FAQ

Artificial grass has become the biggest trend in landscaping over the past decade. The main reason is because the grass has come a long way from how it used to look and feel.

• SmartGrass lasts where real grass won’t.
• 5x faster draining than any other turf – so water and dog pee disappears quickly
• Save on time, money, fertiliser, water, erosion, and your mower’s carbon footprint.
• Now 100% recyclable

• SmartGrass Earth Series is 100% recyclable, and three times more durable. This means it lasts longer than any competitors’ products and carries a 10 year warranty.
• SmartGrass has a range of turf that has been developed for high-end residential homes instead of preschools. This is designed to look more like real grass.
• SmartGrass Earth Series drains 5 times faster than other latex backed turf, which is essential in poor draining areas, and when dogs pee on it.
• The SmartGrass manufacturer is one of the largest and most respected in the world, with over 180 research and development staff. This dedication leads to innovative products manufactured with specialised machinery.
• SmartGrass is installed by a professional franchisee, not a landscaper or contractor. This is important for the longevity of the turf, and to ensure you can’t see the joins.

No, SmartGrass has a 10-year warranty that covers fading.

SmartGrass is made of UV stabilised polyethylene, that has been independently tested by SGS in a UV accelerator (which mimics the sun’s exposure).  Low-quality artificial grass is known to fade, because of the poor quality materials used in manufacturing, and the blades of grass are thin.

Yes! SmartGrass Earth Series has a special drainage system which allows the dog pee to disappear quickly, so it is pet friendly.

• SmartGrass is the best quality and value for money available in New Zealand.
• Our products last longer, look the most realistic, and have the longest warranty.
• SmartGrass is installed professionally by our franchisees, not by landscapers or contractors. This means it will look perfect, and stay that way.

Most landscaping artificial grass is designed to feel like real grass, although some cheaper products can feel plastic and oily. Thinner grass blades generally feel softer, but there is a trade off between softness and rigidity. SmartGrass is designed with the optimum thickness of blades, and still remains soft but rigid, which ensures the grass stands up.

Yes! Artificial grass used for landscaping comes in various colours and heights of green. Coloured turf (blue, purple, red, white, and yellow) are common colours for sports turf, and custom orders can be manufactured.

SmartGrass has a 10 year warranty, however in many applications it will last 15-20 years with regular maintenance. This is the same as our high performance sports turfs, which have up to 40 hours of use a week for 15 years.

Artificial grass has become popular because of it’s huge benefits. That said, it does still require some maintenance to keep it looking good.

Artificial grass can also get hot in the sun, just like concrete. This is easily managed by giving it a spray with a garden hose or irrigation system.

SmartGrass is the latest evolution of synthetic grass and now looks and feels so real. This is why so many people such as homeowners, schools and businesses see the value.

New sections are getting smaller, and so are the lawns. For many Kiwis, SmartGrass is the answer to minimising the hassle of mowing and maintaining such small areas.

Most SmartGrass is made of UV stabilised polyethylene. This is a very durable recyclable plastic that is resistant to fading and stains.

SmartGrass is made of a very durable and 100% recyclable plastic called polyethylene. This material will last for over 20 years in direct sunlight, and can be responsibly recycled at the end of its life.

Many local councils are switching to artificial grass in high use areas, because of the environmental impact of real grass. Real grass has a larger carbon footprint because of the fuel and oil used in lawn mowers, and the CO2 that is released when grass decomposes.

Artificial grass is being installed as an alternative to real grass as it requires fewer harsh weed sprays, fertilisers and litres of precious water to keep it looking good.

There are many differences between the quality of artificial grass available from hardware stores vs. SmartGrass.

SmartGrass is constructed of stronger materials, which makes it more durable than products made from hardware stores. This is why it comes with a 10 year warranty. It is also fully recyclable, and looks like real grass, unlike products available in hardware stores.

Artificial turf from hardware stores are useful for temporary applications (such as doormats) but do not last as long as SmartGrass.

SmartGrass is constructed using fire retardant materials. It is code compliant and has a fire rating certificate, meaning it can be used indoors. Fire is highly unlikely in the event a cigarette butt lands on the grass, however we recommend to keep any flames away from artificial grass.

Yes, artificial grass can be hot in the sun depending on the time of year, however this is easy to deal with. That’s why it is used by many preschools as a safe surface.

• Water – a quick spray with the hose will instantly cool it, and there won’t be any mud!
• Generally artificial grass will heat up as much as asphalt, but cools down much faster.
• Silica sand infill helps dissipate the heat into the sub-base

Latex backed artificial grass has a series of drainage holes throughout the backing. This allows water to drain through.

SmartGrass Earth Series has a fully permeable backing. This allows water to drain through freely, unlike the latex backing.

