The History and Development of Artificial Grass in Sport

Its first high-profile installation was at the new Astrodome in Houston in the late 1960s. This was a first-generation system of turf, with short pile fibres and no infill, which did lead to some questions over injuries to the baseball players using it. A few years later, new developments led to artificial grass with sand infills, and after this the addition of the recycled rubber which modern systems use.

 

This third-generation artificial grass was launched in the late 1990s and is the closest to real grass that a synthetic product can be. It uses fine monofilament polyethylene fibres and a polypropylene backing, with a three-tiered system of infill cushioning. One tier is silica sand, another is a mix of sand and rubber and the top layer is pure rubber. This means the shock-absorbency qualities are second to none and easily as good as real grass. Additionally, as all layers are porous, water can drain through effectively.

 

This modern artificial grass is so superior to the original type of Astro Turf that it is installed in over 7000 professional sports fields around the world. Some of the most famous are Middlesbrough F.C.’s training ground, the New York Giants' home ground, and the Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium, where the 2012 Superbowl was played.

 

The NFL has really got behind synthetic turf, with eleven NFL teams playing their home games on it, while 15 teams use it in their practice venues. Part of the reason for this is that it can save up to $50,000 in maintenance per year and does not need replacing for up to ten years. Studies published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine have indicated that player injury rates are similar or lower on artificial grass than on real grass, although the types of injury do vary.FIFA has also expressed an expectation that the use of artificial turf within football training grounds and stadiums will become more widespread as the technology continues to improve.

 Why not browse through the RC Artificial Grass site to see how this technology has now been applied to synthetic grass for domestic and small business use and see how it could be relevant for you?

The Science Behind Fake Grass

There are three key aspects to any synthetic turf system: the fibers used to replicate natural grass, the infill system and the backing.

Today’s artificial grass fibers are more realistic-looking than ever, and they even feel soft and lush to the touch. The use of the latest advances in manufacturing polyethylene and polypropylene fibers means that they can be made to offer high durability and resilience as well as these natural-grass-like properties. They are made in many different shades of green and beige and combined together in a series of tufts to exactly replicate the appearance of a real lawn. Some products even use U-shaped fibers to ensure the tufts spring back up more effectively after being trodden on.

Some more basic synthetic grass products require the buyer to provide their own infill of sand or rubber when laying them, but the more technologically advanced artificial turfs do not, as they contain their own cushioning system. This is often made up of a combination of silica sand and rubber granules which have been processed to a regular shape and size to ensure that they combine effectively to stabilize and support the grass fibers. This uniform nature also means that they adhere well together and do not float up or get displaced under heavy foot traffic. Synthetic grass products that come with their own infill can often be laid directly on to sod or sand.

And finally, of course, all artificial turf also needs a backing layer beneath the fibers and infill. This will often be made of woven polypropylene textiles, which are an ideal fabric to facilitate the attachment of the tufted fibers in uniform rows. It also works well in resisting the invasion of any weeds from the soil beneath which might try and grow through into the turf. Another key property of the woven polypropylene used as backing to today’s synthetic turf products is that it allows water to drain through very efficiently, meaning that water-logging is rarely a problem.

We have a wide range of contemporary synthetic grass products to suit every budget and many different types of requirements. Why not look through the range to see what might suit you on our the RC Artificial Grass Webpage? You can also CONTACT a member of the team to find out more.

Why is Artificial Grass Becoming so Popular?

 

Improvement in Quality

There was a time in the 1980s when fake grass previously experienced a rapid rise in popularity. Unfortunately, the fake grass of the time didn't quite live up to the hype. As it became more common in the sporting world, athletes began to notice problems with its performance. For domestic use, meanwhile, it just didn't look realistic enough.

 

Nowadays things are different, and this is why fake grass is returning to prominence, especially in the Los Angeles region. For athletes, it delivers performance to mirror the real thing along with a range of other benefits. For domestic use, where aesthetics are most important, it is now very hard to distinguish the latest artificial grasses from a natural lawn. Homeowners can even choose whether they want grass with a freshly mowed look or grass that looks as if it has had a little growing time. As more and more people discover this, the public is becoming more and more open to the idea of an artificial lawn.

