It can be hard to be sure when your Jacksonville synthetic grass needs maintenance and refreshed versus a total replacement. Don’t worry, we are here to help with this easy and complete guide.

ON-SITE EVALUATION

Whether or not it’s a synthetic lawn which can last long beyond its warranty or a sports turf field, it’s essential to check some of the following things to search for wear. Having a turf assessed for the following by an expert is ideal.

BAD DRAINAGE

One of the first signs of poor drainage could be viewed with standing water on the grass surface. Although this doesn’t show that the artificial turf is needing replacement but needs to be corrected or properly maintained over the life of the artificial turf, then it can be addressed when it's replaced. If you notice pooling, this may indicate a problem or dips with the sub-base system. More commonly you will discover that water will displace the turf infill making the turf to collapse as the water mats the fibers. This could be seen where downspouts are situated as well as water run off areas.

SURFACE DAMAGE

If your artificial turf is close to the end of its life, you might begin observing degradation or other damage caused by UV. Make sure to periodically check your synthetic surface for damage due to pets or pests and sometimes even lawn mowers. In addition, damage from fires, inclement weather, or other incidents can affect a turf’s integrity.

STAINS & ODORS

Paint and oil spills can be particularly complicated to handle on synthetic turf if not dealt with promptly, leading to irreparable damage. Lead-based paint isn’t removable from artificial surfaces. If you have a pet using the yard, it is best to do daily cleaning to ensure it looks great and odor free. Look at our cleaning guide here. If you are dealing with turf that has been neglected, replacing it could be your best bet.

FADED & MATTED SURFACE

UV exposure for many years is one of the greatest contributors to turf damage. High-quality synthetic turf is treated with UV stabilizers, but as these stabilizers are exhausted many years after installation, you might see a color change and areas where the grass becomes matted down due to UV and regular traffic. If the surface isn’t occasionally expertly maintained as part of regular maintenance, it will be tricky to restore the grass every year.

INFILL COMPACTIONS

After a while, infill might begin to compact, much like soil does. If artificial grass is not frequently maintained, it can lead to the surface becoming hard and compacted. Walk across the grass to feel for areas that are abnormally firm. Having an artificial turf pro test the surface hardness with a testing system similar to GMAX is the only way to determine how compact the surface is. These devices will drop a weight that has an accelerometer from a known height to figure out deceleration, AKA how rapidly the weight stops once it impacts the surface.

INFILL MEASUREMENTS

With excessive rain or pedestrian traffic, infill materials will usually start to migrate off the surface. It is essential to maintain your infill depth over 20mm to keep the turf blades upright and the artificial grass working the way it should. Synthetic grass that has lost a large portion of infill will lead to additional surface matting. It is feasible you just have to have an infill refill instead of a complete turf replacement, so be sure to talk to a pro.

GET SOUTHWEST GREENS QUALITY

Southwest Greens' first installations are more than 20 years old and have maintained the natural green texture and color of genuine grass. Our UV-resistant artificial grass products look and function just like new because they are designed to endure heavy traffic, extreme weather conditions, and temperature fluctuations for all-year use.

All installations come have a complete one-year warranty on workmanship and manufacturer's warranty that covers fading. Our synthetic turf is manufactured to be used and is highly recommended in heavy use areas or for long-term sporting purposes. Contact Southwest Greens of Jacksonville today if you are ready to experience the Southwest Greens difference. We’re glad to offer a free consultation.