With the rising summer temperatures and long sunny days ahead, we at Bella Turf want to address the potential problems that can arise from excessive heat and ways you can prevent them from ever happening. Although we have the most technologically advanced artificial grasses, they are still at risk if turf installed near high efficiency windows or other highly reflective surfaces. Aside from the stereotype that us Canadians live in Igloos, it actually gets really hot during the summer months especially if you live in Vancouver, BC or the Greater Toronto Area.
All of our artificial grass fibers have a melting point of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. You might think that because our outside temperatures are fairly mild that you have nothing to worry about, but we would like to bring awareness to heat related issues that may cause fiber shrinkage, UV degradation, or even melting of the fibers.
With the sun beaming down on your grass it gets an even temperature throughout. If the sun is being reflected off of a shiny surface, it creates non-uniform heating of certain areas and can result in a change to the pile height of your grass. This scenario is similar to the sun beaming through a magnifying glass, in that it significantly increases the heat in the magnified area. Your once even turf lawn can look as if it were trimmed shorter in areas experiencing excessive heat.
To prevent any heat damage from happening to your artificial grass, we recommend monitoring the heat at your project site during the hottest part of the day (typically between 1 – 3 pm). If you find that heat is an issue due to nearby windows, there are a few options for you to consider:
The first step is to identify reflective windows or other surfaces that would increase the heat where your grass will be installed. Be aware that upper level windows can be equally as powerful when the sun is reflected down onto your grass. The best way to deal with this is to install screens that block the sun from reaching the reflective surface. If this is not an option, you might need to adjust your landscape plans to avoid heat damage to your grass. For example design garden beds, rock gardens, or any other heat tolerant landscape where excessive heat may be an issue.
Before even installing your roll of artificial grass from Bella Turf, make sure to keep it covered up when exposed to direct sunlight. The black backing on our products will pull in excessive heat and can cause a non-uniform look to your grass when the roll is laid out flat. We recommend always keeping your rolls of artificial grass in the shade if possible.
If you plan on spending a lot of time outside on your new artificial grass, be sure to use one of our high performance turf infills to help keep the heat down. PureZEO Pro will retain water and slowly release it back into the air. With just a light watering, it will keep your grass surface cool for a significant amount of time. Wonderful Fifa-approved artificial grass infill is designed to reduce the surface heat of your grass by up to 15 degrees with its patented quartz core and advanced coating.
With excessive heat being a big concern this time of year, be sure to not leave any heat attracting objects out on your lawn during the hot days as well. This includes, but is not limited to, metal objects, shiny plastic pool toys or floats, plastic sheeting, or garden hoses. These objects will absorb heat much quicker than your artificial grass and may cause localized fiber shrinkage.
With the luxuries of a maintenance free yard, you’ve got to take the precautionary steps to ensure that you get the most out of your artificial grass installation. We at Bella Turf take great pride in our service and want each and every one of our customers to get the most out of their new turf lawn. Plan ahead and you will be enjoying your artificial grass for years to come. Should you have any questions or concerns about your artificial grass or future artificial grass project, please feel free to contact us.
You can read more on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
