Turf has been used for decades, but it’s only recently where it has been introduced to the residential environment. The original idea behind it was to make a layer that can be placed on top of a sports ground to help give the players some cushion for when they run around and absorb the impact on their feet, click here to read all about its history within this sector.
It then progressed into the experimentation of many different materials to see which one suited which arena the best, eventually the winner was the one made of thermoplastic, which could absorb and bounce better.
This idea, because it became so popular so quickly, was introduced to both commercial and domestic places where everyone could enjoy it just as much as professionals’ sports players. Nowadays you can find it being used within businesses, homes, playgrounds, and loads more venues. But which of the many types of sports flooring has it been used in and what are the many types available?
We look at this below.
Sports Sectors That Use Turf
Within the sporting industry, there are a hundred different types of sports and each one has its venue to play in. Below are some of those that use turf as opposed to real grass due to its multiple benefits.
- Soccer
- Softball
- Pickle Ball
- Basketball courts
- Ice Rinks
- Tennis
- Pickle Ball
- Playgrounds
- Giant chess
- Badminton
- Hop Scotch
- Floor Hockey
To name a few.
Did you know you can even purchase them in different shapes? That’s right. This type of grass has become more adventurous as the years go by. More modern and innovative ideas have taken over and people want a choice.
The many shapes one can buy them in include:
Diamond-Delustered Fiber. This is fake turf that landscapes a diamond shape and upholds a sturdy yet soft feel. It is the ideal layering for any sports arena or commercial and residential area.
Vista Fiber. This is shaped like the alphabet ‘V’ and is also stronger and more durable and can be used in any venue.
Oval Fiber. The fibers of this design are oval-shaped instead of round and are usually found in most landscape installations and golf courses. These are also soft yet strong enough to be walked on and played sports on.
Flattened Versions. As the name suggests these are flat blades very similar to real grass blades. Which makes them look more real than the others.
Mini ‘C’, ‘W’, and, ‘M’. These are all combinations of turfs found on grounds created for pets to play on, and also areas that have a high traffic of feet.
Omega Grass. Found in pet turfs and where a shorter type of grass is needed, mainly indoors or on soccer pitches and golf courses. Many sporting venues use this type of grass where there is a bigger area and a need for professional matches to be played, almost like the ones mentioned here: https://www.durhamartificialgrass.ca/sports-flooring
Now that you know you have a choice of these and that you are not stuck to just one, which one would you choose?
How to Choose the Right One for Your Space
As we mentioned earlier, homeowners also have a keen interest in this grass but with so many options to choose from, where do you begin? We’ll help point you in the right direction. Generally, people invest in these for 5 reasons:
- For ornamental use to enhance the aesthetics of their home, and thus reducing maintenance costs and keeping the environment neat and clean, plus it is sustainable and can be recycled at the end of its lifetime.
- As a pet-friendly space for your canines and felines to pay, especially if you live in the city and don’t have a garden or live in an apartment and need some space for them this is the best solution that doesn’t take up much space either.
- If you don’t have a lawn you can create one with this artificial grass, and have garden parties on it as it withstands high foot traffic. It can easily cope with stains from food and drinks spillage and all it needs is a good strong water hose to get rid of any dirt.
- Family time is an important aspect in many homes when kids play and parents sit around chatting and playing games, this can help indoors to create a space just for that, and because of the different types available some are soft and some are strong, you can choose the best one that suits your needs and is comfortable to sit on too.
- One can also cover up bad grass areas, or areas that often cannot handle real grass on their lawns, due to the angle and lack of sunlight, so you can easily cover up these “bald spots” with the turf to make it blend into the real grass as well, or get it all uprooted and have a 100% artificial grass lawn.
- Those looking for a much more organic quality of life would enjoy this because it does not use all the artificial chemicals that come with weed eaters or pesticides and growth enhancers. Rather all you need is water to clean it once in a while and to make sure it is secure to the ground and does not get uprooted easily. This is the responsibility of the installation company in any case.
Factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing one for your particular reasons are piling height, look and feel, density which means some are closer together than others, the choice of color will make a difference too some are greens and yellows while others are bright or darker and brow.
Installing this grass can take as soon as a day and sometimes depending on the size of the area to be covered can take up to one week, as there is a process of displacing it first, preparing the ground for it, and then layering the grass mats, so this needs some patience. But once completed it will make a world of difference to you and your family and furry friends too.
