It may look simple enough, but installing fake turf is not the same thing as putting an outdoor rug on your patio—even if they’re both made of plastic. It takes a lot of digging, and you’ll need a solid foundation—of both installation knowledge and literally underneath your grass. That’s where sub-base comes in. Show
Artificial grass sub-base refers to the mix of materials put directly below your fake turf. It creates a smooth surface and supports your lawn for years—and even decades—to come. Here’s what you need to know. Why Do I Need a Sub-Base for Artificial Turf?The main purpose of using a sub-base is to create a solid foundation for your lawn. Soil, no matter how compacted, expands with moisture and contracts as it dries. Clay soil is particularly vulnerable to this type of movement. Sub-base doesn’t expand or contract. The result is a smooth lawn without wrinkles or soft spots from uneven soil. Some sub-bases even help with drainage, preventing water from pooling in your yard. Best Types of Artificial Grass Sub-Base Photo: MartinPrescott / E+ / Getty Images Wondering what to put under artificial grass? The best sub-bases are a mixture of gravel and sand. Some varieties come from concrete, asphalt, or wood, but the most common types are CMB, Class II road base, or decomposed granite—and there’s a good reason. Crushed Miscellaneous Base (CMB)For the average homeowner, the cost of artificial turf is usually upwards of $4,000. You can save a little cash by choosing crushed miscellaneous base (CMB) as your sub-base. This sub-base material is a mixture of sand, gravel, and recycled concrete or asphalt. It’s generally the most affordable option and compacts easily, making it a popular choice in landscaping. Unfortunately, it can be hard to smooth out, and it’s non-porous, so it can struggle with drainage. Class II Road BaseClass II road base is similar to CMB, but it has to undergo extensive testing to ensure that it can perform well under roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. Commercial applications—like golf courses or athletic fields—more commonly use this sub-base. It’s not budget-friendly, and usually not necessary for a residential backyard. Decomposed Granite or Limestone ChippingsDecomposed granite or limestone chippings are natural derivatives that form when stone erodes and weathers down over time. Stone chippings come with a higher cost, but they do achieve a smoother finish than CMB. They’re also better for drainage, which helps promote the long-term health of your backyard (especially if you’re trying to create a pet-friendly artificial turf space). How Much Artificial Grass Sub-Base Do I Need?A local artificial grass company should be able to tell you the exact amount of sub-base needed for your project. They may even recommend a laying course, an additional layer of granite dust or sand that goes over the sub-base to make the surface even flatter and smoother. In general, your sub-base layer should be two to four inches deep. The material is generally sold in loose truckloads or bags by the ton. It depends on the sub-base type. For a 100-square-foot area, you’ll need around:
You may have trouble managing the sheer weight and volume on your own, but you can hire a local stone and gravel company to deliver it to your yard. Thinking about getting an artificial lawn? We don’t blame you – It’s become hugely popular among new homeowners. The reason is quite simple: With artificial grass, your lawn looks great year-round! Selecting the style of grass and pile heights are important considerations when choosing your new artificial lawn. Nowadays, there are plenty of styles and options to suit your needs and tastes. But while the look of your lawn is important, what goes on under the surface is just as critical to the successful installation and long-term service life of your artificial grass. The sub-base layer of your new lawn plays a significant role in its service, life, wear-and-tear, and maintenance over the years. If you don’t get a proper sub-base installation, you’re going to end up regretting it in a few months. That’s why it’s so important to get it right from the start. In This Article:
What Is the Sub-Base for Artificial Grass?The sub-base is the layer directly under the artificial grass. It’s mostly a sand and gravel mix, but some installations might require the use of asphalt, concrete, or wood – depending on the application and conditions. So, why do you need to install a sub-base for your lawn? It’s simple: The base provides the structure for the grass. Without it, your lawn will sink and crease as people and animals move around on the surface. Think of it like installing a carpet. It’s critical to have a proper base underneath the surface layer to ensure you have a solid foundation to step on! In addition, without a base material for artificial grass, you might experience poor drainage and water will pool on the surface. In other words, a good artificial grass sub-base material provides your lawn with a perfect mix of stability and good drainage, as well as long-term durability and resilience. Can I Lay Artificial Grass Directly On Soil?The answer is definitely NOT! Here’s why: Soil is an expansive base material. This means it naturally expands and contracts depending on how wet it is. If you install your artificial grass directly on the sand, you will start to see a lot of wrinkles and pits in your lawn due to the expansion/contraction effect. Wet soil will result in soft spots and divots in the lawn, causing the grass to lift away from the soil and create air pockets. In turn, these air pockets provide the perfect breeding conditions for mold and bacteria! A sub-base replaces the traditional soil base with a stable, non-expansive layer. The result is an effective and long-lasting installation that lasts for decades! What Sub-Base To Use For Artificial Grass?There are different types of artificial grass sub-base materials. Choose the right option to meet your needs. For instance, installing a sub-base for a putting green is a vastly different task than fitting a backyard lawn. There are three main types of sub-base materials available for your artificial grass lawn. Our expert team has tested and installed all three over the years. Let’s discuss each of the options in detail: 1. Crushed Miscellaneous Base (CMB)Typically used in landscaping applications, crushed miscellaneous base (CMB) is an aggregate material featuring gravel, sand, asphalt, and concrete. CMB mostly comes from the offset of concrete or asphalt recycling, consisting of gravel and sand mixtures of up to 3/4″ in diameter. It compacts well, giving you a solid foundation, and it’s a more affordable material than Decomposed Granite (DG). The downside to CMB is that it’s challenging to source, and it takes more effort to smooth down. The non-porous nature of this material also means drainage will be slower, which might be an issue if you live in an area with heavy rainfall, or you need your pets’ urine to drain away quickly. CMB remains the default choice for most home installations. However, if you’re worried about drainage, we would recommend decomposed granite instead. 