A selling point of Artificial Turf surfaces was always the fact they require no maintenance, this however is not the case. Artificial grass surfaces that are maintained regularly have an increased life expectancy of up to 50%.
Many surfaces which have not been regularly maintained will suffer from premature ageing and many have had to be completely replaced.
The difference in real grass and artificial grass is that instead of spending time looking after an artificial surface, HB Sports Surfaces are able to put into place a regular maintenance programme for you, leaving you to enjoy your sports surface year round.
A fully comprehensive maintenance programme from the day the artificial surface is installed will maximise the longevity of the surface. In fact some synthetic grass manufacturers state that unless the surface has a regular professional maintenance regime the carpets guarantee will not be valid. So it makes sense to be able to prove that your artificial grass has had the professional maintenance it requires should you encounter any manufactures problems.
Regular surface brushing is recommended to help keep the infill distributed evenly and reduce surface compaction and contamination. Incorrect infill levels and debris blocking the surface can lead to algae, moss and weed growth. Mud and general dirt from around the artificial surface can carried onto the surface from sports shoes so regular surface brushing will help prevent these problems escalating rendering the sports surface unsafe.
One way in which contamination of the artificial pitch is prevented is by Rotary Sweeping where fibre dust and debris is removed, ensuring the surface is clean and well drained.
The regularity of which such maintenance would be required is dependent on the position of the artificial surface. A shaded surface which is close to deciduous trees will require more frequent maintenance than one that is out in the open with no nearby vegetation around.
Regular chemical treatments as well as power washing help to minimise many artificial sports surface problems.
Periodically, surface repairs may be required as seams or cut-in lines can become damaged or detached with heavy use.
A regular Professional maintenance programme carried out on your synthetic sports surface will significantly extend the life of your surface by as much as 50%.
A comprehensive maintenance programme will depend on the type of artificial sports surface, services required could include: Deep Cleaning - Infill and Sand Top Up application - Line Marking - Damage, Tear Repair and Seam Gluing - De-compaction - Brushing and Drag Matting - Power Sweeping - Moss and Algae Control + Weeding
Over time, seams and joints can fail, excessive use and high wear areas such as the surface around goal posts, penalty spots etc can affect your artificial surface causing it to under-perform. Adverse weather, freezing temperatures can cause breakdown of glues and adhesives this can result in weakening joints. So as soon as problem joints are spotted they should be repaired, creeping sand and debris accelerates wear of the artificial surface and trip hazards can make surfaces unsafe for play. Some damaged areas may also require sub-surface attention.
Line markings can wear over time so your artificial sports pitch will require ‘over marking’ after a time. It maybe that you wish your synthetic sports surface to accommodate an increased number of sports; this can be achieved by adding extra sport lines. This will open up your sports surface facility to more people. Two Pack Polyurethane paint that HB Sports Surfaces use for line marking is durable, long lasting and made from the highest quality acrylic and polyurethane materials which have been tested to ensure durability.
Artificial sports surfaces may develop muddy patches and/or they may have problems with standing water especially after rain. This usually indicates that contaminated infill is slowing down the drainage of the artificial surface. In order to rectify this part or all of the contaminated infill will need to be removed.
All artificial sports surfaces require maintenance to ensure they do what they were designed to do. Over time such sports surfaces can suffer from ingrained dirt and grime which adversely affects their play performance. Algae, spores, moss and detritus cause the pitch to become slippery. The surface becomes compacted and drainage will inevitably be lost. At this stage the artificial sports surface will require regeneration/restoration. Extraction and removal of contaminates and contaminated sand is very effective, the sports surface may require some replacement sand to be installed. Intensive de-compaction, infill filtration with a fine filter removes contaminants and revives the sports surface. Contaminants can sometimes be vacuumed from the surface, jet washing or air compression cleaning are also methods used to decontaminate an artificial sports ground.
The correct professional maintenance regime can prevent contaminant build up within your artificial sports surface and ensure it is free draining. Regular maintenance prevents the artificial surface from becoming compacted and slippery. Regeneration of an artificial sports ground will radically improve pitch drainage and increase the time term the surface is playable on.
HB Premium Package
This package covers 6-8 visits per year and is ideal to run parallel with your own in house maintenance team.
HB Total Care Package
For peace of mind, our full package covers 24 visits per year and our team covers all maintenance aspects from brushing to weed control, from in-fill top up to deep clean and decompaction.
For more details about the HB Maintenance Packages and which package suitable to your needs contact us on:
tel: 01400 269031
email: info@hbsportssurfaces.co.uk
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