How To Lay Artificial Grass on Concrete Floors

With artificial turf, you’re not limited to just laying it to replace a real lawn – you can lay artificial grass on concrete floors too! Why would I choose to do that? – you may ask. Artificial turf can dramatically transform a drab and industrial-looking landscape into a colourful and natural-looking one. Not to mention, artificial grass is low-maintenance, affordable and provides a non-slip surface, making it a safer floor whatever the weather.

The trick part here is to decide if you do it yourself, because sometimes choosing the right artificial grass installers for your project can be a hard task.

The good news is that there are many quality companies providing such services around the UK.

So, let’s get to the nitty-gritty and find out how to lay artificial grass on concrete.

Ensuring your concrete base is ready for laying artificial grass

Making sure your concrete is actually suitable for a fake lawn installation is your first port of call. Having a solid foundation is key to ensuring your artificial grass lawn has a long life.

Things to be aware of when installing artificial grass on top of concrete flooring:

Large cracks that have loosened areas of the concrete or lifted areas – as they will not provide a sturdy base for installation. To rectify this, you will need to break up the existing concrete and form a new, fresh layer of concrete to allow for optimal fake grass installation.

Small cracks and defects. These can be sorted with a self-levelling compound – this can be bought from local DIY shops, most types of self-levelling compounds will only require the addition of water. Be sure to read the instructions and to follow them as advised to ensure you achieve the best base, ready for your artificial grass installation. 

Unblemished concrete surfaces will provide a nice base for your artificial grass installation, however, an area that is too flat will leave your lawn sitting in puddles. Check to see if your concrete base will allow water runoff by spraying the area with a hose and watching to see if it drains away. If it does not, you will need to drill drainage holes before installing your new lawn. 

Essential tools for laying artificial grass on concrete floors

• Hard bristle broom
• Cutting blade 
• Filling knife 

Non-essential tools (but will speed up the job): 

• Power washer
• Drill and paddle mixer

Materials you will need:

• Artificial grass (decide between 2m or 4m in width)
• Artificial grass glue (recommend using large tubs of 5kg/10kg rather than tubes)
• Foam underlay (comes in 2m widths)
• Tape (gaffer and joining)

How-to lay artificial grass on concrete

Clean existing concrete – to ensure the grass bonds well with the concrete base. This includes removing moss and weeds.

Roll out foam underlay and glue down – wait until the concrete is dry before installing and start from one end and work your way to the other, making sure that the foam is laid precisely and right up to the edges of your desired area. Roll and cut to the desired shape, and glue into place. When applying the glue, be fairly liberal – you’ll want it to be 2/3 mm thick. Apply in zig-zags so that rainwater can drain through the underlay. It’ll dry in about 30 minutes, so you will need to work at a good pace.

Cut the artificial grass to the correct size – once the underlay has dried, repeat the same process as with the underlay, and lay it out before cutting and glueing. Start with a corner that fits flush against the edge of your chosen area, glue and cut the rest of the shape. Always be cautious when cutting and leave a little more than you think is perfect, so you can trim it down to size later.

Stick the artificial lawn’s underside joints down using joint tape. Cut the tape to the length of the joint and apply glue. Stick it half on the underside of one joint, half on another to make sure the pieces of artificial turf are flush with one another. Wait a couple of minutes and pull the pieces firmly to ensure the pieces are flat and well-glued together. Repeat until the entire lawn is complete and cut the excess away from your lawn.

Brush down the artificial grass and sand – to lift the individual blades of grass, use a stiff brush to make them stand. Finally, (this bit is optional) sand down your grass with kiln-dried sand using 4-5kg per square metre. This helps to stop weeds from growing underneath, prevents wrinkles forming in your lawn and works to protect your lawn’s blades of grass.

First time levelling off concrete or installing artificial grass? Turn to your local professionals at Essex Mix and Home View Landscapes to help you to achieve professional results. With many years in the trade, both companies can make quick work of providing exemplary products and services, without you having to research or lift a finger. For more information, contact Essex Mix for concrete services and advice or Homeview Landscapes for quick and long-lasting artificial grass installations