Perhaps you have been staring at that dull concrete surface in your yard, patio, or recreational area and asking yourself whether that concrete surface can ever become a beautiful green field. The answer is a strong Yes; artificial turf can indeed be laid over concrete surfaces. At Surekha Exports, our experience lies in laying artificial turf over various bases including concrete for various purposes ranging from badminton court construction in Chennai to futsal fields in Mumbai.

The truth about it is that installing artificial turf on concrete surfaces is not an easy task and involves much more than placing the turf surface over the concrete layer. In this guide, we explain how it is done in simple language.

Why is Concrete the Better Base?

Let’s start with some good news. Concrete is one of the most stable surfaces you can lay artificial turf on. Unlike natural soil, it doesn’t shift with the seasons, doesn’t get waterlogged, and it holds the turf firmly in place. That’s why so many commercial installations like sports courts, balconies, pool surrounds, and commercial landscapes prefer it.

But there are few challenges faced by turf builders when dealing with concrete bases that need to be addressed before the turf goes down, that is, drainage and hardness. Handle these well, and your installation will be smooth, durable, and look fantastic for years. This guide will walk you through every known aspect.

Step- 1: Inspect The Surface

• Fissures and irregularities – Minor fissures are easy to treat by applying the concrete patching product. More significant fissures may require expert treatment. Lumps, depressions, or any other irregularities will be noticeable beneath the turf layer, creating discomfort while playing.

 

• Moisture and draining – This is where the trouble begins. Being a non-porous material, water cannot flow through concrete. The absence of a draining route means moisture will accumulate below the turf layer, making it unpleasant, odorous, and ultimately unsafe to play on. Proper draining must be ensured during each installation process.

 

• Contamination – Grease, chemicals, or paint residues will interfere with adhesive application. Ensure that you clean the slab of concrete thoroughly.

Step- 2: Planning Drainage

Proper water management is the most important aspect in laying turf grass on concrete. You can take one of two approaches based on your property requirements:

• Sloping & channeled drainage – If your concrete surface already features a gradient (even 1-2%), then water will drain automatically to its edges where you will only have to add drainage channels or perimeter edgings.

 

• Water permeable underlay – Specialized drainage underlay, or shock pad, which you lay between concrete and turf enables lateral draining of water. It’s highly recommended for sports fields such as football and futsal pitch. Drainage holes in concrete – In the case of turfing your roof or terrace, holes might be cut or installed previously in the slab. At Surekha Exports, we always take care of that during our free visit to your site, since water drainage issues are by far the most popular reason for turf deterioration.

Step -3: Laying The Shock Pad or Underlay

On concrete, you avoid the usual base layer made from stones in case of a natural base. Rather, a shock pad made of rubber or foam takes its place. And here is what such a layer will be used for:

 

• it will add cushioning to your base, and this is necessary due to hardness of concrete
• it will make turf more comfortable and natural when walking on it
• it will create drainage, allowing water to flow sideways
• it will protect the top surface from heat, which will be very useful in Indian weather conditions

As for football fields or futsal pitches, we offer special shock pads that fit international requirements and are of the highest quality. If you need an underlay for landscaping and decoration, then you don’t need anything special.

Step -4: Securing The Turf

Fixing artificial grass laid on concrete is done using either of two methods, or a combination of both:

• Using adhesives — turf grass is bonded using a turf glue, which could be made of polyurethane or any other compound, onto the concrete itself or on the joining tape, then laid carefully to ensure that there is a perfect bond and no seams.
• Mechanically securing — nails or screws may be used through the edges of the turf at the edges. This is used on heavy traffic zones and rooftops due to wind uplift problems.

Seams where two rolls meet require special handling. Turf grass should have uniform pile direction on all pieces, while the joint tape should have enough adhesive to make it invisible. A bad joint seam is very visible, and therefore, an annoyance.

Step -5: Add Infill If Required

An infill material, which includes either silica sand or rubber crumb granules, is then added to the turf as an extra layer once it has been laid. Infilling the turf is very important because it is responsible for giving the grass its upright standing position. When it comes to landscaping turf, infill addition becomes optional.

A Point to Ponder While Installing On Concrete Base

Concrete is an effective basis for landscaping, balconies, terraces, and turf decorations provided that sufficient drainage systems are in place. Nevertheless, for sports field and larger-scale projects, there are often more efficient base construction methods to be used.

Based on the site conditions, nature of the sports event, soil composition, amount of rainfall, and financial considerations, a dynamic base system or engineered aggregate base with drainage pipes installed underground might be preferred. This would yield better shock-absorption, greater player comfort, improved drainage efficiency, and long-lasting field stability.

When designing a sports field, drainage is definitely one of the main issues to consider. There are two types of drainage systems – vertical and horizontal. In the initial site survey conducted by our team, we can assess the conditions and opt the suitable which suits your space.

Zero compromise on Quality

The most meticulous base preparation may fall flat with substandard turf quality. We at Surekha Exports have always relied upon our internationally certified turf products and our FIFA Quality Pro approved synthetic turf for our sports installations. Having over 18+ years of experience and having done more than 700 installations all over India, from Kerala and Mumbai to Nagaland and Madhya Pradesh, we know the consequences of cutting corners five years later.

It is critical to make the appropriate choices regarding the pile height, blade form, and fiber density for your particular installation.

Get Started with The Best Providers – Surekha

If you are looking at artificial turf for your existing concrete surface, be it a sports field, roof, garden, or commercial location, then your starting point is a site survey. We offer our clients here at Surekha Exports free site surveys to help you assess your concrete surfaces and provide the appropriate advice on your artificial turf requirements.

Contact us at +91 90485 42006 or visit our website at surekhaexports.com.