Can You Put Artificial Grass On Decking?

You no longer need to take the pain of growing natural grass for your lawns, decks, and even the balcony of your house. 

Artificial grass is becoming more and more popular with users due to its ease of maintenance and hassle-free installation.

But, when it comes to putting artificial grass on the decking, the real question comes: can you put artificial grass on the decking?

Glad to know, YES, you can put artificial grass on the decking.  

Artificial grass has become a definite must-have thanks to improved technology and materials that may quickly improve your property’s outside attractiveness. 

To summarize, you can install artificial grass on your decking. It’s a long-lasting, premium-quality option that also looks beautiful. 

Can you Put Artificial Grass on Decking?

Why not? It is always possible to install artificial grass on decking and it has become a common trend among people of taste to do so! 

Artificial grass may be installed on decks. It’s a popular choice among retirees and families. It’s also great for families that have dogs or other pets. 

It does require considerable planning and underlayment, but it is still an appealing and cost-effective gardening choice.

These types of grasses can be put easily over most floors and need minimal cleaning to maintain the heap erect. 

It’s ideal for families that don’t have the time to maintain a grass garden properly and have small kids playing around the house.

Why Lay Artificial Grass on Decking?

The main reason why artificial grass should be installed on decking is its elegance and affordability. Just like any other surface, decking can be a visually pleasing option for laying your synthetic turf, plus it will also minimize the cost to a certain degree. 

Also, artificial grass can be used to rehabilitate decking that has been destroyed or discolored. 

Placing faux grass on your deck will never have to repair, clean, or varnish it again. There are many other reasons to lay artificial grass, which are as follows.

Change Looks

Artificial grass on decking is simple to install and may radically transform the appearance of your yard. 

You may also use fake grass to improve and brighten up your outside area. 

Your house will appear more fashionable and contemporary, making it stand out in your neighbourhood.

Protects your lawn

The most common problem with decking is that it attracts moss and has begun to decay or seem aged. 

And, especially if your deck is colored, it will take a lot of maintenance to keep it from discoloration and flaking. Hence, the simplest solution to all these issues is artificial grass.

The synthetic grass will keep moss off your decking and save you the hassle of painting it again and over.

Easy Drainage 

You don’t need to be concerned about draining because the water will drain regularly. 

You won’t need to construct any new or sophisticated drainage systems with fake grass since the water will flow in the same old manner it did before the grass was installed.

Things to consider before Laying Artificial Grass On Decking

Some things just need to be considered while laying your turf on the decking which includes, measuring the turf area correctly and maintaining proper drainage.

Here are a few things that you need to consider before laying the grass on deck: 

Drainage 

Because decking provides spaces for water to flow and as artificial grass is porous, drainage isn’t an issue. 

However, it is also dependent on the decking design.

Pools of water can occur just above artificial turf seams if the decking area is entirely level. 

This is due to the glue used to attach the artificial grass columns, which stops water from passing through the fabric.

If the decking is sloped, any water will run off, and you won’t have to bother about drainage.

The thickness of Artificial Grass

Artificial grass typically comes in three different thicknesses; Long Piles (35mm+), medium piles (25-35mm), and short piles (15-25mm). 

Your decking’s characteristics may endanger your attempts and undermine your work and effort. 

There are gaps between the planks of all decks. So, you must choose the proper thickness of grass depending on your decking gaps.

If you wish to conceal any gaps, artificial grass at least 30mm thick should suffice. 

Now, if your gaps are not that wide, you can use medium piles. 

However, if your deck has a minimalistic design with a tiny gap, then short piles will also do the work for you.

Area Measurement

You’ll need to obtain measurements of the space you intend to cover before putting in artificial grass. 

To maintain your stack appearing uniform, try to arrange the region with as few joints as feasible.

Determining the sq m of the area to be covered is the most straightforward method. 

Then, depending on the area of a roll, figure out how many you’ll need.

In order to trim down to a clean fit, purchase somewhat more grasses than the space you’ve estimated. 

Quick Tips if you have Kids

Because decking is such a solid floor, we recommend using a shock cushion overlay with your artificial turf. 

If children are playing on the surface, a shock pad layer can provide additional peace of mind since it comes in various thicknesses from which you can pick according to your needs.

How to lay artificial grass on decking?

The simple laying technique involves only three processes: cleaning and prepping the area, adding a solid weed membrane to weed growth, and using a quality underlay that absorbs shock when kids do their things. 

Here is a detailed guide as to how you can install the turf on your decking: 

Step 1: Preparing the Area

Remove any outdoor items like plants or furniture and other items that have gathered on the decking, then scrub it with a stiff brush and wash away any extra dirt, moss, or other debris.