Dog pee also drains quickly through the Earth Series backing, into the sub-base.

SmartGrass is slip-resistant, meaning that in the wet it is still safe to walk on.

Most artificial grass used for landscaping comes in heights of 20mm to 40mm. The short varieties are generally cheaper and look more manicured, while the longer pile are more expensive and lusher looking.

If the grass is a high use area, we recommend a shorter pile grass.

The 35mm and 40mm pile heights are the most realistic looking to most people.

It is possible to install artificial grass yourself, however having artificial turf professionally installed may save you money in the long run. Builders will often prepare the base, and get the turf professionally installed.

You can learn exactly how to DIY install your artificial grass here.

Sand infill is spread on top of artificial grass when it is laid in outdoor areas, and is usually difficult to see. There are several reasons for the sand including:

1. Sand helps weigh down the carpet, which is part of how it is fastened.
2. Sand helps support the yarn (blades of grass) to stand up, which makes it look more realistic.
3. The sand infill keeps the grass clean by blocking leaves, debris and dog poo from getting stuck amongst the yarn.
4. The sand protects the backing from UV exposure, and helps conduct the heat out of the grass and into the base.
5. The grass is designed to have sand spread on it, which helps deepen the colour to make it look more real.

Not in residential applications, this is used on football and rugby fields. Rubber crumb helps protect the players from injury, by cushioning impact.

While sand (infill) is laid on artificial grass outdoors, it does not need to be used on turf indoors.

Sand infill helps protect the backing against UV degradation, and is usually required for the warranty.

Without it, the grass will not stand up, and can sound ‘crunchy’ when walked on.

Special kiln-dried silica sand is laid on artificial grass. Different types of grass have different requirements.

Most landscaping grasses have 10-12Kg of sand per square meter.

The sand generally covers a third of the pile length and isn’t usually noticed until your close up to it. Some tennis surfaces are filled to the top of the yarn with sand.

It does not usually need topping up unless it has moved. Our maintenance service can help with this – learn more.

Yes! Artificial grass is just like carpet, and can be laid indoors. Most of our products have a D or E class fire rating, meaning that they can usually be used indoors.

One of the benefits of having artificial grass installed by a specialist installer is that the seams will be unnoticeable. A trained eye may still see them if they know where the joins have been made, however, most people will never know where they are.

Once artificial grass has been installed, a layer of sand is filled on top of it. This sand is difficult to move, and very heavy, but it is possible. If you wish to be able to roll up and move your grass, it will be installed without sand infill so you can do so.

Yes! Specialist installers are able to lay pavers in a stepping stone formation in your lawn. The pavers are laid as part of the base, and the artificial grass is cut around them so they sit at the correct height. This is a great method to ‘break up’ an area.

SmartGrass is either glued around the perimeter to concrete, or nailed to a timber boxing. When laid on an AP20 / crusher-dust base, 130mm turf pins will secure the turf to the base. Sand infill is usually spread on top of the turf at 12kg/m2 which helps weigh it down.

Homeowners, schools, businesses, councils, and just about anyone who has a lawn. Projects are as small as a few square meters, all the way up to multiple sports fields.

There are several different types of artificial grass, as they can be used for a variety of purposes. These include:

1. Replacing existing lawn at home
2. Landscaping at new builds
3. For covering over concrete, tiles, or pavers
4. Covering decks, balconies and butanol
5. Converting stone or bark areas
6. In places with high use or pets, where the grass won’t grow

You can park on artificial grass, however damage is not covered by the warranty. Many people park a boat or trailer on artificial grass, because it won’t kill the grass and doesn’t need to be moved to mow it.

Yes! As long as there are no sharp or high pressure points, heavy objects can be used on artificial grass.

Yes! Artificial grass is often used on mounds or slopes where using a lawn mower is not practical. This can be difficult to install, and should be completed by a specialist installer.

Contact us for a ballpark estimate over the phone or a measure & quote at home.

Artificial grass itself is priced per square metre (typically between $45-80/m2 +gst depending on the type), however the cost of the installation depends on a few factors.

A professional installation that is 30-100m2 in size typically costs (for the supply and installation of the grass):

• $120-180/m2 for direct installation to a prepared base, concrete, patios, decks and balconies.
• $180-$280/m2 for converting an existing lawn (i.e. the full excavation, base construction, supply and installation of artificial grass).

Small areas (under 30m2) tend to cost approx. $300-$450/m2. Areas over 100m2 will benefit from scale of economies.

For comparison, SmartGrass does cost significantly more than a real lawn up front, but saves you thousands in maintenance costs long term. Per square metre, fully installed, SmartGrass is a similar cost to paving / outdoor tiles. SmartGrass is about half the cost of Kwila decking. A lot of the investment is associated with removing the exisiting lawn and then preparing a base for the SmartGrass – this ensures your lawn will properly drain and still look perfect for years to come.

