1. Base Groundwork
At K9 Turf Yorkshire we cannot stress enough how important it is to have a strong and solid foundation in place before installing K9 Turf. Having a solid subbase and using the correct materials is important for any artificial grass, but it is exceptionally important for K9 Turf as for the turf to be 100% effective the required subbase needs to be in place. The subbase determines the longevity of your artificial lawn, ensuring it does not sink or dip in certain areas. The materials used for our subbase also helps the turf itself with the drainage and flow of moisture, preventing the build up of ammonia.
Firstly, we remove the existing turf using a turf cutter to ensure it is all gone. We do this to a depth of 5-8cm, leaving enough room for the new base. If edging is needed, we use a specialist steel edging. This product is easy to install and can create any shape or straight edge, it is also very discrete creating a more finished looking lawn. We do not use timber edging as eventually this can rot and if used by pets to urinate on it will hold moisture and cause your lawn to smell.
A layer of Type 1 MOT hardcore will then be installed to a depth of 75-100mm, depending on the site levels. This will then be spread across the area and compacted using a Wacker Plate, creating a strong, consolidated base. We recommend this type of hardcore due to its strength and quality.
The next layer of the subbase is very important as it acts as a drainage system for the artificial lawn. We use granite dust, a great material for drainage. Granite dust sets extremely hard, holding the hardcore in place beneath it, we layer this to a depth of 25mm. The reason we use granite dust rather than other materials such as sand, is because it is a porous material, allowing moisture produced from pet waste to flow through faster than sand. Using sand will cause your lawn to smell strongly of pet urine and is not suitable for K9 Turf.
Once laid the granite dust is then compacted to create a strong, solid surface ready for the K9 Turf to be installed. A 2cm gap between the lawn edge and the granite is to be left to leave room for the grass. This will avoid any trip hazards if too low, or a higher lawn than the rest of your garden. We do not install a weed membrane on K9 Turf installation as this slows down the drainage system and can cause a nasty odour. To prevent weeds from growing up through the lawn we will use a water-based weed killer on the soil area before the subbase is installed. We will also weed kill the K9 Turf itself once it has been laid to prevent any air born weeds from planting.
This process is Phase 1 of the four-phase system that a K9 Turf installation requires. The subbase is now ready for the installation of the Pro Flow backed K9 Turf.
