Compacted sub-base, weed membrane and seam-taped joints, fitted properly so the lawn drains, stays flat and still looks new five winters in.
Full supply and installation of artificial grass, domestic gardens, play areas, school surrounds, balconies, dog runs and commercial display areas. We include the full sub-base build, not just the grass roll-out.
Homeowners who want a low-maintenance lawn that survives kids, dogs and Welsh rain; landlords and HMO owners who need a tidy outdoor space without weekly mowing; nurseries and play areas that need a soft, safe surface.
When the real lawn is patchy, waterlogged or always muddy; when a courtyard or small garden never grows grass properly; when an outdoor area needs to look presentable year-round with minimal maintenance.
The grass roll is the smallest part of the job. 80% of a long-lasting astroturf install is the sub-base, proper excavation, compacted MOT and grano, edging, drainage and weed membrane. Skip that and the lawn dips, puddles and looks tired inside two seasons.
Without a free-draining compacted sub-base, water sits on the membrane and the lawn becomes a paddling pool every storm. The fix is full excavation and re-base, not a re-lay.
Joints butted together without proper joint-tape and adhesive open up within a year. We seam every joint with self-adhesive tape and a glue line so the pile direction hides the seam.
Sub-base laid uncompacted, or laid too thin, settles unevenly over the first winter. The grass follows the dips. We compact in 50mm layers with a plate compactor as standard.
Weed membrane skipped or laid in patches lets growth come through at the seams. We lay a continuous weed membrane under the grass and at the perimeter.
We measure the area, check existing levels, drainage and access, and talk through pile height, colour and use (kids, dogs, ornamental, play).
Excavation depth, MOT type 1, granite dust, edging, weed membrane, grass, jointing and infill all itemised, no vague 'lawn supplied & fitted' lines.
Existing turf/soil dug out to depth (typically 75–100mm), perimeter edging installed, ground levelled to a fall for drainage.
MOT type 1 laid and compacted, granite dust screed laid and compacted to a smooth finished level, weed membrane laid over the top.
Grass rolled with pile direction planned, joints seam-taped and glued, perimeter ground-pinned, kiln-dried sand infill brushed in to weight and protect the pile.
Indicative supply prices for artificial grass. Excavation, MOT type 1 sub-base, sand infill, weed membrane and ground pins are quoted separately based on the site survey.
| Item | Price (from) |
|---|---|
30–35mm pile (4m / 5m wide) | from £9.99/m² |
40mm pile (4m / 5m wide) | from £12/m² |
Prices shown are 'from' guides only. Final pricing depends on the product range chosen, room shape, sub-floor preparation, access and quantity. Book a free no-obligation home measure for a fixed written quote.
No waterlogging, no mud, no mowing. The garden is usable on a wet February afternoon, not just in July.
No yellow patches, no bare spots, no scorching. The lawn presents the same in every photograph.
We use UV-stable, non-toxic grass with a free-draining backing, urine drains through and rinses clean with a hose.
Soft pile and a compacted-but-yielding sub-base make play areas safer than concrete or paving. Shockpad upgrades available for nursery and school use.
No mower, no fertiliser, no re-seeding, no weekly hours lost. Most installs pay for themselves over their lifespan vs maintaining a real lawn.
Done right, an artificial lawn drains faster than a natural one, water disappears within minutes, not hours.
Artificial grass is a sub-base job with a green topping. Choose the pile right, build the base right, and the lawn behaves itself for 10–15 years. Here's how we spec it.
25mm is the right pick for putting areas and very high-traffic dog runs. 30–35mm is the standard domestic 'lawn look', soft underfoot, holds its shape, hides infill well. 38–40mm gives a deeper, more luxurious feel for show gardens but flattens faster under heavy use. We talk through the trade-off on the survey.
Excavation to 75–100mm. MOT type 1 laid and compacted in layers as the structural base. Granite dust or grano laid on top, compacted and screeded flat to a slight fall for drainage. Edging (timber, metal or concrete kerb) installed at the perimeter to hold the base and the grass edge. This is the part nobody sees, and the part that determines whether the lawn is still flat in 2030.
Joints seam-taped with self-adhesive tape and a continuous glue line, pile brushed across the joint so the seam disappears visually. Perimeter ground-pinned at 150–200mm intervals. Kiln-dried sand infill brushed in to weight the grass, keep the pile upright and protect the backing. Some specs also add a rubber infill, we discuss that for play and sports use.
Domestic gardens: 30–35mm pile, sand infill, MOT and grano sub-base. Play areas and nurseries: add a shockpad layer under the grass for fall-height compliance. Commercial display and balconies: shorter pile (25–30mm), full-stick to the existing surface where appropriate, drainage check critical.
South Wales rainfall is the single biggest test of an artificial lawn. Drainage is built into the sub-base (free-draining MOT + grano) and the backing (perforated). Where natural drainage is poor, clay soils, low spots, we add land drains into the sub-base before laying. We do not skip this; it is the difference between a lawn and a pond.
Yes, on a properly compacted MOT + grano sub-base with a perforated grass backing, water drains through faster than a natural lawn. Without that sub-base, no.
Yes. Modern artificial grass is non-toxic, UV-stable and lead-free. For dogs, urine drains through and rinses clean. For nurseries and play areas we can add a shockpad layer for fall-height compliance.
On a proper sub-base, a quality 30–35mm domestic lawn lasts 10–15 years before noticeably flattening. The sub-base itself usually outlasts two replacements of the grass.
Yes, on solid level surfaces we full-stick the grass with appropriate adhesive. The patio still needs to be free-draining, we'll check on the survey.
On hot direct-sun days the surface temperature rises higher than a natural lawn. For most South Wales summer days this isn't a practical issue, but a quick hose-down cools it instantly if needed.
Modern multi-tone grass with mixed pile heights and brown root fibres is genuinely difficult to spot from a few metres away. Where we leave it lifeless is when an installer skips the sand infill, we don't.
Yes, full excavation, removal and disposal of the existing turf and soil is part of the installation cost.
Free home or site measure. Written quote with everything itemised. No pressure, no salesperson follow-up, just the price and what it includes.