 

Other Advantages

When the two key disadvantages that once plagued artificial grasses — sporting performance and lack of realism — are taken out of the equation, you are left with a lot of advantages. Now that those problems have indeed been eliminated, people are beginning to be tempted by those advantages into installing artificial grass in place of a natural lawn.

These advantages are numerous. The most obvious is that artificial grass needs very little maintenance, with no need for mowing, watering or reseeding worn patches. With next to no effort, save perhaps the odd sweep, it will look vibrant and healthy all year round even in the shade. It is also significantly more durable than natural grass and will not wear away with heavy footfall. It has far less of a tendency to get muddy after the rain. To find out more about the different types of artificial grass available and whether one of them is right for you, have a look around our site. Alternatively, get in touch with our friendly team, who will be happy to help you.

 

"RC Artificial Grass - Fake grass that looks so real, you cant tell its fake"

How does synthetic grass benefit you and your family?

More and more people are turning to synthetic grass as a great alternative to real grass when it comes to their garden, and when you think of all the many benefits that it brings it’s easy to see why. The whole family loves synthetic grass, and in this article we are going to tell you why every member of the family loves synthetic grass. Read on to find out more!

Adults

The adults of the family will love synthetic grass because it completely removes the need for maintenance. This means no more mowing, no more weeding and no more seeding. This reduction in maintenance needs means that the adults of the house can have more time to spend on other gardening pursuits such as planting seeds and shrubs, or maybe just sunbathing! This brings immense peace of mind to all of the adults in the house; the lawnmower can be retired firmly to the shed and the grown-ups are free to get on with more pleasurable outdoor jobs instead.

Children

The children of a family love synthetic grass because it’s great to play on all year round. It looks and feels like real grass, but because there are absolutely no bald patches and no sharp stones they can enjoy their games of football etc. without worrying about falling down and hurting themselves. And because it doesn’t get muddy, the kids are free to enjoy the garden all year round. And you don’t have to worry about them having accidents or cutting themselves.

Animals

It’s not just children and adults who love synthetic grass; animals love it too. Dogs and cats love playing on the fake grass because it feels like the real thing to them. The only difference is, they won’t be able to dig holes in the garden! Dogs especially love bounding about on the grass in all weather and throughout all seasons, and even in the coldest winter months they’ll still have a suitable outside area in which to play.

So it’s pretty clear that children, adults and pets alike all benefit from the many advantages of having synthetic grass installed. If you’d like to find out more about having this brilliant feature installed in your garden then simply call the professionals at RC Artificial Grass who will be delighted to tell you more about this fantastic garden solution. Visit their website today to find out more.

When is Fake Grass Used Indoors?

Fake grass offers a number of very real advantages over natural grass. One of these is that, unlike real grass, artificial lawns can be laid indoors and kept there in the long term without problems. This particular merit is often undervalued, because many ordinary people do not see why having a lawn indoors could be useful or desirable. However, there are a number of situations in which it can be very useful and desirable to use imitation grass indoors.

Sports Facilities

The ability to have realistic grass indoors can be extremely useful for sports facilities, and this is perhaps the largest indoor market for artificial grass products. Imitation grass provides an excellent surface for sports that have been traditionally played on natural grass. Notable examples include football and rugby, where grass is the standard playing surface. It is also very important for tennis, where grass and hard surfaces are considered two separate options and offer very different playing experiences.

Fake grass provides a durable, high-quality playing surface. Modern artificial grass also offers a playing experience extremely close to that of natural grass. This is useful even for outdoor facilities, as artificial grass is more durable than natural grass and better after spells of wet weather. It is most important, however, for indoor facilities which have previously been unable to offer the experience of playing on grass.

Architecture and Art

Fake grass is very useful for architectural displays and models, as well as for art exhibitions. Architectural displays often use mock-ups of proposed buildings, grounds and gardens on various scales, as well as demonstrations of concepts which often include outdoor spaces. Similarly, art installations often seek to make use of various tools and resources, including outdoor scenery, of which grass is a prominent component.

