Selecting the right artificial turf lawn can be a complicated task. With so many different brands and styles it can feel like you are comparing apples to oranges when trying to select the right lawn for your needs. The good news is that there are several measurable factors that you can use to help you compare different types of artificial turf.
Here are just a few of the many examples of artificial grass measurements that you’ll like see while you are comparison shopping for turf:
Blades of Grass Per Square Yard: You want your artificial turf lawn to look as full as possible. This means that you want to have as many blades of grass per square yard of turf as possible. As a general rule, the more yarn that is used means a higher quality turf. Just like with indoor carpeting, more yarn per square inch equals a denser product. This will feel soft when you step on it and also look full.
Pile Height: Much like with real grass, the height of individual blades of artificial grass is not identical. This would not only be tough to manufacture but slight differences in blade height help to make the grass look more natural. The blade height will have an impact on how the turf looks when it is pushed down over time — longer blades are impacted more — but density is also a key factor.
The ideal pile height will often depend on how you are using the grass. A pile height of 1.5 to 2 inches is great for most residential lawns; owners with pets who will be outside should consider a small pile height to make it easier to clean up messes.
Layers of Backing: The primary backing on a synthetic turf lawn is actually made of two or more individual layers of backing. These layers have yarn pushed through them in order to get the blades of grass to stand up straight. Artificial grasses that have more layers or thicker layers will have blades of grass that stand up higher.
Total Weight: The total weight of an artificial turf lawn consists of its face weight — how many ounces of yarn are used per square yard — combined with the amount of backing used per square yard. A higher number will mean that you have a denser artificial turf and one that is likely to look great and last longer.