http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog Your Resource Into the Synthetic Grass World. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:40:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/this-is-the-way-we-keep-the-turf-standing-at-attention/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/this-is-the-way-we-keep-the-turf-standing-at-attention/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:23:56 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=729 Same as carpet, artificial turf looks bad when it’s matted down. Why does one synthetic grass flop over like a wet taco, while another stands tall and looks natural? It really doesn’t take a Ph.D. in Turfology to grasp the concept. The polyethylene yarns in today’s turf are manufactured to stand perpendicular to the backing, but with suppleness and resiliency similar to natural grass. The idea is to look and feel like a natural lawn, and synthetic grass does this well. Sometimes it does the job too well. Under heavy traffic, the blades of natural grass get stomped and matted, and synthetic grass behaves the same way. But while Mother Nature can regenerate or grow new fibers, synthetic grass needs the benefit of a good brushing – or forward-thinking engineering – to look good again. Installation techniques, infill in particular, helps prevent matting in artificial turf. If no one walked on a synthetic lawn, the fibers wouldn’t be subjected to pressure and wouldn’t bend. Because most synthetic grass will be walked on, infilling -- distributing granules among the synthetic grass blades and working it into the pile – is necessary. In filling the voids, proper infill gives the long synthetic fibers something to lean on when they are pressed and bent, enhancing the resilient performance characteristics of the yarn. The choice of turf also determines whether turf is going to lay down on the job. Synthetic grass with wider blades of thicker microns typically stand up best to heavy traffic best. Also, in general, shorter blades (such as those found in SGW’s Pet Turf) will mat down less than taller blades.]]> http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/this-is-the-way-we-keep-the-turf-standing-at-attention/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/reflections-on-turf-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-have-to-look-shiny/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/reflections-on-turf-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-have-to-look-shiny/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:21:00 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=726 A traditional knock on artificial turf is: It’s shiny, which makes it looks fake. That was a characteristic of the first generations of synthetic grass (i.e., Astroturf) but needn’t be a reason for rejection today. Contemporary polyethylene synthetic grass minimizes reflection and refraction of light, headlined by yarn engineering … a production in which the star of the show DOESN’T sparkle. Under a bright sun, it can difficult to totally eliminate twinkling of light on synthetic grass; the effect is similar to a lawn glistening after it’s been watered. One reason reflections are less apparent are the application of newer ultra-violet coatings, applied to artificial turf to prevent fading; the matte finish “oxidizes” after time under the sun without losing effectiveness, even in pet turf installations. But the design of the artificial turf blades is the most important contributor to the shine factor, and usually determines the realistic appearance of a lawn – one reason why yarn technology is a passion at Synthetic Grass Warehouse.]]> http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2012/01/04/reflections-on-turf-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-have-to-look-shiny/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/outside-the-box-with-synthetic-grass-apps/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/outside-the-box-with-synthetic-grass-apps/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:29:11 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=702 One of the greatest advantages of a synthetic lawn is: It “grows” anywhere. More accurately, artificial turf can be installed in residential and urban locations where natural grass isn’t feasible. For example, on a patio. Or a wooden balcony. On top of a roof. Over concrete. Next to a swimming pool. Synthetic grass can transform these and other spaces previously unsuited or unimaginable for lawns into functional and beautiful areas. The results can produce inviting rooftop outdoor environments or entertainment pits, natural-looking terraces and courtyards, and often surprising benefits. Pet turf installed over an unyielding surface such as concrete can be dog- (and owner-) friendly. Synthetic grass will last longer than wood or synthetic deck materials. It’s a lightweight insulation for roofing and has outstanding fire resistance. Happily, these synthetic grass applications are as carefree as maintenance-free backyard turf, typically requiring only a few variations to standard installation concepts. Drainage - The permeability of turf – specifically, the perforation holes – would seem to be purposeless when installing over non-porous surfaces such as a typical concrete slab. However, installation of a cellular drainage mat, glued directly onto the concrete under the turf, will facilitate drainage along the natural slope to any existing drainage points. A non-perforated drainage mat will also allow the synthetic grass to function as a pet turf -- transporting dog urine and liquids readily through the turf system and off the concrete … and preventing accumulation of odor.]]