Another thing that needs replacement is damaged or cracked decking. 

Also, make sure your decking is completely dry before moving on to the next process. 

If you detect any broken or rotten deck boards at this point, remove them and repair them before continuing.

Take care of the decking gradient for proper water draining. The decking should have a little slope for accessible water flowing out. 

Step 2: Weed Membrane and Why You Should Use One 

A weed membrane is a highly essential item that prevents weed infiltration. However, it will still allow water to travel through the membrane for better cleaning.

Some of the reasons why you should go for a weed membrane are: 

• It helps keep your lawn free from weeds and other plants that may cause damage to your lawn.
• It will also help you keep the moisture levels in your turf maintained at a stable level because it allows water to pass through easily but does not allow roots to grow through it.
• It prevents algae buildup on top of your turf so that you don’t have to worry about having a green or brown patch appear on your lawn due to algae growths.
• Weed membrane is easy to install in your garden and it doesn’t require any tools or professional skills to do it yourself at home.

When to Install Weed Membrane Underneath Decking? 

You should put a weed membrane even if you’re installing the grass on decking, especially when your decking isn’t installed on top of the concrete surface. 

However, if you have a concrete surface underneath the decking, a weed membrane won’t be necessary. 

How to Install Weed Membrane? 

A weed barrier or membrane can be simply installed by just removing all the existing debris or materials, leveling the soil, and securing the membrane using U-shaped staples. 

Here is a simple step by step guide to do it on your own:

Materials Required for the Job 

• Weed membrane 
• Artificial turf rake 
• Hammer 
• U shaped landscape staples 
• Garden hoe 
• Utility knife

Step by Step Process 

1. Simply use the garden hose to remove all the vegetation from the ground. It is always better to remove the top layer of the soil and penetrate deep so no roots remain on the ground, reducing weed growth possibilities in later stages. 
2. Now use a tough garden rake to clear out any remaining plants or similar elements and level the soil.
3. Now simply lay the weed membrane on the surface. Use a quality utility knife to cut around the edges. 
4. Finally, hammer the membrane down snugly with quality landscape staples. 

Step 3: Underlay

To enable the artificial grass to remove water and keep the decking from coming through, a solid underlay is essential. 

Now, numerous types of underlay are available, and you must select one based on your decking design.

Foam Underlay

These are the most popular types of underlay for artificial grass. This layer will provide extra padding for the grass, as well as a smooth and squishy sensation and protection from sudden landings.

For families or anybody wanting to allow youngsters to play on the deck, a foam underlay is very vital. There will be no puddling because of the structure’s ability to drain water.

Furthermore, a foam underlay may help fill holes and uneven bumps in pre-existing floorboards, guaranteeing an utterly flat result.

However, houses with pets, such as cats or dogs, should avoid using foam underlay.

Plywood Underlay

Plywood is a substitute for foam underlay. It creates an entirely level platform over which artificial grass may be laid when attached straight to the deck. 

Even with a foam underlay, wider spaces can cause artificial grass to settle into the crevices, which is where plywood comes in useful.

If you’re using plywood underlay, make sure to drill lots of drainage holes.

Step 4: Laying Artificial Grass on Decking

The first step is to unpack the artificial grass from its wrappings and spread it out on a level place outside of your house. 

It will take some time for the grass to come in its original shape, so we recommend leaving it for at least 24 hours outside.

Then, on your decking, place and position your artificial grass. Plan any necessary connections. Joining tape and glue are required to secure the joins. 

Apply glue to the tapes and put it beneath the seams.

Glue the seams, making sure the glue does not come into touch with the grass blades, and then flutter the edges with a delicate brush to disguise any creases. 

We recommend nailing the grass all around the perimeter with nails to hold it in place. 

Nails are preferable to glue since the glue will rip the decking, including the grass, when you need to change position or even remove the grass. 

If you wish to, you may also apply adhesive on the edges.

Step 5: Trimming the Grass

You are now done installing the artificial grass on your decking, and it’s time to trim and bring it into your desired look. 

Trim the edges first. 

After trimming, take either a hammer or a nail gun and insert any nails and spikes deep into the deck boards. 

Now you will need to brush the grass. Get a broom and brush the grass in the direction opposite to the grass blades’ direction. 

Keep in mind that you may need to operate multiple times before getting the ideal result.

Final Thoughts 

So, by now, we believe you got your answer if you have been wondering if you can lay artificial grass on the decking and how to install it. 

Artificial grass can be a great alternative to natural grass with much less maintenance and better results.

No matter how beautiful your decking is, it becomes bland with time. 

However, you can suddenly transform your rooftop or terrace into a new and stylish recreational spot by just laying down artificial grass.