As a diehard Do-It-Yourselfer, you may have laid down carpet tile yourself or even evergreen turf, but installing artificial grass is a whole new ballgame! You should also know that improper installation could lead to premature wear and tear. This doesn’t mean your DIY endeavours have come to an end…just follow Belgotex DuraTurf’s step-by-step installation guide to greener pastures!

Step 1 – preparing the subsoil. The subsoil should be level, stable, well condensed and porous. Belgotex DuraTurf suggests road-metal, lava stone and sand, concrete tiles and stones as good subsoil materials. Achieve a level and stable surface by wetting (don’t saturate) the subsoil and condensing it using a hand roller or vibrating plate. Repeat this a few times to ensure it is solid.

Once the subsoil is ready, roll out the grass and allow your Belgotex DuraTurf to lie for some time to flatten. This should take about 30 minutes. Then, attach your turf around the edges using a side board or a wooden beam.

Step 2 – joining the artifical grass. This applies when installing a Belgotex DuraTurf surface that is wider than the standard roll and requires the gluing of two or more strips together. To do this, fold the grass back at the sides. Cut off the black edge for the full length of the roll. Then overlap the next roll about 3 – 5 cm where the seam has to come later. Then cut both rolls at the same time using a carpet knife and a ruler to help you cut a straight seam.

Step 3 – checking the seam. Fold the grass, forward so the synthetic stalks are on top. Bring both pieces of synthetic grass together and check if both sides are close together over the length of the synthetic grass rolls.

Step 4 – gluing your DuraTurf. Ensuring that your subsoil is a little damp, fold all the sides of your artificial grass roll so that the seam tape can be put on. Position it in such a way that the seam between the 2 grass rolls is in the middle of the seam tape. Using an adhesive comb, spread the adhesive in the middle of this adhesive carrier.

Step 5 – pressing the seam. Starting at the end of the Belgotex Duraturf grass rolls, carefully fold back the rolls one by one – the sides should be lying in the middle of the adhesive. Simultaneously, press the grass into the adhesive. When the entire length is glued, compress them a little more by walking along it.

Step 6 – applying the sand filling. Wait for an hour, to ensure the adhesive is dry, before you start with sand filling. Cut the outline of the synthetic grass surface in the shape you want. Going from the middle of the surface out, spread dry sand on the grass. Then sweep the surface in the opposite direction of the pile’s direction to get the grass fibres to stand upright. The job is complete once you can only see about 15 – 20 mm of the fibres.

For more information on how to install synthetic grass, visit the Belgotex website at www.belgotex.co.za.