The importance of synthetic turf maintenance

from Ops Talk Magazine Fall 2015

The cost of compliance

Synthetic turf sports fields have become a commonplace in most regions of Canada. The challenges in meeting the demand for sports field programming hours, combined with the stress put on natural grass fields caused by the long stretches of cold and wet weather in Canada, have continued to prompt communities to opt for synthetic turf as the most practical and economical solution to this problem.

However, synthetic turf does not last forever. All synthetic turf surfaces will eventually experience a decline in quality and performance as they wear. The speed and severity with which this decline occurs, however, can be dramatically different depending on the choices that are made in the planning, product selection and the maintenance program selection phase.

Synthetic turf manufacturers typically promote that a field will last and remain usable for eight to 10 years. Most manufacturers back this claim with some form of eight-year warranty offered as the industry standard. Despite these claims, the actual lifecycle of an artificial turf field typically varies far more than this with both the potential for significantly shorter and longer lifespans depending on the product selection and how well executed the maintenance program is.

For this reason it is critical during the planning phase of a new project to consider the complete picture. This includes the hours of programming expected, the type of user groups and activities the field will be used for, and a realistic estimate of what is needed in regard to ensuring proper field maintenance is performed.

Far too often, the importance of field maintenance is overlooked or underestimated during the planning process. This is a particularly dangerous trap for field owners because not only does the field safety, performance and lifespan decline faster, but insufficient maintenance may also void the warranty. This is why it is extremely important to fully consider all the factors related to field usage and maintenance when planning your project.

An ideal maintenance plan is dependent on several factors, including the hours of use a field experiences, the type of activities it is being used for, and the type of artificial turf system installed. There is a broad range of different synthetic turf systems available to choose from, each with different maintenance needs. The key is to ensure you develop with your supplier the ideal maintenance program for your specific needs.

For instance, synthetic turf systems that incorporate a shock pad require less maintenance. Utilizing a shock pad also will help your field respond better to the maintenance it does receive. This means synthetic turf system with a 1.5-inch to 1.75-inch pile height and a shock pad will perform better and respond better to maintenance than a 2.5-inch pile height system with no shock pad (pile height refers to the length of the synthetic grass blades, which are filled with sand and rubber granules).

Another key consideration for improving the effectiveness of turf maintenance is that turf products with stronger, more robust synthetic turf fibres (the individual synthetic grass blades) tend to stand straighter for longer stretches of time and don’t need to be groomed as often to be kept in good condition. Weaker fibres are unable to be repositioned to the upright position as the field ages. This can dramatically limit impact both field safety and its longevity.

This is why it is important to review the maintenance needs of the different synthetic turf product options available in the planning phase of a project so you can ensure that you have a realistic expectation of both the lifespan of your field and your total costs for the project. Choosing a low-cost, inferior artificial turf system may actually cost more in the long run as your replacement timeframe will be significantly shorter and the maintenance needed to keep the field in usable condition can skyrocket as the field ages. b