The above figures are ballparks only. When we visit you we will assess your requirements and provide you a bespoke proposal which includes pricing for your custom solution. There are 23 factors that we consider to determine the cost of your installation which include things like the product you choose, your location, shape of the area, technicality of the install, access to site and the base preparation requirements.

We can provide a ballpark figure over the phone, but we need to visit the area to give you an accurate quote.

All our machinery is designed for hard to access areas (we don’t usually use a digger). Steps and tight corners can add additional time and cost to the job, but it’s still easily done.

Get in touch for a free quote

Our local SmartGrass franchisee will usually be the one to install your lawn. They are professional turf installers (it’s all they do).

We install lawns as small as a few square metres, up to international grade sports fields with our sports products. No area is too small.

The average residential installation is around 20-200m2 for a lawn, and 500-600m2 for a tennis court.

After a site scrape or excavation is completed, we will install timber boxing around the area and base up with AP20 & crusher dust. The grass comes in rolls (like carpet) and is then installed on the base. It can also be laid onto concrete, decks, butynol and many other surfaces.

It can be used to retrofit an exisiting lawn or laid onto concrete, decks, butynol and many other surfaces. It comes on rolls (similar to carpet), and is usually laid by a specialist installer.

When we retrofit an existing lawn, the grass and soil is removed. SmartGrass is laid on a compacted rock base with great drainage properties (it is not laid on soil).

There are a few things you need to do to maintain your artificial lawn, depending on what you use your lawn for.

They are:

1. Removing leaves and debris regularly with a broom or leaf blower/vac
2. Remove the occasional weed that may appear
3. Use a moss & sanitiser spray yearly in shaded areas
4. You can learn more about maintenance and book a professional maintenance service here.

• A leaf blower/vac is ideal for removing debris from your lawn
• Dog poo and other foreign objects should be removed manually, then sprayed with a suitable lawn sanitiser spray
• You can hose down your lawn with water if needed
• You can learn more about maintenance, sanitiser spray, and book a professional maintenance service here.

Artificial grass can be vacuumed if indoors. If it is outside, you should lightly wet it (to prevent sand infill being uplifted), and use a leaf vacuum or blower.

SmartGrass won’t stain or discolour if red wine is spilt, or if a dog pees on it. We advise against using any chemicals on or around it that contain bleach.

Weeds will not grow through artificial grass if it has been installed correctly. It is possible for weeds to sprout around the edges (as they do around concrete pavers), or germinate in the sand infill on top. You can spray weedkiller on your grass, or remove the weeds with a stiff broom.

SmartGrass Earth Series has a 10-year warranty. This covers aspects that would cause the turf to prematurely fade or deteriorate (i.e. UV stability & tuft lock). The warranty does not cover misuse or negligence.

Yes – spot repairs are very straightforward. These are common after damage from burns resulting from fireworks or braziers. Providing you have an offcut from when it was installed, a specialist installer can repair it. If you have a SmartGrass Installation, we have the repair turf ready.

Our local SmartGrass franchisee will usually be the one to install your lawn. They are professional turf installers (it’s all they do).

The lifetime of SmartGrass sports turf depends on how much use it gets and what it is used for. Some community and club fields are used for 60+ hours each week, some private courts are only used once a month. We expect most sports turf to last 10-15 years although we have seen some still functioning great after 20 years.
We will advise you of the estimated lifetime for your particular turf and intended use when you get in touch.

Different projects will have different needs but most sports fields are installed on a compacted aggregate sub-base which is free-draining. Indoor sports turf and cricket wickets can be installed directly to concrete. Some sports fields may be installed to an asphalt or concrete base as well.

Get in touch with us and we will send an information pack that outlines approximate costs, ways to fund your project and details for options that you may need to consider for the facility (e.g. grandstands, lighting).

Most full sized sports fields are installed over an underlay to protect players from injury and absorb shock. A shockpad should especially be considered for school and professional grade applications to meet Head Injury Criteria (HIC).

Shockpads come in different thicknesses, from 10mm to 35mm+. We’ll let you know whether shockpad is appropriate for your project and what thickness is most suitable.

Shockpad is recommended if you will be using the turf for body and weight training. It helps with shock absorption, cushioning impact and is softer on the body. Our shockpads are firm to work out on while providing just enough flex to reduce discomfort and the chances of injuries and strain.

Underlay is not recommended underneath sled strips as the sled can create creases in your turf over time. In this case, turf should be glued directly to the concrete foundations for strength.

Yes, all SmartGrass gym turf can withstand the weight of cardio and weight machines and equipment. If a large amount of the SmartGrass surface is covered with significant weight, you might need to move equipment around to brush the blades back up every couple of months to get the best lifespan out of the turf.