> http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/outside-the-box-with-synthetic-grass-apps/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/turf-undercover-talking-points-for-backings/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/turf-undercover-talking-points-for-backings/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:26:31 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=698 Obviously in synthetic grass, the fiber is the star of the show. The appearance of the turf counts for a lot, and it’s significant to weigh the color and composition of yarn, density and pile height. But the backing, the skeleton of the turf system, is also important (though less apparent). How a backing is manufactured and what it’s made of is essential to the performance of artificial grass. Almost all turf is has a two-part backing system – a primary woven backing into which fibers are stitched, and a heavier secondary backing that holds the tufts in place and keeps the carpet laying flat. The composition and construction of secondary backings are worth consideration. One great backing debate: Perforated, or non-perforated? Most secondary backings of contemporary synthetic grass are made of urethane and feature perforations, or punched holes every couple of inches, to facilitate drainage. Perforated drainage systems are typically rated at 20 inches per hour of greater. Some manufacturers have introduced non-perforated geotextile backings without perforations (in essence, woven layer melted onto the primary backing) in quest for better drainage and an antidote to pre-existing weeds that try to peek through the turf...(click below to read more)]]> http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/11/01/turf-undercover-talking-points-for-backings/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/05/09/synthetic-grass-the-answer-to-water-shortages/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/05/09/synthetic-grass-the-answer-to-water-shortages/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 00:14:05 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=594 Nowadays, water shortages are a legitimate environmental concern in which many have taken awareness to, coming up with improvements and systems that can reverse such negative effects. The use of artificial turf as a water saving alternative to heavy water consuming surfaces is an effective improvement. Once installed, the copious amounts of water saved by synthetic grass add up each day, and evidently, each year. For this reason, residences, commercial businesses, parks, recreation, and other municipalities have taken to the use of synthetic turf for the purpose of water conservation. As a realistic natural grass alternative, it is a revolutionary modern product that completely eliminates the need for watering. The ongoing global water crisis is one that has caused drought conditions, in conjunction with random climate events. Even with rainfall, evaporation due to temperature increases can contribute to water shortages. With artificial grass, the precious resource of water can be conserved, gallon by gallon. An estimated 25,000 gallons of water are used to water a single residential lawn in a year. Other parks, fields, and other natural grass areas can require an exponential increase in water requirements. Imagine the amount of water that can be saved by a single residential lawn being converted into a synthetic grass lawn. If more and more residences and neighborhoods took to artificial grass, hundreds of thousands of gallons of water could be conserved. With larger areas such as recreational parks, fields, and commercial areas, millions of gallons of water could be saved. A versatile product with so many uses has worked to revolutionize the water conservation movement, as well as to increase awareness on improvements and steps society can take. (...to continue click below)]]> http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/05/09/synthetic-grass-the-answer-to-water-shortages/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/03/14/the-science-of-artificial-turf/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/03/14/the-science-of-artificial-turf/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:16:21 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=452 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/03/14/the-science-of-artificial-turf/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/01/07/earn-a-tax-rebate-by-installing-artificial-grass/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/01/07/earn-a-tax-rebate-by-installing-artificial-grass/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:29:12 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=420 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2011/01/07/earn-a-tax-rebate-by-installing-artificial-grass/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/17/grass-paint-vs-artificial-lawn/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/17/grass-paint-vs-artificial-lawn/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:52:26 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=404 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/17/grass-paint-vs-artificial-lawn/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/10/artificial-grass-retailers-and-installers/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/10/artificial-grass-retailers-and-installers/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:08:06 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=399 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/10/artificial-grass-retailers-and-installers/feed/ 0 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/03/is-artificial-grass-worth-it/ http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/03/is-artificial-grass-worth-it/#comments Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:26:33 +0000 DigitalTurfDealer http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/?p=392 http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com/blog/2010/12/03/is-artificial-grass-worth-it/feed/ 0