If you’re going to lay a new lawn, you might be wondering whether you should do it on top of concrete. The answer is yes, provided you follow the right steps. Yes, this will take some time and effort but the result will be worth it: a lush new lawn that looks great in the garden.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Artificial grass can be installed on concrete surfaces. |
| Proper preparation is crucial to ensure a stable foundation. |
| Infill and anchoring are important to prevent movement and achieve a neat appearance. |
| There are multiple methods for attaching artificial grass to concrete. |
| Additional resources are available to help facilitate a successful installation. |
Removing Existing Surface
The first things you’ll want to do are measure the area you want your artificial grass to cover, and then determine how much space you have available.
If there’s already a lot of concrete in front of the wall, it’s going to be hard for anyone to put down new grass without damaging it. Next, dig holes through which you can insert posts that will hold up the artificial grass once it’s installed.
Next comes removing any existing surface from around where your new lawn will go! Depending on what was there before (grass? Dirt?), this may require different methods: if it was dirt just left bare by a previous owner but hasn’t been used for anything else since then, just remove that layer; if there was grass growing on top of an old lawn (and possibly even weeds),
then use hand tools like shovels and rakes until everything is removed down into healthy soil underneath so nothing grows back after replacing paving stones with posts supporting artificial turf surfaces later on…
When laying artificial grass, it’s important to add sand to create a stable and level surface. Our guide on easy ways to add sand to artificial grass can help you ensure a smooth installation.
Creating A Smooth Surface
Now that you’ve got the surface prepared and leveled, it’s time to get started on laying your artificial grass. You’ll want to start by laying down weed control membrane. This will protect the new lawn from getting damaged by weeds and insects.
Once this is laid, cover it with heavy duty sand before fixing your artificial grass in place with adhesive mats and pins (you can find these at any hardware store).
The next step is simply connecting all of the pieces together so that they form a cohesive whole. The best way to do this is using a grid template a piece of paper with squares drawn on it which act as guides for exactly where each piece should go and marking out where all of your pieces fit on top of each other (this will make more sense when we look at an example).
Once everything has been laid down correctly, use scissors or sharp blades to cut around each piece until they’re all cut off neatly. This might sound like a lot but once you’ve done it once or twice before you’ll get used to doing this quickly!
Creating A Smooth Surface
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Lay Weed Control Membrane | After preparing and leveling the surface, lay down weed control membrane to protect the new lawn from damage caused by weeds and insects. This can also improve drainage and prevent the growth of unwanted vegetation. |
| Cut and Lay Artificial Grass | Once the membrane is in place, it’s time to lay down your artificial grass. Make sure to cut the pieces to size and carefully lay them in place, making sure they fit tightly against each other. |
| Secure Edges | After the grass is in place, secure the edges using turf pegs or adhesive. This will keep the grass from moving and ensure a neat and professional-looking installation. |
| Add Infill | Finally, add infill to your artificial grass to provide cushioning and keep the blades standing upright. Depending on the type and density of your grass, you may need to add more or less infill. |
| Brush and Trim | After your installation is complete, brush the grass to fluff up the blades and trim any excess material for a clean and polished finish. |
Leveling The Ground
The first step in laying artificial grass on top of concrete is to ensure that your concrete surface is level.
This can be done using a spirit level, which you can purchase at any hardware store. If your ground is not perfectly flat, it will be obvious in the finished product and make it look as if you laid artificial grass without taking this step.
To use a spirit level:
Place it on the ground and move it around until it reads “level” in all directions
Once this has been achieved, you may need to rake away small bumps or lumps with a flat-headed garden rake (available at most home improvement stores).
If there are larger protrusions sticking up from your concrete surface like tree roots or cracks in the cement itself, these should be filled with sand before laying down your fake grass so that they aren’t visible once complete.
Infill is another crucial element in laying artificial grass. Proper infill provides cushioning and helps the grass blades stand upright. Check out our guide on easy ways to add infill to artificial grass to learn more about its importance and how to add it to your installation.
Laying Weed Control Membrane
The weed control membrane is the next step in your artificial turf installation. It will prevent weeds from growing through your grass, so you want to make sure it’s laid correctly.
The first thing to do is lay down a layer of sand, which should be about 6 inches deep. Once that’s done, place the weed control membrane over top of it and secure it with staples or nails so that it doesn’t move around when you lay down your artificial grass on top of it later on.
If you’re careful when installing this sheet and don’t tear any holes in it during installation then you can reuse this sheet for another project since they are cheap enough to buy two or even three at a time (depending on how big an area did want covered).
Laying Weed Control Membrane
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Measure and Cut | Measure the area where your weed control membrane will be laid and cut it to size. This can be done with scissors or a utility knife. |
| Lay Out Membrane | Once the weed control membrane is cut to size, carefully lay it out over the prepared surface. Make sure it completely covers the area where the artificial turf will be installed. |
| Secure Edges | After the membrane is in place, secure the edges using turf pegs or adhesive. This will keep it from moving and ensure it stays in place. |
| Overlap Seams | If necessary, overlap the seams of the weed control membrane to prevent any gaps where weeds can grow through. |
| Trim Excess Edges | Trim any excess edges of the weed control membrane to prevent it from sticking out and creating a visible edge. This will make for a more professional-looking installation. |
Laying Heavy Duty Sand
Laying sand is a great way to make the foundation of your lawn more comfortable and suitable for grass.
The ideal depth of sand is between 15 and 20cm (6–8in), but this depends on the type of artificial grass you are using.
