When it comes to artificial grass, when you’re faking it you’re making it!
Artificial grass gets a bad rep in the mainstream media from those who don’t understand its benefits over and above real grass. There are a number of different circumstances in which fake grass provides both good quality and quick fire results for that immediate wow factor, as well as long term, maintenance free benefits for your customers.
These areas can be small external areas such as roof gardens and terraces; play areas in schools and nurseries; landscaping in and around commercial buildings, domestic gardens; awkward, difficult to reach patios or outside seating in a bar or restaurant.
Synthetic grass has come a long way quality-wise over the last decade or so with variety of options available that can be selected according to need and use. These include good quality standard products to the more expensive, top of the range varieties – and these options look so realistic you would never know it was fake grass until you got up close and personal.
The Artificial Lawn Company does have one significant piece of advice for the trade. “Never go for the cheapest option,” said director Neil Sweeting. “A low-grade fake lawn product does not have the same durable properties as its better quality, more established varieties. It will degrade much more quickly and end up costing more in the long term.”
Although more expensive than laying real turf, once laid there are minimal maintenance requirements, and the grass will not be prone to wear and tear in areas of particularly busy footfall. In fact, all ALC lawns come with a standard 10 year guarantee and have been proven to last up to 20 years – longer than a good carpet in your home. Plus, it doesn’t go out of fashion!
“Artificial grass is not there to replace real grass, but as a viable alternative in the right circumstances,” continues Neil, “and as a material it has been in existence since the 1960s. Research and development has ensured that manufacturers embrace the use of recycled materials, advanced production techniques and superior performance. There’s a reason why Google searches for artificial grass increased 185% month on month in the spring of 2020 – there continues to be a real demand for a product that is a low maintenance alternative to grass, without compromising on the aesthetics.”
This summer has been one of unusually hot temperatures. Gardens and lawns around the UK are parched and yellow, and it’s turning our small island into a tinder box. For those who have opted for a synthetic lawn, their outlook is as green as the day it was laid. Hosepipe bans will not affect the overall aesthetics of an artificial lawn and, of course, require no watering helping the environment and saving on bills.
One legacy of the Covid age is that the UK has developed a more ‘outdoor’ culture when it comes to al fresco eating and drinking – in fact, we are positively European now (just with a pint glass rather than a litre one). In the hospitality industry, temporary legislative changes were brought in to make it quicker, easier and cheaper for businesses to get a licence to serve food and drink on pavements and pedestrianised roads. This summer, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has extended this legislation until it becomes permanent next spring.
As a result, more and more town and city centre hostelries are looking to establish semi-permanent indoor/outdoor areas which automatically increase their commercial footprint, giving them the opportunity to recoup the massive losses they made over the last couple of years. Artificial grass is the ideal material for creating those al fresco dining ‘zones’, particularly in more urban areas.
These areas experience heavy footfall from both customers and staff alike, so a high performing durable ground covering will give a much higher return on the establishment’s initial investment. And in an area where food and drink are being consumed – and spilt – the ability to clean and sterilise the area on a regular basis is important. A quick spray down with warm water and detergent will bring the al fresco zone back up to scratch in minutes.
Roof terraces, patio areas, awkward corners – with a little bit of imagination, and a better understanding of the versatility, durability and applications of a good quality artificial lawn can significantly extend the portfolio of solutions in outdoor (and in some circumstances indoor) refurbishment and renovation projects.
In schools and nurseries, artificial lawns are commonplace for play areas. As well as its ability to withstand the constant testing of little feet, there are no repercussions for those kids who have allergies or hay fever. Additionally, the area stays clean and mud free throughout the winter months. “Used responsibly, artificial grass will continue to play a major role in providing floor coverings for a wide variety of uses,” concluded Neil Sweeting.
For further information on the Artificial Lawn Company visit https://www.artificiallawn.co.uk/
