regards, Hi Gavin, i have two areas of artificial grass to fit. How to Install on Concrete If it does great no further action is required. Hi yes as long as the area is in pretty good shape ie reasonably smooth and free draining. If the patio has gaps in between each slab and the water can drain through it you wont need to drill 15mm cores into and fill with pea shingle. regards, Thankyou for getting back to me gavin great advice thankyou, for future grass laying I will use the advice of no underlay! FAQ Just unsure how to stick the middle down. Learn how your comment data is processed. If your surface is unsmooth an underlay will be required as any imperfections in the concrete surface will show through to the top surface. Can you use no nails/gorill glue to stick the grass to concrete please? Ideally I would rather put a sub base down over the slabs if drainage continued to be a problem rather than pulling the slabs up. Thanks, Hi leave a very very tiny gap (10mm ), this wont be felt. We use a glue from Envirostik called Aquabond. Hi Gavin. After researching, i had looked at doing a timber frame to house a 75 mm sub base made from 10 mm compacted limestone chipping (in case of potential drainage issues), presumably this would be laid level and not on a fall due to the potential drainage problem, and then following that add, again level, 25 mm laying course of compacted limestone dust before screeding and laying the grass. How do you attach the underlay to the concrete? Is there an issue with drainage or have we done something wrong with the edging? 3/Lift the area and completely start the install the install process building up the sub base etc. Or, should I leave a small gap around the edge of the foam underlay and glue the edges of the grass to the concrete balcony? You may wish to brush in some kiln sand ,maybe 2 x 25 kg bags to pin it down and improve durability if it will get lots of footfall , this will also take the edge of any sharpness in the under surface. regards. 2/ Replace grass and sand with kiln dried sand , brushing it in with a broom this will add some weight. 1 inch of 0-5 mm put down in layers and compacted each time. Appreciate the response! Firstly the ballast isnt sufficient as a base layer and secondly if you did use it and lifted the grass in 3 months time , it would simply be soil as the worms would have taken it down into the soil .would you lay your expensive grass on soil!!! regards. What would be the best way to secure the turf next to the wall since I cant drive stakes in? Finally, how do we go about making the facing edge that you see as you come out the patio doors astetically pleasing to look at but more importantly trip safe? We always use Artificial Grass Joining Tape if making a join rather than sticking the join directly to the concrete, as we want as little glue down as possible. I thought sporadically gluing the grass to the concrete around the perimeters, making sure I dont glue all the way around, as I know this will impact the drainage. We only site visit for quotations of jobs we are going to undertake and they also will be vetted and in our area as we are only a small company . Any help would really be appreciated, thanks, Hi there , on bricks as long as they are pretty flat and free draining if you wish to add grass as a temporary solutions and you do not wish to spoil whats underneath you can simply roll out the product. The design of the slabs means its not 100% flat, but pretty close. regards. regards. Im wanting to lay on top of a concrete patio but there is a 1 inch step up in the middle of the patio. Fantastic, will definitely do that with the kiln sand. Concrete currently slightly sloped and very bumpy / uneven. I have a large bricked area though with a drain in the middle, one small area of the yard collects water as there is a little dip. Should I put holes in the foam and drill where it puddles also? Can I just glue it or will I have to nail/screw it? With this tho if I leave gaps between the underlay will it be felt under foot and visable once it settles! By breaking the slabs around edge means you can set the timbers down a bit from the patio and so you wont need as much top layer if not set them on their sides and you may have to top up with type 1 before putting on top layer. regards, Hi gavin iym doing a 5m4m area how much sand will I need to put on whats best sand and how many bags will I need, Hi there we only sand a grass with kiln sand if it needs it because it isnt sitting down onto the base and has some puffing .I would generally take a couple of bags along I think they are 25kg. We had though of just placing the grass and not using any glues or adhesive but Im worried it will move around or be a hazard. Regards. The grass is fine in very warm conditions, however I would advise sanding it quite heavily using kiln dried sand brushed in to the pile which will increase the fire retardant capabilities of the area. If I drill holes, will I not end up cracking the slabs? regards. One is around 5m x 4m and one is 5m x 5m. If you can break the slabs around the perimeter great do it and then concrete in 3 x 2 timbers around edge leaving no more than an inch lip above the patio. Surrey And what if the water doesnt drain? I poured some water in this hole and it didnt drain well. What you have created is a sand filled bowl which will be full of dog wee. Screed the surface once compacted so it is rock hard, flat and level to your side timbers. Hi there post wise, they would all need to be fitted and secured first before any work on grass starts. I was wondering can I use my left over 20mm ballast as a base on top of soil then use a membrane? regards. A few things you can do :- The concrete isnt in the best of condition judging by the appearance when Ive lifted a few flags. Hi there , we always concrete our fixings in so there is less chance of movement . Hi Gavin