2. Class II Road BaseClass II Road Base is the most expensive option on our list. It’s somewhat similar to CMB, but comes with stringent testing and quality checks by the manufacturer. We usually use this material for advanced, large-scale installations for commercial and sporting applications, such as football pitches and putting greens. However, due to the overall cost, we do not feel the Class II road base is necessary for the domestic needs of your backyard. 3. Decomposed Granite/Limestone ChippingsDecomposed Granite (DG) and Limestone Chippings offer you the best option for your backyard. However, it does come at a higher cost. DG is smoother than CMB, but it doesn’t compact as well. Despite this, you end up with a material that drains well, and that’s a top priority for the long-term health of your lawn. The smoother surface also means it is ideal for putting greens. But if you’re installing a laying course on top (see the next section), it may not matter in the end. These sub-bases are made up of fragments that weather and fall away from the main rock body (either granite or limestone, and sometimes a mixture of both). Today, manufacturers run large granite rocks through a DG process to produce the end product. This ensures the fragments are uniform in size. Both decomposed granite and limestone are porous, allowing optimal drainage of your artificial grass. For all these reasons, decomposed granite and limestone chippings is the overall best choice for a sub-base. But if budget is an issue, CMB will suffice for most domestic applications. When it comes to how much sub-base you should use for artificial grass, we generally recommend a depth of 2″ to 4″ (50mm–100mm), with a thicker layer for heavier use. Your Laying Course: Granite Dust vs Sharp SandThe laying course is also a fundamental part of installing your artificial grass. This is the last layer of aggregate material installed directly under the artificial lawn and on top of the sub-base. The purpose of your laying course is to provide a smooth, level and flat surface to lay your synthetic grass. When laying your course, we recommend using granite dust or limestone, otherwise known as “Grano” (short for ‘granolithic’). The individual grano dust particles are around 6mm in diameter and installs at a depth of 1-inch. Why You Should Avoid Sharp SandMany installers use sharp sand for artificial grass as the laying course, but that’s a huge mistake! Here’s why: Artificial grass features perforations in its latex backing, allowing water to drain from the surface. Your artificial lawn comes with drainage of up to 10 to 12-gallons a minute. Because it’s so loose, this drainage will eventually wash away the sharp sand. You’ll notice it by the ridges and dips you see appearing on your lawn. Also, a big problem with sharp sand is that it moves underfoot. If your pets and kids spend any time playing on the lawn, the foot traffic will loosen the sharp sand over time, and cause dips and creases in the material. Sharp sand also encourages ant infestations. The ants will excavate the soil to build nests underneath your lawn, and this disruption will cause lifting and unevenness that only gets worse over time. Granite and Limestone DustGrano is the more expensive option for your sub-base. However, it’s the best material for your artificial lawn, providing a long service life, and saving you a lot of trouble and money in the long run. It packs together well but remains permeable, allowing for optimal drainage. At the same time, it’s durable and resilient to water flow, and will not move around in harsh weather conditions. Manufacturers typically pack and sell grano to contractors in bulk. These bags can weigh nearly a ton, so make sure you get proper estimates from your contractor regarding your installation. More Articles From AlmostGrass
Is Artificial Grass Waterproof? Is Artificial Grass Waterproof? Here’s what you need to know. Read More How To Refresh Artificial Grass? How to refresh artificial grass and make it look new again? Our experts will show you exactly what to do! Read More Does Artificial Grass Look Real? Many homeowners are worried about fake, tacky-looking artificial grass. But does artificial grass look real nowadays? Let’s find out! What is the best base for synthetic grass?A proper sub-base comprised of either class II road base (also known as crushed miscellaneous base or CMB) or decomposed granite will provide an excellent foundation for your artificial grass and will help ensure you get the most out of your investment.
What is the cheapest way to install artificial grass?The cheap alternative? Just use nails – a lot of them. This is a perfectly viable seaming method for some installations, though not quite as secure. Nails can and often do work loose over time and with enough foot traffic, so we only recommend this method if your grass isn't going to get a lot of that.
What sand do you use under artificial grass?Sharp sand has been used to lay artificial grass for decades. Some artificial grass installers still recommend it today because it is more cost-effective than granite. It should be noted that sharp sand should be used when laying an artificial lawn.
How much base do I need for artificial grass?In most artificial turf installations, the best base to use is a ¾” down to a ¼” crushed drain rock. These rocks can be found at your local rock yards and may have several names. You do not want to use a well-rounded rock like most pea gravels, as they will not compact well.
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