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OUTDOOR SYNTHETIC GRASS / TURFUse this installation & maintenance guide for the following products:
Special Instructions for Landscape Grass INSTALLATIONMake a plan of your area to scale, preferably on graph paper. It is then necessary to determine the best quantity of carpet to cover the area and the direction the sheet(s) should run. Plan your area so that seams are
not in high traffic areas, all carpet
sheets run in the same direction,
adjoining sheets (seams) are to overlap
by approximately 5cm (to be cut and glued)
and that approximately 5cm runs up
each wall or fixture (the carpet can be trimmed
back once it is fixed in
place and has stabilised - if not fixed with adhesive
the carpet can The grass surface can become slippery if completely saturated with water or surface puddling occurs. Ensure the area has sufficient drainage gradients. Overlapping Seams Over Earth:Some rolls of synthetic grass are supplied with one 6cm flap of the ‘Black Carpet Primary Backing Selvedge’ still attached. If this is the case, it is possible to overlap and adhere the trimmed edge of the adjoining sheet onto the remaining 6cm flap of ‘Black Carpet Primary Backing Selvedge’ of the prior sheet. First check that the trimmed edge will butt up satisfactorily to the entire edge with the black flap. If the seam will be good, proceed carefully to spread outdoor adhesive along the surface of the black flap (a workable length at a time) and then carefully fold the trimmed selvedge into the adhesive. Do not tension or drag the joined sheets for the 24 hours it takes the adhesive to set. It is only recommended to do this ‘Overlapping the black flap / adhering’ method when installing over earth so that the thicker seam can bed into the earth. Installations Over Earth / Sand:The area to be covered should have a good drainage gradient and the sub-surface earth / sand should be well compacted and firm. Do not lay gravel or stones directly beneath the grass sheets as sharp edges may cut / puncture the carpet. The grass sheets will only allow a small amount of water through to the sub-surface so sufficient gradient to ensure drainage outward / away from structures is necessary. Adjoining sheets can be fixed as per the method described above (adhere a trimmed edge to the black flap edge). Hold the areas' perimeter with heavy gauge wire tent pegs, a treated timber capping, rockery or other suitable garden border. Mat Installations:The carpet can be loose laid as a mat on rough or textured surfaces. Check for stability (slip / slide) before leaving unattended in a traffic way. Alternatively, mats can be held fast with double-sided tape, hook and loop tabs, press studs, removable trim bars, heavy outdoor furniture. Overlapping Seams On Hard Surfaces:The factory cut edges of the carpet may be slightly rough and the sheet can run slightly left or right over lengths of 8 - 10 metres or more. It therefore recommended that allowance be made to overlap adjoining sheets and that the overlap be ‘Double Cut’ and fixed to give a clean well butted seam. Seams in the carpet should always be fixed with adhesive (7cm each side of the seam) so the sheets will not pull apart due to temperature variations. General Recommendations Hard Surfaces:
To Fix Or Not To Fix:Carpets installed outdoors are prone to greater variances in temperature. If the carpet is fixed around the perimeter with either outdoor double-sided tape, outdoor adhesive or trim bars it is probable the unfixed main body of the carpet will appear loose in hot conditions. Further, the carpet may contract inwards from the installed perimeter in cooler temperatures if the perimeter is not fixed with an outdoor adhesive or trim bars. Perimeters fixed with outdoor double-sided tape should be left slightly oversize to allow for contraction in cooler conditions. It is recommended to fix the whole body of carpet with outdoor adhesive. The Subfloor:Should be smooth, clean, dust, damp, oil and grease free and may consist of concrete, timber sheet, fibre cement sheet, metal, fibreglass and stone surfaces. It is recommended to cover timber planks / slats with a fixed sheet product (ply, chipboard, fibre cement sheet) to provide a smooth surface. When installing outdoors in exposed areas, the subfloor should have a gradient to allow for water run-off and drainage (outward / away from buildings and structures). Tools may include:
Conditioning:The installation area should be at a preferred temperature of 18 - 25°C for a period of 24 hours prior to, during and after installation. The carpet and adhesive should be stored on the subfloor in the planned area for 24 hours prior to installation so that the three components are at approximately the same temperature.
