Glossary of Terms for Artificial or Synthetic Turf

Aggregate: the rock below the artificial grass surface, used for drainage and to grade the surface prior to laying the artificial turf.

Astroturf: a brand of artificial turf. Though the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as antimicrobial protection, rubber infill, backing systems and nylon yarn fibers.

Base: a layer of rock below the turf. For most artificial grass installations, about three inches of base is required. Base fills the area where real grass was removed. We then shape and smooth the surface for the artificial turf installation.

Compaction Rate: the percentage of how hard the rock base is below the synthetic turf.

Class II base rock: rock of ¾” to ¼” size – when compacted to 90% hardness water will percolate through to the soil.

D.G. (Decomposed Granite): ¼” minus size rock that compacts well, but D.G. binds so tightly it will not allow water to percolate through to the soil.

Dump Trailer: a trailer that dumps itself, saving labor hours.

Enviro-Cell Backing: a soy-based backing and is the environmentally conscious backing for your artificial turf lawn. This type of backing is completely permeable and doesn’t rely on the holes drilled in it or perforations for drainage.

Grade: the level and slope of the base below the synthetic grass lawn.

Green Treated Lumber: is pressure treated to prevent termite’s entry. When used we bury this special wood in the aggregate base to affix artificial turf with nails or screws.

Infill: granules used to brush down into the fibers of the artificial turf to keep the blades or fibers standing up. Many different types of infill can be used such as 12 or 16 Kiln Dried or 30 grit silica sand, rubber which is recycled tires and tennis shoes, acrylic coated silica sand or anything else that is cost effective enough – and with the right characteristics to use for keeping the synthetic grass fibers standing straight up. Infill also weights down the turf evenly and prevents wrinkles. Another reason for infill is to protect the turf backing from ultraviolet rays which can break the backing down over time.

Landscape Border: available in many forms for the edges of the artificial grass lawn and base. Bender board, black plastic, green treated lumber, flexible redwood are just a few of the options available to you for the border of your artificial turf lawn.

Mylar: a film used to spread glue on in order to seam pieces of artificial grass together.

Recovery: the standing back up of the artificial grass lawn fibers after they are stepped on, or crushed down somehow. Infill helps in the recovery of the fibers.

Seaming Glue: adhesive are used for some artificial turf seams. Many types of glue will break down, allowing the seams to come apart over time. Artificial Lawns Direct uses only the best products for your home or business artificial grass landscaping needs.

Products Used: Nordot 3 and 3M Rubber and Gasket Adhesive.

Shock Pad: padding is from ½” to 2 ½” thick and is manufactured from materials composed of closed cell polyethylene foam from recycled packaging material for use under the artificial grass product layer. This foam pad provides additional drainage layer beneath the artificial turf and will give vertical “G” force shock protection up to 9’.

Sod Cutter: a machine which cuts real grass or sod in even depths and widths so it can be rolled up and removed easily to prepare for the base of the artificial turf system.

Sod: Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the root ball and roots.

Spikes: are one of the fastener types Artificial Lawns Direct uses to secure the artificial grass down to the base. They are hot dipped and galvanized so that they don’t rust below your synthetic grass lawn. Spikes are seven inches long, and have ring shanks for 2” from the tip and they penetrate the artificial turf, the aggregate base, and the sub-soil to keep the turf secure for years to come.

Sprinkler Cap: a fitting used to screw on to the connection where a sprinkler head is removed.

Sprinkler Plug: a fitting used to screw into, not on, where we remove your sprinkler head.

Timber Ties: another fastener we use to secure the synthetic turf to the aggregate base and sub-soil. These are a six inch spike, which have a spiral shape body, almost like a screw. When these spikes penetrate the artificial grass they twist into the rock base below almost like a screw and keep your artificial turf secure.

Trowel: a flat, straight or notched edged tool used to ensure that the borders or perimeter of your artificial turf lawn are a consistent level.

Turf: This term is used interchangeably it seems, for real grass lawns, or artificial grass lawns. There are many varieties of artificial turf on the market today. Artificial grass lawn or ‘turf’ products are manufactured using a wide variety of materials. Polypropylene, polyethylene and nylon  are some of the yarn fibers used to create the real grass looking part of the artificial grass product. Synthetic grass yarn or fibers can be stitched or ‘tufted’ into many different types of backing. Urethane, Dura-Flow, Bio-Cell and Enviro-Cell are just a few of the options available. Each backing type for artificial grass lawn products has its benefits. If you have dogs we recommend a certain backing for your turf, if you want to play football or sports we recommend another backing type for your artificial turf.

Urethane Backing: the most common and least expensive artificial turf backing. It looks like black plastic with holes drilled in it (perforated) for drainage. This is a petroleum based product and will not pass recycling and environmental standards of the near future for synthetic grass lawn products.

Vibrating Plate Compactor: this power tool is used for compacting base material to 90% hardness.

Weed Barrier Mesh: a cloth that keeps weeds from growing up through the artificial turf. It usually comes in four-foot-wide sections and goes on top of the rock base and under the synthetic turf.