Surfaces have realistic look but also can be pricey
by Jakob Hanes
When Mary Vierthaler moved here from Kansas, she quickly discovered
that most people don't have luxuriant green lawns.
She also figured out that water conservation is a hot topic.
But instead of giving in to Arizona's brutal sun and perpetual drought
and settling for a nice patch of colored gravel in her backyard, she
started exploring other options.
When she heard about synthetic grass, she was sold.
"I wasn't hesitant at all when I heard about it, mainly because I
didn't want to push a mower," Vierthaler said, recalling her expansive
lawn in Kansas.
Local developers say more and more Tucsonans are choosing synthetic
grass over organic, and recent innovations are making the option even
more appealing. The use of fake grass also goes largely uncriticized
by researchers, because its main downfalls — susceptibility to
bacterial buildup and environmental disposal issues — are being
remedied by scientists.
Tucson landscape company SPEC International has seen a 25 percent
increase in installations yearly since it started selling synthetic
grass in 2003, said spokeswoman Jane Gehring.
The option is especially popular with new homeowners because they
don't have previously landscaped yards, said Ben Astenius, owner of
Man of the Soil Landscape Builders, based in Vail.
"Demand has increased massively, especially out here in the desert,"
he said. "Nine out of every 10 grass requests we get, they're
requesting synthetic."
So far this year, Astenius' company has installed 63,000 square feet
of fake lawns, compared with 46,000 for the entire year in 2006.
Although it varies, a typical synthetic lawn is about 1,000 square
feet. He said the biggest praises he hears are how realistic it looks
and how little maintenance it requires.
Synthetic grass has come a long way since the Astroturf of the '70s or
that green carpet stuff that crinkled like Easter basket filling when
people walked on it.
Now there are several different types available — some are designed
specially for dogs or children and come in different shades of green
or mimic different types of grass.
Some customers even say it feels good to walk on.
Although the stuff may sound too good to be true, it does have its
drawbacks, the main one being initial cost.
Depending on the type, fake grass can run $7-$10 per square foot,
whereas old-fashioned sod costs only $2.50 per square foot, and most
landscape companies include an irrigation system in the price.
Depending on the size and level of maintenance a real lawn needs, the
payoff for synthetic won't come for three to five years, according to
fake-grass vendors' estimates.
Most types of synthetic grass are rated to last 15 years at best. Most
"synth lawns" come with an eight-year warranty.
But for their entire life, the grass blades won't fade noticeably, and
the only cleaning needed is the occasional raking and hosing off,
sellers say.
Vierthaler has three dogs and said cleaning up after them isn't a
problem because the grass washes off easily, and it's resilient enough
to put up with their constant activity.
"The dogs love it. They run, they jump, they roll around in it just
like it's real grass," she said. "And it's so nice to go out there
barefoot."
With all the activity that the grass gets, though, harmful bacteria
can build up over time. The grime not only smells bad, but can cause
infections, too. To solve that problem, scientists took a trip to the
beach.
They found that crab and shrimp shells have a naturally occurring
polymer called chitin that can be extracted and processed into
chitosan. The chitosan is mixed with a weak acid solution to create a
bacteria-resistant coating that can either be applied to the surface
of the grass or woven in with the plastic fiber network at the time of
manufacture.
Since the application is relatively new, there is little research to
prove its effectiveness as of yet. But the need to eliminate bacteria
is important both for hygienic and olfactory reasons because bacteria
can make the grass stink.
Astenius of Man of the Soil landscaping is looking to solve that
problem. He and his company have a patent pending on a scented
application designed to make the plastic blades smell like a summer
afternoon.
For all its benefits, though, it's unclear if a synthetic lawn will
increase a home's value — it all depends on what buyers are looking
for, said Wes Wiggins, vice president of the Tucson Association of
Realtors Multiple Listing Services, which holds data for properties in
the area. Synthetic grass doesn't have its own category on the
listing's features yet, but does factor in to the value of the home,
just like any other upgrade would.
"It's not an automatic (benefit). It's kind of like a pool — it really
depends on the rest of the property," he said. "But from what I know
as a consumer, there are more homes that seem to have it in one form
or another now."
Because of the cost, most houses don't have expansive lawns, but
instead incorporate the grass with rocks and other landscaping,
Wiggins said.
Vierthaler said her lawn is attracting attention in her neighborhood
and a few of her neighbors are considering putting in synthetic grass
because they like how real it looks and feels.
"You have to see how good it looks to appreciate it," she said. "It's
expensive to begin with, but as long as you stay at your house for a
while it pays off."
● Contact sales@grassestimate.com , grassestimate.com the Bay Area
fake grass supplier .