Large decreases in temperature prior to adhesive having fully set (during the installation and for 24 hours thereafter) can cause the adhered carpet seams to open. The Weather:Outdoor installations need to be carried out on a clear dry day as the adhesive will require approximately 24 hours of dry conditions to cure correctly. Orientation Checks:All the sheets of carpet should run the same way, so mark the carpet with directional arrows using white chalk before cutting the roll into required lengths. Laying Out:The carpet should be rolled out in the area where it is to be installed and allowed to ‘relax’ for at least one hour before installation and cutting. To check the planned layout you should position the sheets, overlapping the seams and allowing run-up on walls and other fixtures. Use masking tape tabs on the carpet surface and fixtures if desired so positioning is clear. Double-Sided Tape Fixing:Roll back the carpet sheet(s) lengthways and lay double sided tape around the whole perimeter and diagonally across the area from each corner to the other. Remove the release paper on the tape from one end of the area and re-position the sheet bringing the desired end firmly into contact with the tape so it is fixed. Proceed to remove the rest of the adhesive tapes release paper and then evenly roll out the carpet sheet so that it is fixed in place by the adhesive tape. Proceed the same way with subsequent sheets until all is complete. Proceed to fix the seams with adhesive as per the section below. Adhesive Fixing:
Mark the subfloor with a pencil line to show the centre position of each seam and a line 20 cm to each side of this. Roll back the carpet sheet lengthways so it is at one end of the area.
Spread adhesive in workable areas of approximately 1 to 1.5 metres
Gently roll the carpet into the adhesive and immediately smooth the surface with a roller or bubble-board to expel any air bubbles and ensure full contact. Continue with this progressive procedure until the full length of the sheet is adhered. Position the next rolled-up sheet at the ‘starting’ end of the area so that its edge overlaps the prior fixed sheet by approximately 5cm. Proceed to spread adhesive as before (inside the inner marked pencil lines) and fix the middle 3/4ths of this sheet. Fixing The Seams:Overlap the edges. Lay a straight-edge along the centre of the overlap and using a sharp utility knife Double Cut through both edges with the same stroke. When the whole seam has been cut remove the off-cut strips and any vacuum up any grass tufts that have fallen out while double cutting the seam. Fold back the flap of each sheet and carefully apply the adhesive to the subfloor in workable areas of say 1 - 1.5 metres. Carefully fold both sides of carpet down into the adhesive ensuring the edges come together and no adhesive oozing occurs. Immediately smooth the surface with a roller or bubble-board to expel any air bubbles. Continue with all seams. Final Cutting:
Once the adhesive has set (24 hours) it is possible to slowly and
carefully
trim back the excess carpet around the perimeter and other Proceed to do a section at a time. First firmly push and crease the carpet into the corner where the floor meets the wall / fixture with a blunt instrument like the end of a spoon handle. Then hold the utility knife blade close to parallel with the floor while trimming. This will give you a little extra carpet that will need to be tucked down after all cutting has been completed. Apply trim bars to protect exposed edges from foot traffic. Maintenance:Vacuum, shake, brush or hose with water to clean. With spills gently scrape / blot up the surface excess. Sponge spills / soiling with a mild neutral detergent and then rinse. Dab rather than rub the surface pile. Blot oil and grease with a solvent like White Spirit. Rinse off thoroughly with fresh water all solvents, petrol, chlorinated water, acids, alkalis and salt water. If in doubt test a cleaning treatment on a sample piece of the carpet first. Extractive steam cleaning may be used to remove built up soiling or watermarking. Tears or burns in the carpet surface can be repaired by patching. Caution:The carpet surface can become slippery if completely saturated with water or surface puddling occurs. Ensure the area has sufficient drainage gradients. Ensure carpet does not slip or slide under traffic - fix as necessary for safe use. Remember the old adage - "Measure twice - cut once"
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