Deciding whether to fit artificial grass yourself

DIY vs Professionally Installed Artificial Grass

We supply artificial grass to DIY customers and trade as well as installing it, so we see both outcomes. Plenty of DIY lawns are excellent; the ones that fail nearly always fail in the same places.

Knowing where the difficulty lies helps you judge honestly whether to take it on.

Artificial Grass for Sale work by Gardenscape in Essex

What the labour actually involves

Excavating to depth, disposing of spoil, importing and compacting a stone sub-base, screeding a laying course, then cutting, joining and fixing the turf. The physical volume of material surprises most people.

A whacker plate is essential; hand-tamping does not achieve compaction.

Where DIY installs go wrong

Insufficient excavation depth, membrane laid straight over soil with no drainage stone, seams glued with pile running in opposite directions, no perimeter fixing, and skipping the sand infill.

Each of these produces a specific, visible fault later — ripples, odour, visible joins or a flat, matted pile.

A sensible middle ground

Some customers do the excavation and disposal themselves and have us build the base and lay the turf, which saves on the labour-heavy part while protecting the finish.

Small, simple rectangles are the most DIY-friendly; anything with curves, multiple seams or drainage complications is worth having fitted.

Frequently asked questions

Do you sell grass without fitting?

Yes — we supply artificial grass for DIY and trade customers and will advise on specification.

How deep should the excavation be?

It depends on ground conditions and use; we advise per project rather than quoting a universal figure.

Can I lay it over an existing lawn?

Not successfully — the turf and soft topsoil must come out and be replaced with a compacted stone base.

Fitting it yourself?

Buy the grass from us and get the specification advice free.

Ask about supply only Call 07535 661664