Club Deportivo Euromediterraneo
(C.D.E. Euromediterraneo)
Is artificial turf a decorative or a technical product?
A question that probably has more than one right answer. In any case, for us this is a technical product which performs a decorative and a practical function. You may be thinking that this is a
cheating answer. Let us explain it.
Artificial turf is a technical product because it is a technological development from various kinds of fibers and manufacturing processes. That means that depending on the raw material used and on the applied technology the result of the product and its features can be very different. So strictly speaking we cannot speak of "artificial turf" but of "artificial turfs", in plural, according to the components, technology, the recommended use, etc. So if you are thinking of buying an artificial turf, first you should ask for information in order to make a good decision.
Artificial turf is a technical product because it is a technological development from various kinds of fibers and manufacturing processes. That means that depending on the raw material used and on the applied technology the result of the product and its features can be very different. So strictly speaking we cannot speak of "artificial turf" but of "artificial turfs", in plural, according to the components, technology, the recommended use, etc. So if you are thinking of buying an artificial turf, first you should ask for information in order to make a good decision.
Invest or cheap
As a technical product, artificial turf should offer some features and guarantees. Features related to its daily use. Guarantees related to its durability. Therefore, the purchase of artificial
turf for your home, with either a residential or a sports purpose, requires a process of study and comparison. We advise you to compare what each lawn offers within some basic parameters and
their prices. If you just compare prices is like comparing an Audi with a Seat only for its price; if you use only the price factor in the comparison, it is obvious that the best option would be
a Seat. Precisely for this advice, you should consider buying the artificial grass as an investment, and therefore take into account aspects related to profitability in its use over time. Because
a diesel engine can be more expensive on the day you buy the car, but how about when you have driven 100,000 kilometers after three years?
Buying artificial grass is to invest in your own home. Invest in improving the aesthetics and functionality of your garden or sports court. Invest in having more time to enjoy due to the low maintenance required by the artificial turf. Can you imagine not having to mow the lawn anymore? Invest in saving on fertilizers, chemical products and water. Invest in adding value to your home. And a value that lasts for years; what do you do with a turf frayed or faded after three years? Sometimes buying cheap is not a good investment.
Buying artificial grass is to invest in your own home. Invest in improving the aesthetics and functionality of your garden or sports court. Invest in having more time to enjoy due to the low maintenance required by the artificial turf. Can you imagine not having to mow the lawn anymore? Invest in saving on fertilizers, chemical products and water. Invest in adding value to your home. And a value that lasts for years; what do you do with a turf frayed or faded after three years? Sometimes buying cheap is not a good investment.
Some technical terms it’s worth knowing
Without wishing to be exhaustive, here are some technical aspects that you need to know when buying any artificial turf:
· Decitex
The Dtex is a unit of measure that indicates the thread decigrammes weight per 10,000 meters of yarn. So the lower the decitex, the finer the thread. Decitex are normally followed by a slash and
a number, for example: 8800 / 8, this would mean that the grass has a fiber of 8800 Dtex and 8 ends, so that each end has 1100
Dtex.
For a gardening artificial turf it is advisable for each end between 850 and 1100 dtex. However for an artificial turf for football, for example, each end should be between 1800 and 2000 Dtex,
because the use will be more intensive. The density of the fiber indicates the turf’s softness, so the higher the density, the better the footstep and the resilience of the grass.
· Micron
The micron measures the thickness of the fiber, ie the narrow part of it (see explanatory photo). This is important because durability of the turf depends largely on the micron.
The more microns, the more quantity of material and therefore it will have a higher durability, as it will take longer to wear by the action of UV rays. As a reference, an artificial turf for gardening should have at least 80 microns.
The more microns, the more quantity of material and therefore it will have a higher durability, as it will take longer to wear by the action of UV rays. As a reference, an artificial turf for gardening should have at least 80 microns.
· Raw material
For artificial turf are basically used three materials:
- Polypropylene (PP): it is a material that for gardening is only used in its curly form, and that’s why it is more abrasive and therefore less pleasant to the touch, and it also has a lower durability.
- Polyethylene (PE): is a material that is used both for gardening and for sports. With this material we achieve a very soft and pleasant to touch grass. Furthermore, the durability is higher, because it is more resistant to UV rays.
- Polyamide (PA): is the most durable and hard, but also the most abrasive, so in gardening it is only used curled as infill for top-range products, since it gets very curled and doesn’t get tangled with the PE , offering a perfect result when combined.
