that make many people want this type of yarn.
Polypropylene – this is the cheapest form of yarn, but it is not very hardy. It is also the softest of the three, but because of this, it is easily crushed when you are walking on it. It is not really a good yarn to use in an area with lots of traffic.
Nylon – this is the most durable of the three yarns but is also can cause “turf burn” because it is also the toughest there is. It is UV resistant and very resilient and lasts a long time. This would be a good turf to use in high traffic areas, especially if you will not be doing a lot of running around on it or roughhousing on it.
3. Pros and Cons
You need to think of all the pros and cons of putting artificial grass around your pool. Some of the pros include it being slip resistant compared to cement, it is cleaner, there is efficient drainage, the aesthetics, there are fewer bugs, and there is no cross-contamination of chemicals.
The cons include the cost of installation and the heat build-up of the turf. You can learn more about the pros and cons of artificial turf here. This site has some good information for you.
4. Foot Traffic
You must know which turf is best for the foot traffic that you expect. You do not want to use a turf that is easily bent down and does not recover for a high traffic area such as around your pool. You will want a denser artificial grass that has a heavy face weight – which is how much material is used in the face of the turf. (Not the backing.)
5. Resilient and Springy Fibers
You want to use artificial grass that is resilient to foot traffic and has springy fibers that pop back up after you step on it. This also has a lot to the infill – which is the material that you use to put under the turf. You want a high-quality infill that goes along with your high-quality turf.
6. Durable and Long-lasting
You want a turf that is durable so that it lasts a long time – turf is expensive to put down and you do not want to have to replace it every few years. You want it to last a very long time so that you do not have that expense every few years.
These are just a few of the hints and tips that you need to know about when choosing an artificial turf to put around your pool area. You want to do some more research to see what else you need to know and then talk to a professional before you have it installed.
Good luck on using artificial grass to make your swimming pool the oasis of your dreams!