Drainage

Artificial grass serves more than just aesthetic purposes, although having a beautiful yard is definitely a bonus. It also needs to be functional, especially when it comes to handling rainwater and pet urine. That’s where turf drainage comes into play. The backing of turf products is designed to drain water in various ways.

Initially introduced in the mid-1960s, artificial grass featured a hole-punch drainage system, with small holes punched in the backing every 4 to 6 inches. This type of drainage system is the most common type of drainage found on turf products, and for good reason, it works. That is unless you have pets, in which case it doesn’t work as well as it should.

One of the most common problems with hole-punch drainage is the infill material clogging the drainage holes. Synthetic grass relies on infill, such as silica sand, to keep the fibers upright and act as a ballast to prevent shifting. The most popular infill material is silica sand, which is a tried and true component of artificial turf installations. However, as time goes by and the turf is exposed to elements like wind, rain, and foot traffic, the sand particles tend to accumulate in the drainage holes, causing clogs.

With a hole-punch backing, liquids tend to pool in the area between the holes, which is usually fine in the case of rainwater. However, when it comes to dog urine, it can result in unpleasant odors. To tackle this issue, turf manufacturers have developed more pet-friendly drainage systems that are now standard in most artificial grass products designed for dogs.

One such innovation is fully permeable backings, which allow water and dog urine to pass through the entire surface of the turf. This edge-to-edge drainage system is commonly used in pet turf applications and areas that require maximum drainage, such as dog runs and designated potty areas.