Artificial turf

Just Wonderin · 10-20-2012, 03:34 PM

Does anyone know of an artificial turf contractor in the Lakes Region that installs turf for residential applications? We have a very small area of grass that never looks good. No matter what we do, we can't fight back the weeds or moss. We were considering sod but figured that in no time at all, it would be experiencing the same problems that our current lawn has. We had seen artificial turf out in California at a home and it looked very realistic.

So, does anyone know of anyone we might be able to contact? Thanks!

songkrai · 10-21-2012, 04:50 AM

I hope someone can chime in with some sales/installers up here.

I don't have any experience with this here. I would guess that this product is rare around here as most either prefer the woods look or clear cut and want absolute grass/lawn.

Years ago I would business travel to the IBS (International Builders Show) and I have spoken with some of the manufacturers reps. There are/is a difference in the products sold. From my experience this product is mostly sold commercially for football fields and such. Some sold and installed residentially for homes in the Southwest where rain is a premium.

If no answers here, then try searching the manufacturers of product and contacting them directly and ask if any local wholesalers or retailers then contact them.

Carpet stores may have some advice as this product is sold in rolls similiar to carpet.

Good luck. Hope someone can provide some more specific local informaton.

tummyman · 10-21-2012, 07:03 AM

I installed about 500 sq. ft. of artificial turf on my front year in MA. because of the same reason...plus I was here in NH most of the summer and could not take care of real lawn. Contact my installer.....Bill Burke at w.p.burke@comcast.net He comes to the Lakes Region as he has relatives here and spends weekends, etc. He may be just the person to install this for you. My new lawn looks terrific and is the talk of the town!!!!!

secondcurve · 10-21-2012, 10:06 AM

Any Pictures??

Little Bear · 10-21-2012, 05:51 PM

We put artificial "dog grass" in our back yard about 6 years ago. The company that manufactured it is www.foreverlawn.com

We had a local carpet installer put in this dog grass. There was quite a bit of prep work required for the dog grass, especially to mitigate any smell problems. I can tell you that this product and installation are excellent. It's survived 6 winters of snowblowers running over it and it looks like new. If you want me to dig out the name of the installer, send me a PM.

Good luck.

ApS · 10-24-2012, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songkrai

I would guess that this product is rare around here as most either prefer the woods look or clear cut and want absolute grass/lawn.

Lawns mean trimming, fertilizers, mowings, leafblowers, fumes and the noise that go with all that fussing.

I prefer the "woods look": although it might be a little "too woodsy" for most folks.

Pine Needles, Mushrooms, Violets, Lady Slippers, and "native grasses" comprise most of it.

"Native grasses" look a lot like weeds.

But with a large resurfacing of artificial turf, wouldn't there be an issue with NHDES' "impervious surfaces"?

tummyman · 10-24-2012, 07:32 AM

Artificial turf self drains internally to the base underneath that is an important part of the installation...it does not hold back or retain water, so I cannot see any DES or local issues. It is like any other pervious surface. As for pictures that were previously requested....I will have to wait a few days...all my pictures are at my MA computer and I will not be there for a few days.

SIKSUKR · 10-24-2012, 01:55 PM

Check this out.
http://www.newenglandturfboston.localedgemp.com/

secondcurve · 10-24-2012, 05:54 PM

Thanks Siksukr. That actually looks pretty good.

raydoe1 · 10-26-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tummyman

I installed about 500 sq. ft. of artificial turf on my front year in MA. because of the same reason...plus I was here in NH most of the summer and could not take care of real lawn. Contact my installer.....Bill Burke at w.p.burke@comcast.net He comes to the Lakes Region as he has relatives here and spends weekends, etc. He may be just the person to install this for you. My new lawn looks terrific and is the talk of the town!!!!!

What was the cost per sq. ft. ??????

Pineedles · 10-26-2012, 06:52 PM

We just installed AT on our town's HS football field. Cost, $990,000. They tell us that it will save maintenance costs over the long run. I love HS football, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Also include in that cost is the running track around the field.

tummyman · 10-26-2012, 10:06 PM

Cost was approx. $7.50/sq.ft installed, including the base preparation and material. Material looks very close to the link posted by Siksukr.

ApS · 10-31-2012, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

We just installed AT on our town's HS football field. Cost, $990,000. They tell us that it will save maintenance costs over the long run. I love HS football, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Also include in that cost is the running track around the field.

For field hockey, Wolfeboro's Brewster Academy has a serious rollout of new "turf":

http://www.brewsteracademy.org/Turf-Rollout

chipj29 · 11-01-2012, 06:33 PM

My sons high school team had a football game at Interlakes HS this past weekend. Their field is artificial turf, and I must admit that it looks fantastic. It looks like it was installed not too long ago. I only wish our HS had the same turf, as our grass field is embarrassing.

Lakesrider · 11-04-2012, 02:45 PM

I saw it for sale at Lowe's. They have three different grades. They have samples near the grass seed section.