what would you recommend if we are putting fake grass down over existing laid solid concrete flags in an internal swimming pool surrounding? I poured water in this area and it didnt really soak away and took a long time to clear. We are planning to use a 42mm thick grass with a weight of 3700 gr/m2, glued down, leaving gaps for water to drain as you have recommended and we will also be adding weed free sub rounded kiln dried sand (also from Neo Grass). The area previously had slabs on it for a number of years. About Us Therefore, does this mean the idea of installing grass on top of the current slabs whilst drilling some holes for drainage wont work as I cannot fathom removing all the slabs and preparing the sub base again. He has more than 17 years artificial grass experience. regards. I have a garden which is all concrete (large concrete slabs) not good enough to lay artificial grass on and the option of digging it all up isnt viable as access to remove it is limited. Before artificial grass installed on concrete driveway. Many thanks Dez, Hi the idea of leaving a gap for the underlay it gives you a small channel clear around the edge to run some glue beads to attach the grass. regards, Hi Gavin, great advice I will be following your guide. regards. Used self levelling compound to help the patio slabs but wasnt great and some puddles were left after we did hosepipe test! Simon, Hi Im sorry to say this is recipe for disaster . How to Fit Artificial Grass So the slabs are all fitted well and the overall area of 49sqm is level (with slight incline towards drainage) so I thought this was a great starting base, no? document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Kent We buy our foam from another artificial grass supplier. The actual glue is called Aquabond. Because of the enduring attention to detail and the dedication of my team I am in the enviable position of receiving many requests from people all over the world looking for help with their artificial grass installations. I then used a 8mm drill bit (biggest I had) to drill a hole which would only go down as far as 60mm deep. Ok, so should or should I not use kiln sand as from reading your installation guides, I had understood that this helps keep the grass held down. I cant raise the elevation of the dirt enough to make it see enough for stakes because it would cause drainage issues around our home. On top of this we add up to approx. What would be the best way to lay down the grass? You will need to drill some 15 mm cores in the concrete and fill with pea shingle these are to let the water escape. We may earn commission from links on this page but we only recommend products we would use. If you can concrete in some 3 x 2 timbers around the perimeter and set these leaving a 1 inch lip over the sub base you can then in fill using compacted granite dust 0-5 mm. Hi, the answer is simply yes it can! You can then sand the grass all over with kiln sand this will pin it down into the underlay. Hi Gavin Thanks in advance, great site, and great youre helping so many people, Hi there, spot on mate, as long as the surface is pretty flat the grass will be absolutely fine. The whole underlay conversation I suppose is down to each individual , it will not preserve the life span of the grass at all , as the grass will weather in exactly the same way depending on footfall and usage. I really dont want to cause any drainage issues any advice would be greatly appreciated. regards, Hi Gavin Do I put kiln sand on the grass, Hi there , I would install the hot tub and then fit the grass around the edges. Hi there my advise would be to consider another surface. Cheers Hi Melissa, yes this is viable and is something we do as long as you have the scope to build it up, which totally depends on the surroundings. Hello, we are installing turf in the lower level of our backyard. regards, Sorry, when you say fines, is that a typo? Hi there, the kiln sand is simply brushed into the pile so it physically disappears, so thats not an issue. Once happy your base is as flat as you can get it simply roll out grass, cut in, join etc and then stick it around the perimeter on your dried out fillet. Dont over glue leave gaps for water to escape. There is a slight decline on the area, I plan on rolling the grass down (2 x 4m width rolls), does it matter if also roll underlay down, or should it be rolled across, or does it really not matter? Initially the grass will offer some extra cushion however the grass will get squashed very quickly with constant footfall and it also will be slippery in the winter when it becomes icey. Great installation guides, thank you. Will the holes not cause the slabs to crack and then create movement once the grass goes on top? I want to put artificial grass down and I bought the foam to aid cushioning as the area will be for a toddler. Do not over glue the grass as this will stop the flow of water trying to pass through it. What I would suggest is to spray all weeds off with Round Up weedkiller. Thanks again for all your advice, really appreciate it. I want to lay artificial grass on this then put a hot tub on there, it has had a hot tub on the slab before. Hi, yes both of those will work, however dont get it on the grass fibres. If the concrete is in good condition and drains well it is cheaper and easier than installing artificial grass on soil as the concrete will act as the solid base on which to fit the grass doing away with the need for the groundworks. So to help drainage I drilled 16mm holes all over the patio area paying attention to problem areas (mostly puddles!) regards. regards. My real question is, should I just lay the grass as is, or should I add some newer sand to the existing compacted sand, and should I use a weed membrane? Hi there, the problem with adding some sand to the area is it is only going to work temporarily as it will wash away