Why is silica sand needed for artificial grass installation?

Introduction

You may be wondering why silica sand is required in the installation of artificial grass. In this article we talk about what silica sand is, why you need sand infill on artificial grass, and where you can buy silica sand in New Zealand.

What is Silica Sand?

Silica sand, also known as ‘sand infill’ or ‘kiln dried silica sand’ is a natural quartz sand which is spread on top of artificial grass once it has been laid. The sand is made of naturally occurring silica, which is the most abundant natural mineral found on earth. Our sand infill is graded, washed to remove contaminants such as soil, and then kiln dried which makes it flow easily into artificial grass in the final stage of installation.

Why is silica sand needed for artificial grass installation?

Infill sand is spread on top of artificial grass in most applications for a variety of reasons. Most people don’t actually realise that there is sand infill on artificial grass even when they walk right over it.

The key reasons for silica sand infill are: 
Ballast: The weight of the silica sand, typically applied at 10kg/m2, is what primarily holds the grass down. This adds weight and durability to the lawn which holds the grass in place and prevents wrinkling and movement. The layer of sand also takes most of the impact of foot traffic which prolongs the life of the SmartGrass. 

Yarn support: Once the SmartGrass has been laid, a stiff broom or power broom is used to sweep the pile of the grass so that it stands upright. This gives the grass more depth and texture which makes the lawn look and feel more like real grass. The sand infill is applied after the sweeping (also known as grooming) of the lawn and functions to support the blades of grass to stay standing upright. 

Heat dissipation: Without sand infill, artificial grass can heat up very quickly in the sun. The sand infill assists to stabilise the temperature of the lawn keeping it somewhat cooler those warmer days. 

Does the sand get spread on top of the grass or underneath it?

The sand is spread on top of the SmartGrass and is swept in so that it sits between the blades of grass. It is barely visible once properly swept in, so most people don’t realise there is sand unless they stand directly over the grass and look for it. 

The sand infill is commonly confused with crusher dust or paving sand which is a different material used to prepare the base underneath the artificial grass.

What happens if you don’t put silica sand on artificial grass?

It is possible to roll out artificial grass and not use silica sand. That is not typical of professional installation services. Issues that may arise without the application of sand infill include:

• Movement of the turf
• Flattening of the grass pile which makes the grass look unrealistic
• The turf heats up faster and gets hotter
• The overall look is less appealing

Some applications such as laying artificial grass indoors, or on cricket and hockey turfs do not require sand infill. This is due to the type of turf used and the glue system underneath which adheres the turf down instead of relying on the weight of the sand infill. 

Can I use normal beach sand or paving sand instead of silica sand for artificial grass?

It is possible to use other types of sand on your artificial grass, however it is not recommended. There are two key reasons: 

1. The sand will not be kiln dried which means it will have a higher moisture content.  This makes it exceedingly difficult to fill the appropriate amount of sand infill into the pile of the artificial grass, because wet sand will clump together and sit on top of the pile.
2. The sand will not have been washed, which means contaminants present (especially soil) can make moss and weed growth more prolific. 

Where can I buy silica sand infill for artificial grass in New Zealand?

SmartGrass retail kiln dried silica sand in 25kg bags and 1t bulk bags which can be delivered anywhere in New Zealand. This product is not a common sand available at hardware stores or landscape supply yards. To purchase SmartGrass infill sand, please simply call us or make an enquiry below.