How to Lay Fake Grass on Concrete? Pre-Installation Tips

Fake grass is a great way to improve your yard’s look and add color. But how to lay fake grass on concrete? The answer to this question is quite simple and can be done with a few simple steps. But there are certain preparations you should take before installation.

Do you have the right concrete?

Before laying fake grass on concrete, you must ensure it is a suitable surface. In addition, you will need to check if any cracks in the concrete or exposed rebar or pipes could damage the grass. 

You first must ensure that your concrete is dry before laying anything down on it. A foam underlay will easily conceal if your surface is uneven or has minor flaws.

For example, suppose concrete areas have become loose or ‘rocky’ underfoot. In that case, you will need to remove the concrete, install an MOT Type 1 sub-base, and install artificial grass using the standard installation method.

Ensure that you have adequate drainage

It’s always important to think about drainage.

The last thing you want after the installation is water sitting on the surface of your new artificial lawn.

Ideally, your concrete will have a slight incline, allowing water to run off.

However, your current concrete may not be perfectly flat, and you may have noticed puddles in specific areas.

You can check this by hosing it down and seeing if any water collects. If it does, it’s not a big deal, and you’ll have to drill some drainage holes.

We recommend drilling holes with a 16mm bit where puddles form, then filling these holes with a 10mm shingle. This will keep your new fake grass from dripping.

Laying synthetic grass on uneven concrete

When installing fake turf on uneven concrete – or any concrete, for that matter – it is critical to use an artificial grass foam underlay.

There are several reasons to install a fake grass shock pad.

• For starters, it will make the grass softer underfoot.
• Another compelling reason to use artificial grass foam is to conceal ridges and cracks in your existing concrete.
• If you were to fall, you would undoubtedly feel the impact on landing. Installing a foam underlay, on the other hand, will feel much better underfoot and much more like a natural lawn.

Please make sure to select a high-quality foam underlay.

From exploring the benefits beyond beauty to maintenance tips and creative ideas for incorporating grass and pavers, let’s dive into the world of artificial grass mats.

How to lay fake grass on concrete? Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Clean the existing concrete.

First, you must prepare the existing concrete. We strongly advise thoroughly cleaning the concrete before installation so that the artificial grass adhesive can adequately bond with the concrete.

It’s also a good idea to eliminate any moss or weeds. Finally, you can hose down your concrete and brush it with a stiff broom. 

After cleaning, allow the concrete to dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2: If necessary, drill drainage holes.

Cleaning your concrete or paving is also an excellent opportunity to evaluate how well it drains.

You can proceed to the next step if the water disappears without puddling.

If it doesn’t, use a 16mm drill bit to drill drainage holes where the puddles form. After that, the holes can be filled with a 10mm shingle.

This will ensure that there is no standing water after a rainstorm.

Step 3: Apply artificial grass foam underlayment.

After your concrete or paving has completely dried, the artificial grass shock pad can be installed.

Roll out a part of foam and cut it to the required shape, beginning at one end of the concrete and making sure that the foam extends to the edge.

You’ll find it easier to cut all of the foam and lay it out before you start gluing anything.

Working your way across the width and length of the concrete, cut each piece of foam to cover the entire area.

Then, using masking tape, secure all of the foam pieces together. After the foam has been cut to shape and taped up, you can start gluing.

Step 4: Trim the grass and prepare the joints.

After you’ve installed the foam, you’ll need to repeat the process to lay the fake grass. Roll out the initial piece of artificial grass and ensure it covers the foam completely.

Before attempting to glue anything, complete all of your cutting. As with any artificial grass installation, the joints must be glued together with fake grass tape.

Step 5: Apply artificial grass glue to the perimeter.

After the glue has dried, we can move on to the next step, securing our artificial grass to the foam underlay.

Ensure that the glue runs consistently along the entire perimeter, with no gaps. These gaps will be potential weak points where the grass can be lifted.

To ensure that the grass and foam properly bond, staying off the grass for the next few hours is best to prevent the fake grass from moving underfoot.

Step 6: Apply kiln sand and brush the grass.

We can proceed to the final step of our installation once the glue has dried.

Finally, we recommend that you add kiln-dried sand to your grass. There are several benefits to using sand infill.

For starters, it will help ‘pin down’ your artificial lawn and prevent wrinkles, ripples, or creases from appearing.

On the other hand, a sand infill will help dissipate heat and keep the artificial fibers from becoming too hot.

Finally, kiln-dried sand aids in the protection of the fibers and their upright position. After you’ve installed the sand infill, brush the grass with a stiff broom.

You can now take a step back and admire the fruits of your labor!

Advantages of laying fake grass on concrete

Refresh old, tired concrete and paving

Concrete is an excellent material for hardwearing and low-maintenance structures, but it can look dull and grey after a few years of exposure to the elements. Laying artificial grass over your concrete will give it a new lease of life with a fresh, green color that blends in with your garden.

Make a slip-resistant surface.

Concrete can be slippery when wet or covered with frost, making walking barefoot or with loose footwear dangerous. A layer of artificial grass will provide a non-slip surface that is safe for children and pets to play on in all weather.

Low-cost and simple to install

You can lay the fake grass on top of concrete without digging – just lay the turf down as usual and enjoy!

Artificial grass drainage on concrete

Artificial grass drainage on concrete is a must when you’re trying to make your lawn look as natural as possible. The problem is that finding ways to get water to drain through your artificial grass can be challenging, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of rainfall.

That’s why one of the best things you can do for your lawn is to make sure that there are holes in the concrete between each piece of fake grass. This will allow water to drain directly into your lawn instead of pooling up and causing damage or mold growth. 

How to lay fake grass on concrete? Post-installation tips

• Keep pets off the grass for a couple of weeks to let them settle in.
• Avoid walking on the lawn after it’s been laid for at least 24 hours, as this can cause indentations that are hard to repair later on.
• Keep it clean by vacuuming or sweeping it regularly with a soft brush.
• Weeds can grow through the fibers of artificial grass and damage them over time. So if you see any sprouting up, pull them out as soon as possible!

Conclusion

We hope this blog has given you a basic range of good tips for laying your artificial grass over concrete. If you have more questions or queries, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

For a quick quote for your home or garden, please browse the rest of our site for details on our grass options and prices.