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Installation service

Artificial Grass Installation

Installation is the part that decides whether a lawn still looks right in year eight. The turf itself is a rolled goods product with a published warranty; the sub-base underneath it is bespoke groundwork, and that is what we are actually selling.

Our installation crews work out of Southend-on-Sea and cover the Essex patch daily. Every job is dug out, built up, compacted and fitted by our own team, and every one carries our ten year guarantee.

Typical excavation depth
75mm to 100mm
Sub-base
MOT Type 1 compacted in layers
Blinding layer
6mm to 10mm granite dust or sharp sand
Crew time, average rear garden
One to three days

What a full installation includes

A fitted price is not a turf price. It covers lifting and carting away the old lawn, importing and compacting aggregate, laying a blinding layer, fixing a weed membrane, installing perimeter edging, then cutting, joining and securing the grass itself.

  • Excavation of turf, topsoil and any old slabs, plus grab or skip removal
  • MOT Type 1 laid and whacker-plated in layers, never in one lift
  • Levelled granite dust or sharp sand blinding, screeded to falls
  • Treated timber, composite or steel edge restraint fixed to stakes
  • Grass laid with the pile all running the same way, joined with aggregate tape and adhesive
  • Kiln dried silica sand brushed in and the whole surface power brushed

Why installers get very different prices

Two quotes for the same garden can be hundreds apart because one includes a 100mm dig and the other is laying straight onto the old lawn with a bit of sand. Ask any installer for excavation depth, aggregate type and edging spec in writing. If those three are missing, you are not comparing the same job.

Access changes the labour more than anything else. A rear garden reached only through a narrow side gate means every barrow of spoil out and every barrow of stone in is hand moved, and that time is real.

Working around trees, drains and slopes

We do not cut roots to make a level look easy. Around established trees we raise the build-up rather than dig into the root plate, and we keep permeability so the tree still drinks. Manholes are framed and kept liftable, never grassed over. On a slope we either follow the fall or terrace it, and we will tell you which one your garden actually needs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an artificial grass installation take?

Most rear gardens are one to three days. Day one is usually excavation and muck away, day two the sub-base and blinding, day three the grass, joints and sand. Larger or split level gardens run longer.

Do you remove the old lawn and take the waste away?

Yes. Excavated turf, topsoil and any broken slabs are removed from site as part of the quoted price, either by skip or grab lorry depending on access.

Can artificial grass be laid straight onto an existing patio or concrete?

It can, provided the slab drains and is sound. We add a shockpad or foam underlay over hard surfaces so it does not feel like carpet over stone, and we check falls first so water is not trapped underneath.

Is the installation covered by the ten year guarantee?

Yes. Our ten year guarantee applies to all our work, artificial grass installation included, alongside the manufacturer warranty on the turf itself.

Do you install for landlords, schools and commercial sites?

Yes. Rental turnarounds, nurseries, care homes and show homes are regular work for us. We can phase installation around opening hours where a site cannot be closed.

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Artificial Grass service page

Book an artificial grass installation survey

We measure the area, check the ground and access, then send one fixed written price with the excavation depth and sub-base spec itemised.

Book my free survey Call 07535 661664