Artificial Grass Pile Density
Does artificial grass density matter?
As with most things in life, there is usually a basic, better and best.
Whether that’s Boycie’s E-type Jag versus Del and Rodney’s Robin Reliant in Only Fools and Horses, or, indeed, types of artificial grass, there is always a point of difference.
So yes, Density matters. It is one of the key indicators of quality versus cost. High density, is generally the desirable attribute you should be looking for, however this always has to be balanced against cost.
As with most things in life, there is usually a basic, better and best.
Whether that’s Boycie’s E-type Jag versus Del and Rodney’s Robin Reliant in Only Fools and Horses, or, indeed, types of artificial grass, there is always a point of difference.
So yes, Density matters. It is one of the key indicators of quality versus cost. High density, is generally the desirable attribute you should be looking for, however this always has to be balanced against cost.
Why is high density good?
Firstly, wear and tear. More blades to a given square metre of grass will produce a thicker, more lush looking lawn which is more resistant to wear and will generally be less prone to flattening with heavy footfall.
More is more in other words.
How can you tell the quality and density of artificial grass?
One of the key indicators of density is the Total weight, usually expressed in kilograms per square metre. The higher the weight, the greater the density, although this is not the only determining factor. A taller pile height, will also mean a higher weight, so there are some other factors to consider.
Firstly, wear and tear. More blades to a given square metre of grass will produce a thicker, more lush looking lawn which is more resistant to wear and will generally be less prone to flattening with heavy footfall.
More is more in other words.
How can you tell the quality and density of artificial grass?
One of the key indicators of density is the Total weight, usually expressed in kilograms per square metre. The higher the weight, the greater the density, although this is not the only determining factor. A taller pile height, will also mean a higher weight, so there are some other factors to consider.
Other governing factors
In addition to the total weight of the grass, other factors include stitch rate, the gauge, the number of fibres per stitch and thatch.
Let’s begin with stitch rate. The smaller the size of the stitching on the backing and the more stitches there are is often an indicator that there is more density of yarn (grass blades) per square metre. Gauge is another factor. Check if the gap between each row of stitches is large or small. Even if the stitching is small, larger gaps will indicate less pile density.
What about the number of fibres per stitch? The number of strands, per stitch, when pulled out individually also impacts density, as this indicates the exact number blades per stitch. More is best, less is basic. You can probably see where we’re going with this.
Finally: Thatch. By thatch, we are referring to the smaller, usually curled brown fibres at the base of the blades. They are not just there to provide an authentic appearance, they also function to support the main blades and help them spring back to an upright position, whilst also adding to the overall, yes you guessed it, density and weight of the grass.
Let’s begin with stitch rate. The smaller the size of the stitching on the backing and the more stitches there are is often an indicator that there is more density of yarn (grass blades) per square metre. Gauge is another factor. Check if the gap between each row of stitches is large or small. Even if the stitching is small, larger gaps will indicate less pile density.
What about the number of fibres per stitch? The number of strands, per stitch, when pulled out individually also impacts density, as this indicates the exact number blades per stitch. More is best, less is basic. You can probably see where we’re going with this.
Finally: Thatch. By thatch, we are referring to the smaller, usually curled brown fibres at the base of the blades. They are not just there to provide an authentic appearance, they also function to support the main blades and help them spring back to an upright position, whilst also adding to the overall, yes you guessed it, density and weight of the grass.
Get some free artificial grass samples
So there you have it. There’s a lot to consider, however, there is no substitute for seeing the grass close-up and personal.
Take a look at a few samples and you will quickly see and feel which grasses are most dense, simply by running your fingers through the pile and checking the weight. Always choose the best you can afford, but bear in mind, all but the lowest budget grasses will provide a fantastic, durable and practical surface for your lawn, patio, decking or garden feature. It all just depends on what you think looks best for the budget you have.
So there you have it. There’s a lot to consider, however, there is no substitute for seeing the grass close-up and personal.
Take a look at a few samples and you will quickly see and feel which grasses are most dense, simply by running your fingers through the pile and checking the weight. Always choose the best you can afford, but bear in mind, all but the lowest budget grasses will provide a fantastic, durable and practical surface for your lawn, patio, decking or garden feature. It all just depends on what you think looks best for the budget you have.
Help and advice
Remember, our call operators are always on hand to help you decide on the best solution for your project, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch for some friendly advice.
Remember, our call operators are always on hand to help you decide on the best solution for your project, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch for some friendly advice.
Find out more...
Link to topics >Introduction
The Benefits of PU Backing
Pile direction
Yarn shape
Pile height
Density