Artificial Grass Sheffield

No. We are artificial grass contractors who supply and fit astro turf. We use the best quality fake grass but are not a stockist. We will offer a fit-only service, but it will not come with the same guarantees, which is why most people choose supply and installation through one contractor, so everything is fully warrantied with one company.

There is no single answer, because it depends on what is best for you. What is the main reason you want a fake grass lawn? For football and games, a short pile may be best. If you have dogs, keeping under 35mm makes dealing with their mess easier. If you want it to look long and luxurious, a longer, more expensive pile may suit. The most expensive grass is not necessarily the best for you. There is more information on choosing grass elsewhere on the website, and we are always happy to talk it through.

Most homeowners in Sheffield spend between £65 and £90 per square metre for a complete installation. We have done smaller courtyard jobs for around £800, and large back gardens run into several thousand. The price depends mainly on the quality of grass you choose and how much groundwork is needed. Heavy clay soil, which is common around Hillsborough and parts of Ecclesall, often needs extra drainage work, and gardens with slopes or awkward access, like the narrow ginnels between terraced houses in Walkley, take longer to install. We always recommend a proper site visit if you are happy with our initial quote over the phone, because there is usually something you cannot see in photos. And do not just go for the cheapest quote: we have replaced artificial grass laid badly by unprofessional fitters, where the customer ended up paying twice.

Yes, but the installation makes all the difference. Sheffield gets about 830mm of rain a year, and heavy downpours can turn gardens into swamps, especially in winter. Quality artificial grass has drainage holes every 10cm or so, but if the base is not prepared correctly you will still get puddles. The clay-heavy soil in areas like Beighton and Dore does not drain naturally, so we always install a crushed stone sub-base with a slight fall to encourage run-off. On some jobs, particularly older properties with poor existing drainage, we have installed French drains or soakaways. The grass itself handles frost and snow better than real grass, and we have never had a callback about weather damage. Just avoid walking on it when it is frozen, as you would with natural turf.

A properly installed artificial lawn should last 10 to 15 years at least, sometimes longer. We have seen installations from 2012 that still look decent, though the blades are not as upright as they once were. The main thing that shortens its life is poor installation: if the base settles unevenly or the drainage fails, problems appear within a couple of years. UV fading is less of an issue in Sheffield than down south, but cheaper products do fade faster. Dogs can speed up wear, particularly larger breeds that run the same path. For a family in Crookes with two German Shepherds we used a more durable 40mm grass with reinforced backing, and three years on it is holding up well.

This is where most DIY attempts go wrong. We typically dig out 75–100mm of soil or turf, more if the ground is uneven or waterlogged. Then we lay a weed membrane, add 50–70mm of MOT Type 1 crushed stone and compact it thoroughly with a plate compactor. In Sheffield, about 60% of gardens need extra drainage consideration. Victorian terraces in Nether Edge and Heeley often drain terribly because the soil has been compacted for over a century, and we sometimes find old rubble or builders' debris that all needs removing. The edging is crucial: we use treated timber or metal edges to stop the grass lifting at the sides. Skip that step and within six months the edges are curling up.

Yes. We can install over concrete patios, paving slabs or decking, and it is often quicker than digging up a lawn. We use a shock-pad underlay for cushioning and to help drainage, and we have done balcony and roof terrace installations in Kelham Island and the city centre this way. The existing surface needs to be level and stable: sunken or cracked patio sections need fixing first, and decking needs to be solid with no rotten boards. One advantage over hard surfaces is that there are no clay soil drainage issues. Water drains through the grass and runs off the patio as normal, so just make sure your existing drainage points are not blocked.

In some ways it is safer than natural grass: no muddy patches, no dog mess trodden through the house, and no weedkillers or fertilisers. We have installed it for several families with young children around Dore and Fulwood. For dogs, the main thing is cleaning. Urine drains through, but you need to hose it down regularly or use a pet-friendly deodoriser, especially in warm weather. Some cheaper grasses hold smells, so for pet owners we only recommend products with good drainage and antimicrobial properties. The grass can get warm in direct sun, so for a south-facing garden consider a lighter-coloured grass or some shade. Falls are gentler than on concrete but not as soft as natural grass, so we can fit a 10mm shock pad underneath for families with toddlers or older relatives.

Rarely, if it has been installed correctly. We always use a heavy-duty weed membrane underneath, which blocks about 99% of weeds. Occasionally airborne seeds land on top and take root in the infill; dandelions and willowherb are the usual culprits in Sheffield. They are easy to pull out because they have no proper root system. We have replaced lawns where the previous installer skipped the membrane or used a cheap one that broke down, leaving the customer with bindweed coming through, which is a nightmare to fix without lifting the whole lawn.

It is not completely maintenance free. Brush it every so often with a stiff broom to keep the blades upright, especially in busy areas, and clear leaves and debris, which is quick with a leaf blower or garden vacuum. With all of Sheffield's sycamores and ash trees, moss or algae can grow in shaded areas in autumn and winter; a diluted mix of washing-up liquid and water sorts that out. Some people use a pressure washer on a low setting, but too much pressure can damage the backing. Pet owners should rinse the areas the dog uses most and give it a deeper clean now and then with a purpose-made cleaner. In winter, brush snow off rather than letting it compact.

A typical back garden of 40–50 square metres takes two days. Day one is excavation, base preparation and compacting; day two is laying the grass, joining sections, securing the edges and adding infill. Small courtyards can be done in a day, and larger or more complex gardens can take three or four. Weather matters more than you would think: heavy rain stops us compacting the base properly, and artificial grass cannot be joined when it is soaking wet, so we occasionally have to pause a job. Removing an old shed base, sorting drainage problems or a lot of levelling also adds time. We always give realistic timescales when we quote.