Mistakes Made During Fake Grass Installation in Pittsburgh (and How to Avoid Them)
Synthetic grass has become a popular landscaping choice for Pittsburgh residential homeowners looking for a beautiful, easy-care lawn. Whether you're adding artificial turf for dogs, creating a backyard putting green, or simply replacing your traditional lawn with durable lawn turf grass, the finished product can be impressive. But as long as the process is done the right way.
Many homeowners make costly errors during fake grass installation that can lead to water flow issues, visible seams, early wear, and an unrealistic look. The great news? Nearly all of these problems are easy to avoid when you know what to watch for.
Mistake #1: Insufficient Base Prep
The base of any successful synthetic grass installation is what lies beneath the surface. Some DIY installers cut corners on or entirely ignore adequate base work, leading to future issues.
The Problem: Without a solid compacted base, your artificial grass can form low spots, uneven surfaces, and poor drainage performance. This is especially problematic for artificial grass for pets, where proper drainage is vital for odor control and cleanliness.
How We Avoid It: When preparing the base for commercial pet spaces, we use non-compacted stone for improved drainage. We remove the soil and install a crushed stone base. Proper grading with a slight slope ensures water moves away from foundations and doesn't pool on your lawn. This important process requires professional tools and know-how to do correctly.
Mistake #2: Neglecting Drainage Requirements
Poor drainage is one of the frequent issues about artificial turf installations, yet it's fully preventable with the right planning and expertise.
The Problem: When water can’t drain properly through and away from your synthetic grass, you'll end up with standing water, soft spots, and mildew and mold development. For Pittsburgh property owners with artificial turf for dogs, drainage failure can also lead to unsanitary conditions and persistent odors.
How We Avoid It: Our installation team assess your property’s drainage needs before installation begins. Expert installation includes drainage channels in areas prone to water accumulation and always maintains correct slope away from structures. This experience prevents costly water-related problems that can trouble amateur installations.
Mistake #3: Noticeable Seams
Few things ruin the visual appeal of synthetic grass faster than visible seams that run across the lawn, a clear indicator of poor workmanship.
The Problem: Bad seam placement, uneven grain direction, or poor seaming methods result in visible lines that make your artificial lawn look fake and poorly installed.
How We Avoid It: Our crew strategically plans seam positions, keeping clear of high-traffic areas and installing them where they'll be least noticeable. They make sure the grain of neighboring turf sections runs in the same direction and use seam tape with quality outdoor adhesive specifically designed for artificial grass. For specialty areas like a backyard putting green, we deliver virtually invisible seams that protect the visual appeal of your lawn.
Mistake #4: Picking the Incorrect Turf Product
Not all artificial grass is created equal, and selecting the wrong turf for your application can result in disappointment.
The Problem: Using turf that is not suited for your usage requirements results in disappointment down the road. Using putting green turf for a pet area or choosing turf with inadequate pile height for your climate are typical mistakes. Different uses require different turf features.
How We Avoid It: We assist you in choosing the right product for your exact requirements. First, confirming you have the best options for your geographic area is best practice. For artificial grass for pets, you need turf engineered with superior drainage and strong fibers that resist staining. Artificial turf for dogs features higher face weights that can endure frequent activity. When installing a backyard putting green, we use turf with the proper stimp rating and playability for your experience level. SWG makes premium synthetic turf with specific characteristics in mind, which controls qualities like pile height, ounce weight, and overall best fit for you and your family, helping avoid subpar results and disappointment later.
Mistake #5: Insufficient or Incorrect Infill Application
Infill serves multiple purposes in fake grass installation: it adds ballast, helps blades stand upright, offers cushioning, and aids in filtration. Applying infill correctly requires skill and care.
The Problem: Skipping infill, choosing the wrong infill, or applying insufficient amounts leads to flattened fibers, poor drainage, and a lawn that looks and feels unnatural. Excess infill can also create problems by making the surface too firm and trapping heat.
How We Avoid It: Available infills include silica sand or antimicrobial sand for pet areas like K9 sand. We distribute infill evenly using specialized equipment. We then professionally brush the turf after the infill process to work it down to the fiber and allow grass blades to stand tall, achieving that perfect natural appearance. If you want your yard to stay nice and cool in the peak summer sun, you should also look into HydroChill®, which has an built-in antimicrobial.
Mistake #6: Leaving Out Weed Barrier
Certain installers skip the weed barrier to speed up installation, but this time-saver almost always creates problems and causes future maintenance issues.
The Problem: Without a reliable weed barrier, you'll deal with weeds pushing through your synthetic grass, which are difficult to remove without hurting the grass.
How We Avoid It: We always install a professional-grade, water-permeable weed fabric under the compacted base before installing turf. Weed barrier helps keep the base in place. It is strongly advised in cool regions where weeds can thrive. Weeds typically won’t grow up through the base layers and turf, as no light can penetrate the ground. But they can grow in the sand infill, which can be controlled naturally by routine professional maintenance once a year.
Mistake #7: Underestimating the Work Involved
A major mistake homeowners make is misjudging what proper synthetic grass installation requires. What seems easy often demands complex technical challenges.
The Problem: Artificial grass installation involves specialized knowledge of grading, drainage, soil conditions, environmental considerations, and product specifications. Installations with elevation changes, detailed designs like tee lines, or advanced installs like backyard putting greens require trained specialists. DIY projects often cost more in the long run when issues happen, and the work needs to be redone by experts.
How We Avoid It: Our trained experts bring extensive experience, professional-grade equipment, and best practices to every installation. They are knowledgeable about soil composition, proper drainage engineering, and how different products perform in different environments. Hiring professionals protects your investment, prevents costly mistakes, and comes with warranties that protect your investment.
The Bottom Line
A high-quality, long-lasting fake grass installation requires expertise, careful execution, proper materials, and best practices. While the cost in professional installation may seem significant upfront, it's significantly cheaper than repairing mistakes that come from a bad install.