The Fact: Artificial Turf Will Heat Up In The Sun
Artificial turf has many advantages but indeed one disadvantage. It can get hotter than natural grass on hot, sunny days. Natural grass has a cooling effect, artificial grass does not. Again the comparison with pavement applies, as this also retains the sun’s heat.
However, artificial grass is very popular in countries with hot climates. The advantages of artificial grass – like water-saving and no-maintenance – do make up for the disadvantage of the higher temperature of the lawn.
The artificial turf surface is warmer than natural grass when the temperature is hot. However, the heat in the grass is not retained, so when shadows appear it rapidly cools down. We will introduce several ways to make the artificial grass surface cooler later.
Why Temperature on Artificial Grass Is Higher than Real Grass?
Most types of synthetic grass do get hot when exposed to direct sunlight. This is because as the sun heats the lawn, a lot of that heat will stay in the turf pile and the heat is not absorbed into the soil below.
A study on heat and synthetic grass revealed that solar radiation, not air temperature, was the cause of high fluctuation in temperature. Another significant factor includes the type of infill used beneath the synthetic grass. It was noted that there is a possible lack of heat transfer from artificial grass fibers to the infill of the product. Thus, different materials used to engineer the grass could be significant factors in retaining heat. Though this study poses a risk to those who are concerned about surface heat, it should also be noted that this study was only done on one grass product, and therefore cannot be generalized for all artificial grass products on the market today.
Any Methods To Make The Artificial Grass Cooler?
If you have not installed artificial grass for your project yet, the following two ways can make the artificial turf surface cooler:
1. Choose a lighter grass color and infill to reduce the amount of heat that will be absorbed into the turf from the sun. Avoid black rubber infills that tend to absorb and transfer heat more if heat is a big problem for you.
2. If possible install artificial grass under shade trees. Without enough sunlight natural lawn generally does not grow very well, but you can enjoy a lush lawn under your shade trees with artificial turf. A shaded area from trees will also provide your kids and pets a better-feeling place in summer.
If you have already completed the artificial grass installation, the following tips may help you to reduce the temperature on the surface:
1. Set a sprinkler or hose system. In order to greatly reduce the high temperature of synthetic grass, it is as simple as dousing the surface with water for a few minutes. Rinse your synthetic lawn with a garden hose to quickly reduce the surface temperature. If you have a sprinkler system, you can also run the system for a few minutes to cool off your lawn quickly. Other studies have shown that entire football fields with synthetic grass surfaces can reduce as much as fifty percent in temperature when sprinklers or hoses were used. This can total up to 60 degrees cooler in temperature. When the temperature is decreased and the surface is cooled, it can maintain a cooler temperature for a few hours after coming in contact with cool water.
2. Shade sails. Cover all or part of your lawn with shade sails to avoid direct sunlight. Keeping synthetic grass in the shade can help to reduce heat absorption and provide a shady spot to rest or play. Adding shade to outdoor living or entertaining areas is likely something you would do anyway since most of us prefer hanging out in the shade on hot days. So if you are concerned about artificial grass getting hot, you can simply make sure your backyard design includes some shade over one or more parts of your lawn.
3. Retractable awning. Install a retractable awning that you can open on very hot days to shade your lawn. These are temporary with an option to only open them up when it is extremely hot and there is a need to use the grass in the heat of the day and retract later in the afternoon.
Will My Artificial Grass Fade in the sun?
The good news is that most modern artificial grass is protected against sunlight and UV rays. During the manufacturing process, the grass is UV stabilized. This protects it against fading. Artificial grass also goes through rigorous testing for colorfastness and UV resistance.
Your chosen supplier should provide a guarantee to ensure your grass won’t fade or discolor over time. Arturf provides a solid UV-resistance guarantee for our products.
Does The Artificial Turf Shrink?
Shrinkage is more a less a common problem of all artificial surfaces. Artificial turf is made of synthetic, hence the temperature will affect the grass to expand or shrink. Artificial grass may expand slightly with heat and may shrink with cold.
It is not avoidable due to the temperature, but it can be prevented by applying enough spikes in the artificial turf.