About Synthetic Grass
Synthetic grass, also known as artificial turf, is a combination of synthetic materials used to mimic natural grass. Whether replacing your live lawn or creating a new lawn, synthetic grass has many benefits while still maintaining a natural grass look and feel, making it a viable and environmentally friendly alternative. Does this Spark an idea?
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Materials
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Manufacturers produce synthetic grass products by combining thin blades of fibrous yarn, intended to resemble a basic blade of grass, with a filler designed to give the synthetic grass more depth. A yarn is simply stranded textile fibers or filaments that are woven together to form a fabric-like plastic. A common material used for this process is polyolefin, which is a synthetic polymer used for its durability. Synthetic grass filler can also be made using a polyolefin backing, but another common material for filler is actually ground-up recycled tires.
Use
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Synthetic grass was first developed in the 1950s and has most commonly been used in stadiums and sports arenas to lower costs associated with live grass. While many people have probably seen synthetic grass in its more traditional environment, such as football and baseball fields, it has also entered the residential sector, where it can take the place of home lawns, playground surfaces and even grass for pets.
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Benefits
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Synthetic lawns do not require watering The primary benefit of synthetic grass is that it requires little to no maintenance. Unlike live grass, synthetic grass requires no water, mowing, trimming or weeding. It is useful in sports arenas because it is more durable than live grass and therefore suffers less damage from cleats and falls. It is also preferred for indoor stadiums because it requires no sunlight. An additional advantage of synthetic grass is that it helps conserve water, particularly in states that frequently face drought, such as California or Texas. Finally, the method of grinding used tires to create tire crumbs aids in recycling rubber that would otherwise enter landfills.
Concerns
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While synthetic grass certainly has its benefits, there are potential problems with this technology. Rubber tire crumbs contain chemical agents and heavy metals, such as zinc and lead, which have carcinogenic potential. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems including skin irritation and some cancers. Since synthetic grass can be used for playgrounds and homes, it may put children at risk.
Cost
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The average cost in 2006 for synthetic grass was between $8 and $10 per square foot of turf. The cost of an artificial lawn can be expensive, especially for very large lawns. However, some water districts where water conservation is an issue have programs to provide rebates to homeowners who opt for artificial lawns.
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References
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- Photo Credit marquage sur pelouse image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com Moving streams sprayer watering of green grass lawn 2 image by fotosergio from Fotolia.com
