Artificial Grass Juneau, Alaska. Synthetic Turf.

In the past decade, the use of "new generation" artificial turf has become quite common throughout the United States. Synthetic grass applications that not related to sport fields are getting really popular in western states such as California, Arizona and Nevada. Such states are areas where outdoor water use is restricted or low maintenance is desired. Common applications include veterinary clinics, animal shelters, golf practice ranges, school yards, residential lawns, and low water use landscapes.

The market of residential lawns has been growing at an average annual rate of thirty five percent even during the economy downturns. As market grows, prices are coming down dramatically which in turn to fuel further market growth! Alvin Balahadia used to work for an artificial grass installation company in San Jose, California, he remembers how the selling of synthetic grass for residential lawn applications fifteen years ago: You walked in a house as a salesman, the first question to the homeowners was: "Do you know the artificial grass is a luxury thing, only the top ten percent of the household can afford it?" This might sound humiliating but true. Fifteen years ago, the turn key price for installing artificial grass in San Francisco Bay Area was between $22.00 and $26.00 per square foot, while today's price range is between $8.00 and $14.00 per square foot. Such price range is still much higher than natural grass. "The normal life expectancy of artificial grass is about 15 years. If you can get your investment back within first five years by saving money on water and maintenance, then you enjoy the beautiful lawn for the next 10 years without any water bills and the hassles of mowing and trimming, will you do it? I know I will." Said Alvin Balahadia :"It is a great investment on your house as houses with synthetic grass lawns are considered with upgraded premium options here in San Francisco Bay Area and other dry states like Arizona and Nevada."

On average, a household in San Francisco Bay Area can save between $600.00 and $1,200.00 annually on water bill along if they get rid of the natural grass lawns.

More than eighty percent of individuals who are thinking about artificial grass are dog owners! Why? Most dogs could have an area in the lawn that they choose to use when they relieve themselves, that will ruin the nature grass and creating horrible appearing brown spots, before synthetic grass, there's virtually no real options for this problem. Artificial turf in general, empties well and pet messes can be cleaned up readily. Leading artificial grass manufacturers like Global Syn-Turf,Inc., has developed petgrass with unique features including a knitted flow-through backing, lasting blades and antimicrobial protection. Such premium products are becoming the surfacing choice that was ideal for pet facilities, dog parks and kennels, dog boarding, and vet clinics, both inside and out. Most of the petgrass installers that are professional will propose to use organic and safe Zeofill on to the artificial grass as the urine neutralizer which will minimize the dog scent naturally. Such products can be found through such artificial grass companies as Global Syn-Turf, Inc..

To keep your pet's place clean and scent-free, a properly installed under-drain system is quite critical.

Such foundation surface should be as level as possible with a minimal grade for optimal drainage. "We all adore our dogs, provide them with the greatest: low care and long lasting artificial grass!"

Backyard putting greens are fantastic way of bringing together friends and family to enjoy the outdoors. Its kind of like having a pool table. When you have people over, theres always something to do, says Richard Stoltz of New Mexico Synthetic Turf in Albuquerque, NM. I the past, people have been trying to install real grass putting greens in their backyards, turned out that no matter how hard you try, it is just impossible to maintain it! Today, most backyard putting greens are created with artificial turf, mounds, sand pits, and interesting shapes can be easily created and maintained. Artificial turf also has an even surface thats ideal for putting. Synthetic greens are virtually maintenance free. They're able to withstand hot or cold temperatures, as well as wet conditions, and are just about always ready for play.

A backyard putting green has such a great social element to it that youll use it a lot more if its close to patios or other entertaining areas. A flat one-hole putting green gets boring fast. However, if you make it challenging, friends and family will enjoy the putting green for years to come. Using a few undulations, mounds, a sand pit, and about three holes will help to keep it interesting and more playable. With the pressures of school, work, and other activities, oftentimes family members dont get home until after dark. Incorporate low-voltage landscape lighting into backyard putting greens to extend the number of hours each day that people can use it, in a nice mood.

Is synthetic turf safe for kids? A queries asked by a lot of people who are contemplating artificial turf for his or her homes. The answer is definitely yes! For 40 years, under EPA supervision and OSHA- no one making, has ever documented bad results related to any substances related to artificial grass.

In July 2010, the Connecticut Division of public-health declared that a fresh research of the dangers to kids and grown-ups playing on artificial turf fields including crumb rubber infill reveals "no elevated health dangers."

The Ca EPA launched a study dated July 2009 which suggested a minimal individual health hazard is from inhaling the atmosphere above artificial grass.

Impartial evaluations conducted from the Ny State Dept of Environment Conservation and New York State Dept of Health, launched in-May 2009, demonstrated there were no major health issues at artificial grass areas.