Modern artificial grass provides a highly realistic lawn surface that is fully suitable for indoor use and will remain green and vibrant when deprived of sunlight. This is extremely useful for artists and architects who want the best possible representation of a real-life outdoor landscape for displays, installations and concept models.

To find out more about the uses of fake grass and the various products available, please feel free to explore our website or contact a member of staff.

Three Advantages of Artificial Grass

 

Artificial grass is often seen as an inferior alternative to a real lawn. However, it's a shame that imitation lawns continue to have this reputation, as these products have come a long way in recent years. They can now convincingly imitate various types of grass, either perfectly manicured or realistically slightly shabby. There are also several advantages that fake grass can offer over natural grass.

 

Practical in Wet Weather

Artificial lawns can be significantly more practical than natural ones when wet weather arrives. Real grass quickly becomes muddy, and even when the rain stops it stays that way for some time before the ground dries out. Artificial grass, on the other hand, is virtually mud-free. Whether used for a sport field or in the garden, as soon as the rain stops it can safely be walked on without fear of dirtying your shoes, slipping over or treading mud indoors.

Durability

Fake grass is significantly more durable than natural grass. Natural grass is prone to wearing thin after heavy use. This could come from sports, children playing or simply walking the same path over and over again to reach the washing line. Sudden impacts can also damage a natural lawn, especially when it has been made soft and muddy by wet weather. An artificial lawn or playing field, on the other hand, is not so vulnerable to wear and tear. If you buy the right product, it can last for many years without wearing out, even when used intensively for purposes such as sport.

Indoor Use

Natural grass can only grow outdoors. Fake grass, on the other hand, can also be used indoors. To the average domestic user, this probably makes little difference. In some settings, however, it is a huge advantage. Indoor sports facilities can offer a convincing grass playing surface without needing to obtain outdoor space. Architectural displays and artworks can also benefit from having highly realistic grass that can be used as part of an artificial landscape that is suitable for indoor display.

For more information about what types of artificial grass are available and whether it is the right choice for you, please feel free to explore our site or get in touch.

Why Artificial Grass is so Beneficial?

                         

All homeowners with gardens know just how difficult it is to keep a garden looking nice during any season in California. As soon as the autumn sets in, plants start to die and wither, bald patches start to appear in the lawn, and leaves fall everywhere - creating a constant maintenance issue. During the winter, your garden really suffers, and come springtime it is a huge job to get it back on track. More and more homeowners are discovering that the secret to keeping your garden green all year round lies in installing artificial grass. This fake grass looks and feels like the real thing, however it requires little to no maintenance and will revolutionize the way your garden looks – particularly for Los Angeles Gardens.

Why Artificial Grass?

Those with grass lawns will be able to tell you all about the amount of maintenance required to keep it looking its best. Not only does it require regular mowing right up to the end of autumn, but it also needs regular seeding, weeding and watering in order to keep it green. Even the healthiest lawn suffers in the middle of winter, when frost, snow and icy winds take their toll. Once you have installed artificial grass maintenance is a thing of the past. It will remain green all year round, with absolutely no need to maintain it.

Switching to an Artificial Grass Lawn

It is easy to buy artificial grass, no matter how larger or small it is, but it is difficult to differentiate from the variety of styles, products, and designs. Here at RC Artificial Grass , our staff has a thorough understanding of the artificial grass industry and will make sure your lawn is installed with highest quality of artificial grass.  Because your artificial grass lawn will require no weeding, seeding or watering, you can rest assured that you will no longer need to worry about your lawn.

The cost-savings

There is also a huge cost-saving to be gained from laying artificial grass. The increasing cost of water in Los Angeles Country really affects the amount of watering that traditional gardens can benefit from, not to mention the price of weed killer, grass seeds and other lawn equipment. A large number of a our customers  located in higher temperature cities such as Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, West Hollywood and Hollywood have seen up to a 70% reduction in monthly water expenses. Artificial Grass is the best solution to save water, have a perfect loan, and save money.

 

Artificial Grass can benefit any garden. If you would like to find out more about this wonderful alternative to traditional grass lawns, simply call the professionals at RC Artificial Grass will gladly give you more information and advise you on the best options for you.