Pile Height and Weight: Reading a Grass Spec Sheet

Pile height is measured from the backing to the tip of the tallest fibre, and most domestic grasses fall between 20mm and 40mm.

Shorter piles around 20mm to 25mm are firm, formal and extremely hard wearing, which suits front gardens, balconies, putting areas and heavy footfall. Mid piles of 30mm to 35mm are the natural looking all rounder for a family lawn. Longer piles of 37mm to 40mm feel plush and look luxurious in low use ornamental gardens, and flatten fastest under real traffic.

Face weight counts only the fibre, in grams per square metre. Total weight includes the backing, so a heavy total weight can simply mean a heavy backing rather than more grass. When comparing samples, ask for face weight.

As a rough guide, a higher face weight at the same pile height means a denser, better wearing grass, and it will cost more because there is literally more material in it.

A dense 30mm grass looks better after three years than a sparse 40mm grass, every time. Length gives the initial wow factor in a showroom; density is what keeps the pile standing and stops the backing showing through once people walk on it.

If your budget forces a choice, buy density and drop the pile height.

Dogs and busy families: 25mm to 32mm, dense, permeable backing. Ornamental and low use gardens: 35mm to 40mm for the look. Balconies, roof terraces and paths: 20mm to 25mm, since long pile over a hard surface with no infill flattens quickly. Play areas over a shockpad: mid pile, dense.

Rolls are heavy and awkward. A 4m wide roll of a dense grass is a serious lift for two people and cannot be folded sharply without creasing the backing. This matters if you are ordering supply only, as access, storage and unrolling space all need thinking about before delivery day.