Sand adds weight to the soil, so it’s important not to put too much down – otherwise, it could sink into your foundation and become unstable later on.
To ensure accuracy, use a measuring tape when adding sand or water until it reaches an even layer across all areas of your concrete slab. Don’t worry too much about making sure that there aren’t any dips or bumps in this layer – we’ll be covering them with weed matting later anyway!
- How do I lay sand?
Before starting work with heavy equipment like shovels or rakes (or even hoes), make sure that everything has been cleaned up: remove all debris from around where you’re going to start working so that nothing gets trapped underneath these items as they move around during installation processes such as rolling out turf rolls onto freshly wetted down surfaces; this will help prevent slipping hazards over time due gliding surfaces that aren’t completely flat underfoot!
Attaching artificial grass to concrete requires proper preparation and installation techniques. Our guide on how to attach artificial grass to concrete provides step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure a successful installation.
Fixing Artificial Grass In Place
In order to keep the grass in place, you’ll need to secure it. For this purpose, there are several methods that can be used.
Artificial grass clips are one of the most popular and effective methods for securing artificial grass.
These clips come with a long metal bar that you slide through your concrete surface before attaching them to the bottom of your turf. They’re easy to use and create a secure bond between your turf and concrete surfaces.
Artificial grass nails are another option if you want a more permanent solution for keeping your artificial lawn in place on top of concrete surfaces.
To use these nails, simply hammer them into place after laying out your new carpeting material at its desired location on top of the driveway or patio flooring material (you can even use them as an alternative method when laying natural lawns).
Once they’ve been set into place with their points facing up towards the surface above them (and any excess length trimmed off), simply insert each individual nail head underneath any exposed edge section where two pieces intersect closely together before hammering down firmly so they don’t pop out later on down below when walking across it while wearing shoes or playing sports games outside like soccer ball kickoffs during summertime weekends!
Securing Grass At The Edges
Once you have laid your turf, you need to secure it at the edges. There are a few different ways of doing this.
One way is to use a broom and brush off any loose pieces of grass that may have come up during laying. The second way is to use a roller or paint roller with an attached brush, which will push down any loose pieces where they were laying.
You should then go over both edges with a broom again just in case there are any more pieces that need pushing down into place on top of the concrete surface.
If you don’t want as much effort involved in securing your artificial grass at its edges, then there are other options available such as using a paint roller with an attached brush or simply using a regular old broom (or even one made specifically for synthetic surfaces) instead!
It’s essential to properly anchor artificial grass to the ground or soil to prevent movement and ensure a neat appearance. Our guide on easy tips to attach artificial grass to the ground can help you create a secure and professional-looking installation.
Applying Kiln Dried Sand Infill
Next, apply kiln dried sand infill. You can use a rake or broom to spread the sand evenly over your artificial grass, but be careful not to create too much of a pile in one area as this could cause damage when you lay it down.
Once you have spread the sand out evenly, use a leaf blower or vacuum cleaner to remove excess material from around the edges of your artificial grass before moving on to step 4:
Finishing Touches
Now that you have laid your artificial grass, it’s time to care for it. To keep your new turf looking good, we recommend that you water the grass every day (or at least once a week) until the grass roots are established in their new home.
Once the roots have taken hold, watering should be reduced to once or twice a week depending on weather conditions and how much time has passed since installation.
In addition to watering, it is important to check the condition of your turf regularly and repair any damage quickly. A damaged area will not only look unsightly but can also lead to problems with mold growth if left uncared for too long!
Installing artificial grass requires careful planning and preparation, but can be a great investment for your outdoor space. Check out our guide on landscape advice for artificial grass installation to learn more about the process and ensure a successful installation.
Conclusion
That’s it! You’ve finished laying your artificial grass. We hope this guide has been helpful and that you have a beautiful new lawn to show for it. If you have any questions or concerns, please leave them in the comments below and we will do our best to reply within 24 hours.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you learn more about installing artificial grass on concrete:
The DIY Guide to Installing the Best Artificial Turf on Concrete: This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing artificial turf on concrete, along with helpful tips and tricks.
How to Install Artificial Grass on Concrete: A Guide: This guide from NeoGrass covers everything from preparing the surface to installing the grass and provides helpful visual aids.
How to Install Artificial Grass on Concrete: Perfect Grass provides a helpful guide covering different types of concrete surfaces and installation methods.
FAQs
Can you lay artificial grass directly on concrete?
Yes, you can lay artificial grass directly on concrete. However, it’s important to first prepare the surface by cleaning and flattening it to ensure a stable foundation for the grass.
Do I need to add infill to my artificial grass installation on concrete?
Adding infill to your artificial grass installation on concrete can help to provide cushioning and keep the blades standing upright. However, whether or not you need to add infill depends on the type and density of the grass you are installing.
How do I attach artificial grass to concrete?
You can attach artificial grass to concrete using a variety of methods, such as adhesive, turf pegs, or Velcro. The method you choose will depend on the type of concrete surface you are working with and the specific installation requirements of your grass.
How do I prevent movement of artificial grass on concrete?
To prevent movement of artificial grass on concrete, it’s important to properly anchor it to the surface using pegs or adhesive. Additionally, ensuring a level surface and proper installation techniques can help to prevent unwanted movement.
Can I install artificial grass on uneven concrete surfaces?
It is possible to install artificial grass on uneven concrete surfaces, but it may require additional preparation and leveling techniques. In some cases, it may be necessary to fill in gaps or depressions in the concrete before installation.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to help you with your home-maintenance needs. Whether it’s building a better yard or just trying to fix a garden—I can show you how.
