Our installation process, step by step
Good installations are not improvised. This is the disciplined sequence a lasting artificial lawn depends on, and why each stage matters.
Below is the process a quality supply-and-fit project follows. The exact specification is always tailored to your site, but the principles stay the same: proper groundwork, planned drainage and careful finishing.
From bare ground to finished lawn
Consultation
We talk through how you use the space, the look you want and any issues such as pets, shade or poor drainage.
Site assessment
We measure up and check levels, access, the existing surface and how the ground drains, so the quote is accurate.
Excavation
The existing lawn or surface is dug out to the required depth and the waste is removed responsibly.
Sub-base
MOT Type 1 aggregate is laid and compacted in layers, forming the stable, free-draining foundation.
Levelling layer
A screeded layer of sharp sand or granite dust is compacted to a smooth finish with the correct falls.
Membrane & edging
A weed-control membrane is laid with overlaps, and secure edging is fixed around the perimeter.
Laying the grass
The grass is rolled out, left to settle, then cut to shape with the pile running in one direction.
Jointing & fixing
Seams are joined with tape and adhesive, and the edges are fixed down firmly and invisibly.
Infill & finish
Kiln-dried sand is brushed in where required, the pile is dressed, and the site is left clean and tidy.
The parts people underestimate
The sub-base
Rushing or skimping on the aggregate base is the single biggest cause of lawns that dip, ripple or puddle. It is the least glamorous stage and the most important.
The falls
A subtle slope built into the base guides water towards drainage. Without it, even a permeable surface can hold water in wet spells.
The joins
Seams done carefully, with the pile aligned, taped and glued, become almost invisible. Done badly, they are the first thing you notice.
The infill
Kiln-dried sand weighs the lawn down, protects the backing and keeps fibres upright, helping the grass look fuller for longer.
Process FAQs
It depends on use and ground conditions. A domestic lawn often has around 75mm of compacted MOT Type 1, while areas taking heavier loads are built deeper. The base is compacted in layers and finished with a levelling layer of sharp sand or granite dust.
Many domestic projects take one to three days depending on size, access and groundwork. We give a realistic timescale with your quote.
Drainage is planned before the base goes in. The permeable sub-base lets water pass through; on problem ground a soakaway or additional drainage may be added. See our drainage page.
Ready to plan your project?
Tell us a little about your space and we will help you choose the right surface, with a free, no-obligation quote.