How to spot cheap artificial grass?
Not all artificial turf is of the same quality. Like most products, there are steps in the artificial turf production process where manufacturers can cut corners to save costs. This allows them to sell their products at prices lower than competitors. However, these lower prices often come at the expense of quality.
Cheap artificial turf typically cuts corners on raw material quality, manufacturing processes, and performance parameters. Short-term use may result in fading, shedding, and delamination, severely impacting its lifespan and user experience.
For individual consumers, distinguishing cheap, low-quality artificial turf from the many available options is not an easy task.
How to judge the quality of artificial grass?
Identifying cheap artificial turf is not only to ensure that your investment is worth your money, but also to ensure the best possible beauty and durability for your outdoor space. When choosing artificial turf, there are a few key factors to pay special attention to to avoid buying a low-quality product.
1. Visual Assessment
(1) Observing the Appearance and Texture of the Grass Strands
• Observe the Gloss and Color of the Grass Strands
High-quality artificial turf has a soft, natural luster and a uniform color. Sports turf often uses a bright green, while landscape turf uses varying shades of green. Cheap turf straw either has a glaring "plastic shine" or a grayish, dull color, and even shows significant color differences within the same batch. This is because recycled plastic granules or inferior color masterbatches were used.
• Observe the Thickness and Uniformity of the Grass Strands
Brush the grass strands apart by hand. High-quality grass strands are uniform in thickness, have a regular cross-section, and a clear formed structure. Cheap turf strands are uneven in thickness, with rough edges, burrs, or even local bulges or depressions. This is a forming defect caused by a rudimentary fiber-drawing process.
• Observe the Density and Needle Count of the Grass Strands
The density and needle count of the grass strands directly determine the fullness and durability of the turf. Measure a 10cm x 10cm area with a ruler and count the number of grass strand clusters (needle count).
The national standard for sports turf (such as football fields) requires a minimum of 160 stitches per 10cm, and for landscape turf, a minimum of 120 stitches. Cheap turf often has a lower stitch count than the standard, appearing sparse and hollow, sometimes even revealing the backing fabric.
(2) Touch and Rebound Performance
• Feel the softness of the grass fibers
High-quality grass fibers feel soft and smooth, quickly rebounding after being pressed, and show no obvious creases after bending. Cheap turf fibers feel stiff and rough, easily leaving white creases after bending. This indicates material brittleness; vigorous rubbing will also cause shedding and pilling.
• Feel the thickness and toughness of the backing fabric
The backing fabric is the "foundation" of the artificial turf. High-quality turf backing fabric is usually a double or triple-layer composite structure, generally consisting of a mesh fabric + non-woven fabric + adhesive layer. High-quality artificial turf has a uniform thickness and feels substantial and resilient to the touch; cheap turf backing is mostly a single layer of non-woven fabric, feels thin, deforms easily with a gentle pull, and you may even see holes or clumps of glue on the backing.
(3) Smell to determine environmental friendliness
Get close to the turf and smell it. High-quality artificial turf uses environmentally friendly raw materials and water-based glue, and has a light or almost odorless smell; cheap turf will emit a pungent plastic smell, rubber smell, or formaldehyde smell. This is because inferior recycled materials and solvent-based glue are used, and harmful substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals exceed the standard. Long-term exposure is harmful to health, and it is especially unsuitable for use in kindergartens and indoor venues.
2. Practical Testing
Request samples from the manufacturer first. Touching and testing the samples will provide a better understanding of the lawn's quality.
(1) Abrasion Resistance Test
Use the edge of a hard object such as a coin or key to rub the grass fibers back and forth forcefully 10-15 times. This method can determine the lawn's lifespan. The following may occur:
• High-quality artificial grass: No obvious scratches or shedding on the grass fiber surface, only slight indentations that recover quickly;
• Inexpensive artificial grass: Obvious shedding and pilling at the friction points, even exposing the backing fabric, with the grass fibers directly broken.
(2) Debonding Resistance Test
Pinch a clump of grass fibers (about 10-20 strands) and pull upwards forcefully. This method can test the adhesion between the backing fabric and the grass fibers.
• High-quality artificial grass: The grass fibers are firmly bonded to the backing fabric, requiring considerable force to pull without detaching in whole clumps;
• Cheap artificial grass: Grass fibers detach easily with a light pull, and the adhesive layer on the backing fabric may even be torn, indicating the use of inferior adhesive or substandard coating process.
(3) Drainage Performance Test
500ml of water is evenly sprinkled on the surface of the lawn sample, and the drainage speed is observed.
• High-quality artificial grass: Drainage holes are evenly distributed, allowing water to quickly penetrate to the backing fabric without significant water accumulation within 1-2 minutes;
• Cheap artificial grass: Drainage holes are few in number and small in diameter, and may even be clogged, resulting in slow water penetration and prolonged surface water accumulation (prone to mosquito breeding and accelerated lawn aging when used outdoors).
(4) UV Resistance Test
Test Method: The lawn sample is placed under a UV lamp (365nm wavelength) at a distance of 20cm for 24 hours. The color change before and after irradiation is compared to determine the lawn's outdoor weather resistance.
