Fake Grass Installation Mistakes in Toronto (and How to Avoid Them)

Synthetic grass has become a popular landscaping choice for Toronto residential homeowners looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance lawn. Whether you're adding artificial turf for dogs, designing a backyard putting green, or simply replacing your real grass lawn with durable lawn turf grass, the results can be impressive. But as long as the process is done properly.

Countless homeowners make serious mistakes during fake grass installation that can lead to drainage problems, obvious seam lines, early wear, and an unnatural appearance. The great news? Most of these mistakes are entirely avoidable when you know what to expect.

Mistake #1: Insufficient Base Prep

The base of any successful synthetic grass installation is what’s underneath. Low-cost installers cut corners on or fail to include correct base prep, which causes future issues.

The Problem: Without a well-compacted base, your artificial grass can form sunken areas, irregular surfaces, and water drainage problems. This is particularly troublesome for artificial grass for pets, where adequate drainage is vital for smell control and cleanliness.

How We Avoid It: When installing a base for commercial pet spaces, we use non-compacted stone for improved drainage. We excavate the soil and add a crushed stone base. Correct grading with a slight slope ensures water flows away from structures and doesn't collect on the surface. This critical step requires specialized equipment and experience to execute properly.

Mistake #2: Neglecting Drainage Requirements

Poor drainage is one of the top concerns about artificial turf installations, yet it's entirely avoidable with careful preparation and expertise.

The Problem: When water fails to drain correctly through and away from your synthetic grass, you'll be left with water buildup, soft spots, and potential mold or mildew growth. For Toronto property owners with artificial turf for dogs, poor drainage can also lead to unsanitary conditions and ongoing odor issues.

How We Avoid It: Our installation team assess your yard’s drainage conditions before installation begins. Professional installation includes drainage channels in areas prone to water accumulation and always maintains correct slope away from buildings. This experience avoids expensive drainage issues that can trouble DIY installs.

Mistake #3: Visible or Poorly Executed Seams

Nothing ruins the appearance of synthetic grass more quickly than obvious seam lines that create lines across your lawn, a obvious sign of poor workmanship.

The Problem: Bad seam placement, uneven grain direction, or inadequate seaming techniques lead to visible lines that make your artificial lawn look artificial and badly done.

How We Avoid It: Our team carefully plans seam locations, avoiding high-traffic areas and positioning them where they'll be least visible. They ensure the grain of adjacent turf pieces runs in the correct direction and use seam tape with quality outdoor adhesive made for artificial grass. For critical areas like a backyard putting green, we produce virtually invisible seams that maintain the visual appeal of your installation.

Mistake #4: Choosing the Wrong Turf

Not all artificial grass is created equal, and selecting the wrong turf for your specific needs can result in frustration.

The Problem: Using turf that doesn’t match your usage requirements results in disappointment down the road. Using putting green turf for a pet area or selecting a product with inadequate pile height for your region are common mistakes. Different applications require different turf properties.

How We Avoid It: We help you select the best option for your unique application. First, confirming you have the right options for your local environment is best practice. For artificial grass for pets, you need turf engineered with improved drainage and durable fibers that fight stains. Artificial turf for dogs features higher face weights that can handle constant traffic. When building a backyard putting green, we choose turf with the correct stimp rating and response for your playing ability. SWG produces high-quality synthetic turf with specific characteristics in mind, which determines qualities like pile height, ounce weight, and ideal match for you and your family, helping avoid subpar results and long-term dissatisfaction.

Mistake #5: Insufficient or Incorrect Infill Application

Infill material serves many roles in fake grass installation: it adds ballast, keeps blades upright, offers cushioning, and supports drainage. Getting this right requires experience and accuracy.

The Problem: Skipping infill, selecting the wrong infill, or not applying enough leads to flattened fibers, poor drainage, and a surface that looks and feels unnatural. Too much infill can also lead to complications by making the surface too firm and holding heat.

How We Avoid It: Infill options include silica sand or antimicrobial sand for pet areas like K9 sand. We apply infill evenly using specialized equipment. We then professionally brush the turf after infill application to work it down to the fiber and allow grass blades to stand tall, achieving that ideal authentic appearance. If you want your turf to stay nice and cool in the hot summer months, you should also look into HydroChill®, which has an antimicrobial agent.

Mistake #6: Omitting Weed Barrier Fabric

Certain installers leave out the weed barrier to cut costs, but this time-saver almost always backfires and results in ongoing problems.

The Problem: Without a quality weed barrier, you'll deal with weeds pushing through your synthetic grass, which are challenging to address without damaging the turf.

How We Avoid It: We always include a premium, permeable weed barrier fabric under the compacted base before laying turf. Weed barrier helps stabilize the base. It is strongly advised in cool regions where weeds can spread easily. Weeds typically won’t grow up through the base and the turf, as light is blocked. But they can appear in infill, which can be managed naturally by routine professional maintenance once a year.

Mistake #7: Underestimating the Work Involved

A major mistake homeowners make is overlooking what proper synthetic grass installation requires. What appears straightforward often involves complex technical challenges.

The Problem: Artificial grass installation involves technical expertise of grading, drainage, soil conditions, environmental considerations, and product specifications. Installations with elevation changes, complex layouts like tee lines, or custom features like backyard putting greens require professional expertise. DIY projects often become more expensive when issues occur, and the work needs to be redone by trained installers.

How We Avoid It: Our professional team bring extensive experience, professional tools, and proven techniques to every project. They account for soil composition, proper drainage engineering, and how different products perform in different environments. Hiring professionals saves you time, avoids costly mistakes, and comes with warranties that protect your investment.

The Bottom Line

A attractive, long-lasting fake grass installation requires expertise, attention to detail, quality materials, and best practices. While the upfront expense in professional installation may seem higher initially, it's much more affordable than fixing issues that come from a bad install.