- Polypropylene (PP): it is a material that for gardening is only used in its curly form, and that’s why it is more abrasive and therefore less pleasant to the touch, and it also has a lower durability.
- Polyethylene (PE): is a material that is used both for gardening and for sports. With this material we achieve a very soft and pleasant to touch grass. Furthermore, the durability is higher, because it is more resistant to UV rays.
- Polyamide (PA): is the most durable and hard, but also the most abrasive, so in gardening it is only used curled as infill for top-range products, since it gets very curled and doesn’t get tangled with the PE , offering a perfect result when combined.
· Guarantees and Certificates
We can guarantee because we work with the best. With the best manufacturers of fibers and raw materials, both European and national. With the best independent testing institutes. Laboratories in
which leading experts verify and ensure that our products meet the highest standards of quality. We offer the best guarantees because we rely on the best.
The next question is: where does it come from?
Knowing the origin is a crucial point in the purchase of an artificial turf, a crucial point to be able to compare actual levels of quality and to avoid future problems. If when comparing two
types of grass there is a big difference in price, the next question should be: where has been made the one that is so cheap? Quite possibly the cheapest comes from somewhere in East Asia (China,
Taiwan, etc...). And if it meets these two conditions, very cheap and East Asia, the next question is: Could you show me the certificate of heavy materials of this grass?
As you know the laws in China, Taiwan and other countries in the region in terms of quality control and safety for health is far from the European standards. This does not mean that all products manufactured there are harmful to human health or to the environment, but there is a greater risk that raw materials or processes not approved in Europe have been used in its production. Although it maybe surprises you, in Europe you can find products manufactured under conditions which do not meet the required standards for the respect for the environment, recycling or safety and consumer health. Therefore we recommend you to ask where it comes from and ask for its certifications and approvals. Because taking home tens or hundreds of meters of a harmful product ends up being a problem.
As you know the laws in China, Taiwan and other countries in the region in terms of quality control and safety for health is far from the European standards. This does not mean that all products manufactured there are harmful to human health or to the environment, but there is a greater risk that raw materials or processes not approved in Europe have been used in its production. Although it maybe surprises you, in Europe you can find products manufactured under conditions which do not meet the required standards for the respect for the environment, recycling or safety and consumer health. Therefore we recommend you to ask where it comes from and ask for its certifications and approvals. Because taking home tens or hundreds of meters of a harmful product ends up being a problem.
And you will not only stop mowing the lawn.
In addition you will benefit from other important advantages: some aesthetic, others for comfort and other environmental.
Unchanging colour
The appearance of natural grass suffers in extreme temperatures, both from the effects of the sun and intense heat and from the effects of frost.
Artificial grass is always an intense green in every climate. Albergrass turf also gives a constant beauty to your garden.
Lower maintenance
As it has already been pointed out, it needs less hours of irrigation for its maintenance and, obviously, you don’t need a lawnmower to keep its ideal height.
This means that you spend less time working in your garden, and you don’t have to pay for a gardner. Albergrass turf takes care of your time and your money.
This means that you spend less time working in your garden, and you don’t have to pay for a gardner. Albergrass turf takes care of your time and your money.
It saves water
The artificial grass is naturally a sustainable alternative in order to have an evergreen garden in the dry climate regions. The water demand gets practically reduced to the minimum
because it doesn’t need as much water as natural grass.
You just need to spray it to keep the dust down and to keep it bright and green like the first day. Albergrass turf also respects the environment.
Clean
Who has not come home with green-stained pants after having played on natural grass? It's over with Albergrass turf. You can leave your sons and daughters playing on the grass without a
moment’s worry because their clothes will be clean.
At least there will not be green stains! And the same happens after the rain, beause Albergrass will not be muddy thanks to its perfect drainage and because the silica sand infill doesn´t get muddy.
At least there will not be green stains! And the same happens after the rain, beause Albergrass will not be muddy thanks to its perfect drainage and because the silica sand infill doesn´t get muddy.
Safe and healthy
Moreover, Albergrass’ artificial turf has the certificate “Oeko Tex 100- Confidence in Textiles”. This label guarantees the absence of toxic chemicals and is a guarantee for healthy
products.
Did you know that most of the allergies in summer are caused by the natural grass? Our grass is hypoallergenic. It’s the end of many allergies. Maximum security for your enjoyment.
