In many places around the world, artificial turf is becoming the standard for footballfields.It’seasiertomaintain,lastslongerandlooksbetterthannatural grass.
The installation process for a new synthetic turf football field is fairly simple, but it does take time. It’s important to have a plan in place before you begin, includingbudgetandtimelinerequirements.Itcanalsobehelpfultoconsider
what other changes or improvements you’d like to make to your field, such as bleachersoranLEDsportslightingsystem.
Before laying the turf, you’ll need to create a drainage base on which the synthetic surface will sit. The base consists of compacted stone, which allows rainwatertorunoffwithoutcollectingonthefield.Theturfisthenlaidontop ofthedrainagelayerandinfillgranulesaresprinkledevenlyacrosstheentire surface.
Thesegranulesaremadeofrubber,sandornaturalinfillsuchascork,andthey provide a foothold for athletes. They also absorb impact and help to prevent injuries.
Anotherbenefitofan artificial turffootballfieldinstallation isthatitdoesn’t needtobeirrigatedasoftenasanaturalgrassfield.Grassfieldsrequireupto aninchofwaterperweek(60,000gallonsperday)tostayhealthyandplayable. However,turffieldscanretainheatmorethangrass,especiallyonhotdays.This is an issue that coaches and athletic trainers need to keep in mind when planningwaterbreaksandcoolingsystems.
Theconstruction of thedrainagebaseshould becompleted abouttwo months in advance of the actual turf being laid on it. Depending on the amount of earthworksthatmustbedone,thiscouldrequiremoretime.
Afterthebaseisready,theartificialturfisbroughttothesite andunrolled.The edgesof each piecearesewn together to forma “turfquilt” that’ssmooth and aesthetically pleasing. Once the quilt is complete, it’s secured in place using stakes.
Maintenance of the turf is also relatively easy, as it requires removing debris and brushing the surface occasionally to ensure it remains clean and in good shape. Additionally, it’s necessary to add infill material on a regular basis to replenishthenutrientlevelsthataredepletedbyfoottrafficandwear.
A standard sized football turf field can expect to spend about $8,000 in maintenancecostseveryyear.Thiscostincludeslaborforcleaning,disinfecting andrefillingtheinfillmaterial.
Thelifecycleofaturffootballfieldusuallyrunsforabout8yearsbeforeitneeds toberesurfaced. Thiscanbeadauntingtask,butthereareprofessionalswho can handle the process for you and recycle your old playing surface. This will saveyoutimeandmoneyinthelongrun.