How do you keep that stuff from flying away in a hurricane though?

tummyman · 11-04-2012, 04:49 PM

Grass is anchored all around the perimeter with 12 inch nails driven into the ground on an angle. Then there is a layer of sand deposited on top of the grass and swept/blown into the spaces between the grass blades. This all helps to anchor the grass very well. Is anything foolproof...no, but this certainly helps to keep the grass in place for most events.

10-20-2012, 03:34 PM	#1
Just Wonderin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 165 Thanks: 55 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	Artificial turf Does anyone know of an artificial turf contractor in the Lakes Region that installs turf for residential applications? We have a very small area of grass that never looks good. No matter what we do, we can't fight back the weeds or moss. We were considering sod but figured that in no time at all, it would be experiencing the same problems that our current lawn has. We had seen artificial turf out in California at a home and it looked very realistic. So, does anyone know of anyone we might be able to contact? Thanks!

10-24-2012, 01:55 PM	#8
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Check this out. http://www.newenglandturfboston.localedgemp.com/ __________________ SIKSUKR

10-26-2012, 06:52 PM	#11
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,058 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	We just installed AT on our town's HS football field. Cost, $990,000. They tell us that it will save maintenance costs over the long run. I love HS football, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Also include in that cost is the running track around the field. Last edited by Pineedles; 10-26-2012 at 06:53 PM. Reason: forgot running track

11-01-2012, 06:33 PM	#14
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	My sons high school team had a football game at Interlakes HS this past weekend. Their field is artificial turf, and I must admit that it looks fantastic. It looks like it was installed not too long ago. I only wish our HS had the same turf, as our grass field is embarrassing. __________________ Getting ready for winter!

10-21-2012, 04:50 AM	#2
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 725 Thanks: 35 Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts	I hope someone can chime in with some sales/installers up here. I don't have any experience with this here. I would guess that this product is rare around here as most either prefer the woods look or clear cut and want absolute grass/lawn. Years ago I would business travel to the IBS (International Builders Show) and I have spoken with some of the manufacturers reps. There are/is a difference in the products sold. From my experience this product is mostly sold commercially for football fields and such. Some sold and installed residentially for homes in the Southwest where rain is a premium. If no answers here, then try searching the manufacturers of product and contacting them directly and ask if any local wholesalers or retailers then contact them. Carpet stores may have some advice as this product is sold in rolls similiar to carpet. Good luck. Hope someone can provide some more specific local informaton.

10-21-2012, 07:03 AM	#3
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 779 Thanks: 233 Thanked 631 Times in 228 Posts	I installed about 500 sq. ft. of artificial turf on my front year in MA. because of the same reason...plus I was here in NH most of the summer and could not take care of real lawn. Contact my installer.....Bill Burke at w.p.burke@comcast.net He comes to the Lakes Region as he has relatives here and spends weekends, etc. He may be just the person to install this for you. My new lawn looks terrific and is the talk of the town!!!!!

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
Just Wonderin (10-21-2012)

10-21-2012, 10:06 AM	#4
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,084 Thanks: 1,267 Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts	Any Pictures??

10-21-2012, 05:51 PM	#5
Little Bear Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 561 Thanks: 105 Thanked 237 Times in 126 Posts	We put artificial "dog grass" in our back yard about 6 years ago. The company that manufactured it is www.foreverlawn.com We had a local carpet installer put in this dog grass. There was quite a bit of prep work required for the dog grass, especially to mitigate any smell problems. I can tell you that this product and installation are excellent. It's survived 6 winters of snowblowers running over it and it looks like new. If you want me to dig out the name of the installer, send me a PM. Good luck.

The Following User Says Thank You to Little Bear For This Useful Post:
Just Wonderin (10-21-2012)

10-24-2012, 07:32 AM	#7
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 779 Thanks: 233 Thanked 631 Times in 228 Posts	Artificial turf self drains internally to the base underneath that is an important part of the installation...it does not hold back or retain water, so I cannot see any DES or local issues. It is like any other pervious surface. As for pictures that were previously requested....I will have to wait a few days...all my pictures are at my MA computer and I will not be there for a few days.

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (10-24-2012)

10-24-2012, 05:54 PM	#9
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,084 Thanks: 1,267 Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts	Thanks Siksukr. That actually looks pretty good.

10-26-2012, 10:06 PM	#12
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 779 Thanks: 233 Thanked 631 Times in 228 Posts	Cost was approx. $7.50/sq.ft installed, including the base preparation and material. Material looks very close to the link posted by Siksukr.

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
raydoe1 (10-27-2012)

11-04-2012, 02:45 PM	#15
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	I saw it for sale at Lowe's. They have three different grades. They have samples near the grass seed section. How do you keep that stuff from flying away in a hurricane though?

11-04-2012, 04:49 PM	#16
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 779 Thanks: 233 Thanked 631 Times in 228 Posts	Grass is anchored all around the perimeter with 12 inch nails driven into the ground on an angle. Then there is a layer of sand deposited on top of the grass and swept/blown into the spaces between the grass blades. This all helps to anchor the grass very well. Is anything foolproof...no, but this certainly helps to keep the grass in place for most events.