• High-quality artificial grass: The grass fibers have sufficient UV protection agents added, and the color does not fade significantly after irradiation, only slightly lightens;
• Cheap artificial grass: No UV protection agents added or only a small amount added, the color turns yellow or gray after irradiation, and even shows localized whitening "aging spots" (severe fading after 1-2 years of outdoor use).
(5) Flame retardancy test
Lightly heat the tip of the grass fibers with the outer flame (small flame) of a lighter for 3 seconds, then remove it and observe the burning situation.
• High-quality artificial grass: Flame retardants are added, and after being exposed to fire, only localized carbonization occurs, and it will not continue to burn. The flame will extinguish itself, and there is no pungent odor;
• Cheap artificial grass: No flame retardant treatment is applied, and it burns rapidly after being exposed to fire, producing pungent black smoke and even dripping molten material, posing a safety hazard.
3. Qualification Verification
Appearance and practical testing can only determine surface quality. Qualification documents are crucial for verifying whether the turf meets safety standards, especially for sports fields, kindergartens, and other scenarios with high performance and environmental protection requirements.
(1) Verify Product Testing Reports
Require suppliers to provide testing reports from authoritative third-party institutions, focusing on the following indicators:
Environmental indicators: Whether formaldehyde release and heavy metal content comply with national standard GB/T 18586-2001;
Performance indicators: Grass fiber abrasion resistance, UV aging resistance, backing adhesive strength, and drainage rate;
Sports field specific indicators: For football fields and tennis courts, check whether they meet the standards for artificial turf for sports or certification indicators from FIFA, etc.
Note: Cheap turf suppliers often cannot provide complete reports, or the reports may have incomplete testing items, unclear data, or even forged report numbers.
(2) Confirm Manufacturer Qualifications
Check the supplier's business license and production license to confirm their artificial turf production capabilities. Reputable manufacturers will provide product warranty certificates, clearly promising the lifespan of the lawn; cheap lawns usually have no warranty commitment, or the warranty period is less than 1 year, and there is no after-sales guarantee.
4. Other identification techniques
(1) Observe the turf details
Carefully observe the details of the turf, especially the back. High-quality artificial turf usually uses a latex or polyurethane coating to fix the grass fibers, which helps ensure the stability and durability of the turf. If you find that the back of the turf is messy or lacks these coatings, it is likely a poor-quality product.
(2) Check the resin used
Check the resin used in the turf. High-quality artificial turf usually uses high-quality resin with excellent weather resistance and abrasion resistance. Inferior turf may use low-quality resin, which is prone to deformation and fading.
(3) Check the turf backing
Check the turf backing. High-quality artificial turf usually uses a durable backing, which helps improve the stability and durability of the turf.
Different types of artificial turf have different focuses
1. Kindergarten Turf
Kindergarten turf has the highest requirements for softness and environmental friendliness. Typical problems with cheap turf include overly stiff grass fibers and a thin, brittle backing, which can easily cause abrasions when children fall; it also contains excessive levels of harmful substances, potentially causing skin allergies.
Identification Tip: Gently press the surface of the turf with your knee. High-quality turf will form a soft, cushioned layer without causing pain; cheap turf will feel the support of a hard backing, offering poor cushioning.
2. Sports Field Turf
Sports turf, such as for soccer fields and basketball courts, needs to withstand high-frequency trampling, friction, and impact from sports activities. The shortcomings of cheap artificial turf are poor wear resistance, uneven rebound, and the appearance of bald patches and flattened grass fibers over time; the uneven surface can also easily lead to ankle sprains for athletes.
Identification Tip: Drop a soccer ball freely from a height of 1 meter. High-quality turf will allow the ball to bounce evenly (approximately 0.5-0.6 meters); cheap turf will have inconsistent bounce heights and may even cause the ball to slip.
3. Landscape lawns
Landscape lawns are used for courtyard and park decoration, so the simulation and weather resistance are crucial. Cheap lawns suffer from low simulation and easy fading; after 1-2 years of wind and sun exposure, they become yellow and sparse, affecting their appearance.
Identification Tips: Observe the "biomimetic texture" of the grass fibers. High-quality landscape lawns will simulate the veins and curves of natural grass, making them more visually and tactilely realistic; cheap lawns often have a single smooth surface, making them easily recognizable as plastic.
Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
• Don't be greedy for low prices: High-quality artificial turf has higher raw material and processing costs, resulting in a price significantly higher than cheaper products. If the quoted price is more than 30% below the market average, it's highly likely to be a low-quality turf.
• Request samples for comparison: Request turf samples of the same specifications from multiple suppliers and test them one by one using the methods described above to visually compare quality differences.
• On-site case studies: For large projects, you can visit the supplier's factory or a completed site to see the actual condition of the turf in use.
• Sign a detailed contract: Include the turf parameters, testing standards, and warranty clauses in the contract to avoid future problems.
In conclusion, caution is needed when identifying cheap artificial turf. You must judge the quality of the turf by observing its appearance, conducting practical tests, and reviewing inspection reports. Only in this way can you buy a high-quality artificial turf that suits your needs.
