Whetheryou'replanningtoinstallturfinyourhomeorbusiness,therearesome thingsyoushouldknowbeforeyoustart.Thekeyistobeprepared,asthereare severalrisksinvolvedwithsyntheticturfandtheinstallationprocess.
If you're preparing to install a new artificial turf, there are several steps you need to take before you start laying it out. You'll need to consider the type of adhesiveyou'lluse, thetypeofsubflooryou'reworkingwith,andthelayersof dirtbelowthesurface.
Thefirst step in preparing the subfloor isto remove all the top level soil. This will make room for your new turf. It's important to create a level surface and avoidcavingorsloping.
Next,you'llneedtopreparetheareabyremovingallthegrassandotherplants. Depending on the location, you may need to sanitize the subfloor before you startlayingdowntheturf. Inadditiontoremovingall thegrass,you'llneedtotrimtheedgesoftheturf. Leavinganinchofoverhangoneachsidewillallowyoutotucktheedgesunder yourwalkwaysandborders.
Next, you'll need to spread a layer of geotextile material over the soil. This preventsweedsandnaturalplantsfromgrowingbeneathyourturf.
Forthebestresults,you'llwanttoapplyalayerofJiffySealonthebottomside ofyourturf.Thisshouldbeappliedastightaspossible. Youmayalsowanttoapplyanelectriccompactionplatetohelpyousmoothout thetoplayerofyourbase.Thiswillhelpcreateamoresolidfoundation.
Ifyouarethinkingofinstallingasyntheticindoorturfinyourhomeoroffice, youareprobablyweighingtheprosandcons.Whileartificialturfoffersseveral
benefits, it also poses some health risks. These include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is easily spread by skin-to-skin contact and repeatedabrasions.
Syntheticinfillcancontainchemicalsthat filterdirectlyintostormdrainsand municipalsewers.Theycanalsobetrackedintohomesandclothesbyathletes andotherswhowearathleticgear.
Natural grass is also appealing because of its playability and aesthetics. However,thesefactorsmaynotbeenoughtomakeyouchooseanaturalsurface oversynthetic.
There are some other concerns as well. One is whether or not a synthetic turf fieldcanbeusedcontinuouslywithoutrestperiods.Also,itcanbeveryhot.
Anotherconcernisthatasynthetic turffieldisunabletofilterrainwaterand otherchemicals.Fortunately,syntheticinfillmanufacturersaredevelopingways toaddressthisproblem.
Althoughthereisnodefinitiveanswertothisquestion,thereareseveralstudies thathavefoundnoconsistentdifferencesin theabrasionandlaceration rates betweenanaturalgrassandinfilledsyntheticturf.Someofthesestudieshave focusedonspecificinjurytypes,suchasheadinjuries.
Among the concerns about the installation of synthetic indoor turf is the potentialhealthriskfromabrasionsandlacerationinjuries.Abrasionscanlead toskininfections.Itisimportanttoavoidsharingpersonalitemsandcleancuts promptly.Theuseofsanitizingproductsfromthemanufacturerscanhelp.
Severalstudieshavebeenconductedtoinvestigatetheabrasionandlaceration risksofartificialindoorturfinstallation.Whilenodefinitivestatementscanbe made,thereisevidencetosuggestthatcertaintypesofsyntheticturfcancause moreinjury.
One type of synthetic turf is manufactured from recycled tire crumb rubber. Crumbrubbercontainscarbonblackandsulfur.Bothofthesesubstancesmay have toxic effects. They can enter the body when ingested and can be tracked throughtheairintohomes.
Anotherissueistheabrasivenessofthefibersusedinsyntheticturf.Thefibers' shape and composition affect their degree of abrasiveness. Some studies have suggestedthatnylonfibersaremoreabrasivethan otherfibers.
Although there have been no studies on the abrasion and laceration risk of outdoor synthetic turf, there is some evidence that infection may be more
common on artificial turf than on natural grass. Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known to spread easily on sports fields and lockerroomsduetofrequentskin-to-skincontact.