Synthetic turf is more durable than natural turf and can be used without the rest periods that natural turf requires to keep the turf healthy. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYCDPR) estimates that on an annual basis, permitted use (hours per year) for synthetic turf athletic fields is 28 percent higher than for natural grass fields. The maintenance costs of synthetic turf will vary depending on the field's use and design, but are typically estimated to be lower than the maintenance costs of natural turf. Natural turf requires regular mowing, fertilizer application, pest control and possibly watering. Synthetic turf requires replacing infill materials, repairing seams and removing weeds and moss. Specialized equipment, which may or may not be included in the field's purchase price, is required for these activities.

When it comes to the artificial grass fields installations, most of installers have been using crumb rubber along with silica sands as the main infills. The blades of sport field synthetic grass products are at least 2-1/4" tall which provide enough room for infills. The purpose of having infills in sport fields is to provide enough cushioning for the fields thus to reduce the risks of body injuries. Crumb rubber and sand mix can serve such purpose very well. Crumb rubber is produced by grinding used tires. Steel and fiber tire components are removed during the process and the rubber pellets are sorted by size. Pellet sizes ranging from about one-sixteenth to one-quarter inch in diameter are used on synthetic turf. Crumb rubber is typically applied at a rate of two to three pounds per square foot of field surface. Studies have been conducted by the California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to assess the potential for ingestion exposure to the chemicals in crumb rubber by children playing on synthetic turf. Both studies concluded that health risks to children resulting from the ingestion of crumb rubber are low.

However, there are still a lot people don't like the idea to use the crumb rubber in synthetic grass sport fields, it can get real hot to levels of discomfort, plus the rubber will get on people's body and travel on and off the field. Many parents have complained that their kids were covered with black rubbers after playing on the fields. Again, even though the available information on crumb rubber and crumb rubber infilled turf fields indicates that ingestion, dermal or inhalation exposures to chemicals in or released from crumb rubber do not pose a significant public health concern, leading synthetic grass companies such as Global Syn-Turf, Inc. has been working on new technologies and systems to get rid of the rubbers and take the synthetic grass sport fields applications to a new "All Green" level.

Most synthetic turf products require infills which to be installed onto the grass between blades to help the blades of grass stand up and also hold the turf down. In addition, it protects the grass backing from ultraviolet rays that could cause damage and void guarantees. Some artificial grass infill options are ZeoFill, Green sand, Copper slag, Silica Sand and Rubber. Among all, ZeoFill is the choice for synthetic turf infill for playgrounds and pet owners. Dog owners with artificial grass lawns have been struggled with urine smells for years.. Many individuals want to water down their turf one time a week to get rid of the smell but never worked correctly because water from a hose does not have enough force to shove bacteria deep into the earth. ZeoFill is made out of a natural resource from the earth that is a negatively charged honey combed molecular structure that prevents the ammonia from forming a gas to become smelly and absorbs the urine. ZeoFill pulls any gases towards itself and hold it until sodium ion (Na ) in rain water releases the magnetivity and the force of heavy rainfall will flush out the bacteria, compelling it through the turf into the earth making your turf virtually new again. The sodium forces the calcium ions out and recharges the ZeoFill when dry. Nevertheless, ZeoFill will not remove bacteria that are poor. To remove poor bacteria, Global Syn-Turf, Inc. recommends nits very own Synthetic Grass Pet Odor Neutralizer, this enzyme products will not just neutralize the pet odor, but also remove poor bacteria and clean the turf, using this along with Zeofill will realize the best possible results on pet's odor control!

The ZeoFill granule will hold the ammonia water until it is cleaned out the ZeoFill with the enzyme solution or significant rainwater flushes. The ZeoFill granules will be trapped inside the turf system and contains a 5 year warranty on deterioration.

With raising popularity of synthetic turf it becomes a target for arguments. Is it worth to install artificial grass in your back or front yard? What are the Pros? To answer such question, let us look at the "No More List".

Forget about watering, say "bye bye" to high-priced water statements.

Forget about mowing, either you're idle or you would like to spend additional time with family and your children, throw away your lawn mower, lay back and have fun.

Forget about substances, substances like fertilizers for yard that is natural will eventually wind up in our land and water that is subterranean, great health risks that are current to human life.

No neighbor yard envy...

No lawnmower noise

No pet urine brown spots

Surely, both market and environmental problems work in artificial grass's favor.. Though still higher priced than actual grass install and to purchase -- it can cost as much as several times as much as about $6,000 to $8,000, or natural turf for a typical yard -- but the life savings add up. In drought-prone regions, municipalities have supplied tax rebates for residents who remove places of yard that was natural.