Artificial grass is becoming more popular on new developments, and it’s easy to see why: it’s low-maintenance and looks great from the moment it’s installed, making it a guaranteed feature to sell a property from the outside.
But that doesn’t mean synthetic turf is always the right solution for every project. If you’re a property developer thinking about installing it, you need to weigh up the benefits, costs, and setbacks of artificial grass before you decide if it’s right for you.
Keep reading for four things all property developers should know about artificial grass.
It Can Boost Kerb Appeal
From a developer’s perspective, one of the biggest benefits of well-laid artificial grass is that it can give your homes or commercial properties an immediate, tidy finish that you probably won’t achieve with natural turf.
Synthetic grass looks great year-round, so you won’t have to worry about patchy growth or mud, regardless of the season. Your buyers or tenants most likely want a neat outdoor space that’s easy to maintain, so an artificial lawn will tick their boxes.
Not All Artificial Grass Products Are the Same
As with anything you buy for property development, the quality of synthetic grass can vary pretty widely. Budget rolls of turf might save you a bit of cash upfront, but it’s likely to fade or flatten after a few seasons.
Premium turf costs more upfront but lasts longer and looks more realistic, which can make a big difference to the overall appearance of a property’s exterior. A professional artificial turf installer like https://sinagrass.com/ can talk you through things like pile height, fibre density, and drainage before you order.
Installation Quality Matters More Than You Think
Even the best-quality turf will look bad if it hasn’t been installed properly. A good installer shouldn’t only provide the turf but should also make sure it’s installed on a proper sub-base for drainage. An experienced installer should also know how to lay the turf to prevent wrinkles or puddling, two things that’ll affect the overall finish.
When you’re hiring an installer, choose one who can show examples of their past work. You don’t want to cut corners here—if it looks like you’ve done a slapdash job with the exterior, your potential buyers might be concerned that you’ve done the same with the property itself.
It Can Affect Sustainability Targets
If you’re building new homes, you might be aiming for environmental targets like BREEAM or Code for Sustainable Homes ratings. And here’s where synthetic turf could potentially be an issue.
If we compare artificial grass to real turf, it’s always going to reduce biodiversity due to not being the real thing. If your development needs to meet eco-standards, just make sure to factor this into your decision.
Takeaway
So, those are the main things you should know about installing artificial grass as a property developer. It can be an effective way to make your properties look great—but make sure it’s right for your project before you proceed.