pretty quickly. Ive not seen it used on steps so wondering if it is possible. I have managed to artificial grass the areas which were just mud and these are doing well as they are washed down with kennel dissinfectant and obviously drain well. London regards. Finally, I lifted one of the slabs and found what looks like a mortar mix (sand and cement). I was going to uses sharp sand to level as a top, then fit membrane and then the grass, but after reading many of your mails on here that does not seem right? There is so much artificial grass used in Spain already on roundabouts, road verges, shopping centres etc. I currently have textured flag stones down and am looking at my best options of laying artificial grass on top. Can the steps be covered in artificial grass much the same as straits are covered in carpet? Regards. Hi Gavin I am planning on laying on top of concrete slab and as its so bumpy i have bought a 10mm underlay just wondering how to stick it all down you say leave 1-2 inch gap around perimeter but would what show and a 10mm defect around or does his still apply for 10mm underlay!! Always use a very short grass when using the areas for dogs. Privacy Policy regards. Then simply fill the area up with type 1 if needed (if over 25mm deep) or if you have been able to set the timbers down around the side and only have 25 mm to make up, I would use granite 0-5 mm. Hi we put down 2-3 inches at least of compacted type 1 sub base. The drill bit came out with sand on it. You can obviously cut along the step line making sure its neat with no over hang and then glue heavily. I assume you have gone on top of the flags, did you break them up? I agree to receiving the latest news and promotions from Perfect Grass Ltd regarding our products. Good luck if you intend laying the artificial grass yourself. Hi there, if this was my garden I would remove all lose, broken and protruding slabs. Have a look at the post from Melissa below as an alternative way of fitting using what you have as a sub base. Dont forget a permeable membrane must be used underneath the aggregates.regards. So that when we move out and remove the grass the ground will still be in the same condition. Yes the grass can be laid down steps but you would have to glue it so heavily, so there is no trip hazard that if you ever wish to remove it it will be impossible. You will not be able to glue the underlay as the glue will simply pull the underlay apart due to its strength. Another thought Id considered is flipping all the slabs so that the design is face down, with the flat surface now face up. This guide will take you through 6 simple steps on how to install artificial grass on concrete. A compromise will be needed though if you expect a lot of people walking over the grass as in this case a shorter pile is more preferable. The kiln sand can be added, but believe me there are always weed seeds in the air and they will germinate in whatever they want to, also adding this will be quite expensive and unless you have a good quality spreader it will be uneven and very lumpy under foot. You can also use kiln dried sand on top, brushed in, to add weight if required. Area is 6m x 8m, and the underlay comes in rolls 1.5m wide and so is to be taped together to fit (I believe). I have an integral garage which is 20 wide and protrudes from the house by over 9 creating a 20 x 9 roof terrace. Or is it not needed for concrete installations? How far down should I drill each hole? Hi, Ive got a concrete base under current paving flags which Im getting rid of. Laying artificial grass on concrete can be a great option for you because: I have previously written a general guide on installing artificial grass on soil. Its a long fall down these steps if you were to trip or slip on them and Im thinking the grass would be a good non slip surface and also cushion an fall to some extent. Then simply fill these drainage holes with type one and compact as much as you can (these will sink if not properly compacted). Thank you!! Dont over stick, in fact use as little as you can because if you ever need to lift it wont come up and also too much glue will hamper the drainage. Hopefully this will be the last hurdle before getting the grass down!! We usually lay out the foam and use gaffer tape to hold it together so it doesnt curl up whilst you are fitting, we leave and 1-2 inch gap around perimeter . Lightly glue allowing water to pass out from under it . Hi there , not something I have come across before . Depending on what you want the area to be used for and look like you may want to consider building a base around it using the concrete for a sub base. Cut to shape with a sharp Stanley Knife using Hook Blades and leave for a few hours to settle. If the concrete surface is relatively smooth you can lay directly on it after brushing it clean and removing any debris. but what about the artificial lawn itself should we leave a gap also when this sits on top or should it go up tight against wall/sides? The balcony is 4m wide and drops 60mm from the back to the front as a gradient for water run off. regards. 57 North Cray Road Ok, I will drill further down with a longer drill bit and see when I hit the substrate then test drainage and then decide which method to use. Lastly! I intend to drill (approx) 12x 16mm holes and fill with 10mm shingle just to be safe with the drainage. Alternatively i was going to mix some cement into it effectively creating a solid level concrete base then lay the grass on top, but i do have two dogs so worried about smells? Thanks mate!! Would I be able to roll out and tape together artificial grass for a large area like this? If you recommend without underlay, how thick would grass need to be? regards. Hi there , personally there are 3 avenues to potentially go down. My main concern is that if I lay grass on top of the current slabs, will the water not just sit under the grass and take much longer to dry, if ever? If you do use an underlay leave small gaps in between each strip and a 1 inch gap around edge to glue the grass to the base. One inch is enough, as you will get a slight ridge and you want that as close to the edge as possible. Hope you can help Id like to lay artificial grass on our tiled patio, the tiles are slightly textured, the patio has walls on all sides and the only drainage is in the centre of the patio and there a couple of places water does pool. Can I butt the grass up to these or do I still need a timber frame? Hi, Leave the underlay short approx. We generally tape it sporadically with gaffer tape, dont forget water needs to escape if you are not using a pre holed underlay like x matting. At this point is the compacted dust solid enough to be able to drill into to secure my fence supports? regards. Regards, Hi Gavin My plan now is to buy some kind of drainage mat and put that under the turf, then top with durafill. The underlay can be spread out in any direction over the concrete area to be covered. Im looking to grass out our roof terrace in Spain on top of our apartment. Regards. If not simply put in a concrete fillet using sharp sand so you can stick the grass to it when its cut in. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Gavin is the founder of Perfect Grass Ltd. Once the glue has gone off sand around the perimeter to take the edge of the slight lip for the edge of the underlay. I am wanting to fix artificial grass to an ugly 2.5 ft breeze block wall. The issue around the doors is easy to solve, either simply cut and stick heavily up to the edge or remove the slabs by it and then fill with concrete leaving a lip to cut too (bull nose edge), then stick. I would cut to size and then to add weight I would brush in a few bags (maybe more depending on size) of kiln dried sand as this will hold it down. Hi there, times and methods change, as the grass has been developed and installation methods advanced, we have found ourselves using top dressing less and less. Budget wise that would be more cost effective than skip etc etc to take the slabs up. I realise what you say regarding leaving a 1/2 inch gap around edging when placing the foam and thanks for the tip regarding gaffer tape!!! Hi there, what we have done before is to use the patio base as the sub base. At the end of the fall is the 9 open end fitted with iron railings. Hi there, what process did you end up using i.e. The idea of gluing the grass direct to surface makes sense, is 1 inch enough of a glue perimeter? Hi we generally use a 5mm foam underlay which we simply roll out leaving a 1-2 inch gap around the perimeter. How to Lay on a Balcony, Terms and Condition None of the slabs are fixed by any cement or adhesive, and the slabs are in a square, kept in place by flower bed borders at the East & West perimeter. Read your piece and the foam does not seem to let liquid through. Please make sure you have read other readers questions and my answers first as your question may have already been asked. How do I fix grass please, glue? regards. It has taken me many years of hard work to be able to provide the type of artificial grass installation service we now offer. I would always recommend granite 0-5 mm as it binds together so much better than sharp sand, but if you cant, it will have to do however I wouldnt use more than 1/2 inch of it, top the area up with type 1 and compact, again to stop dipping. Im afraid you need to rethink and lift the concrete if there is no other place to put this.regards. I understand I can drill holes in these areas. Thanks The slabs may break but as long as they are firm, they are ok ,if not they will need removing and the area filling as explained above . When ready fit grass, do not over stick, leave areas for water to escape around perimeter. perfectgrassltd.co.uk/installing-artificial-grass/ The only thing you can argue is the underlay will take the feel of any hard edges away , but if you are putting 42 mm grass pile on it this will too . Following these steps you too will be left with an artificial grass flooring that will brighten up your space. CanI lay artificial grass directly on this or will the low gradient cause the grass to retain water? Hi Gavin, I have built a balcony ontop of a home extension. Well further to my plans that you gave advice about a few months ago, im fairly impressed with myself having built a timber frame around my backyard area to accommodate the 25 mm laying course over the existing flagstones, to then fit the membrane and then the artificial grass. We have a concrete back yard can I lay the grass straight onto it? The only issues will be areas where you step on and off and these could become trip hazards . Hi there, I have a concrete are designed for a conservatory so is very flat and puddles in two locations. Please fill out thequotation formor call us on020 81664168. Your email address will not be published. Just rolling over the existing slabs? As for the dip , you wont be able to use a fine aggregates as it will move and wash away very quickly. regards, We have used adhesive to stick the edging down, it was fine until we did that so that why I think it was the adhesive and edging. If you can try and lift it carefully without tearing it and then re-trim. Lee, Hi there yes you can just make sure the drainage is good and the tarmac is in good condition. It is really difficult to judge if we should use underlay especially when we only have a tiny sample piece of grass to put over a crevice and test walking on it. regards. Would a timber sub frame to bring the garden up and self levelling compound be ideal or another way youd recommend? Around the edges I would make a 3inch by 3inch channel and put in a concrete fillet (mix of cement, ballast and water), simply smooth it off so its completely level with the top of your base.