Synthetic Turf Protection

Why You Should Protect Synthetic Turf Fields & Floors Against Damage At Events

Our team is often asked why there is a need to protect synthetic turf against damage at events. This is a legitimate question and one that requires a detailed explanation of the manufacturing and installation process for synthetic turf.

Modern synthetic turf is essentially a carpet that is designed to look like grass. An even better analogy would be a grass-like carpet similar to a shag carpet, with long fibers tufted into a substrate material such as nylon webbing. This mesh base provides the material onto which plastic fiber is woven or tufted. The entire section can then be rolled up for transport to the job site.

A mono-filament material and/or a duo-filament material (designating the fiber variety) is utilized to create the appearance and feel of natural turf. Fiber height, color and thickness may be varied, depending on the particular job.

At the job site, this "carpeting" material is unrolled and positioned over a cushioned, shock-absorbing base (possibly rubber, foam or other material). The roll is glued down to the base or fastened using other methods. Additional rolls are unrolled next to adjacent rolls, aligned to hide the seam, and fastened to the base material.

Rubber infill (or in some cases, sand infill) is later dispersed evenly over the entire playing surface, providing cushioning, greater shock absorption, and a more robust feeling to the surface. While not its primary purpose, this material also holds the "carpeting" in position and serves as ballast for the turf field.

Without a protective floor covering during an on-field event much damage can occur to the field as follows:

1. - Turf Disengagement and Stretching: Large crowds, moving in the same direction can actually cause entire sections of turf to disengage from the base material, bunch up, and shift. This movement can also cause seams, which are the natural weak spot of the turf, to open up between rolls. Finally, this movement can actually stretch the substrate nylon mesh material and cause it to slacken, creating uneven patches of turf with greater spacing between blades.
2. - Infill Shifting and Displacement: Regular non-sports movement by large groups of people over a synthetic turf field can shift infill material and create areas with greater or lesser density and thickness of infill. This creates an uneven playing surface with variations in shock absorption and height that can be distracting and dangerous (i.e: a constant movement of people towards a front-of-stage area can cause such shifting of infill material).
3. - Infill Contamination: Cigarettes, tissues, flyers, food, and other debris will settle into the turf and infill where it can rot, decompose, and become generally unsanitary and unsightly. A large number of people, coming in street shoes onto the field inevitably introduce bacteria and other contaminants from the street, such as grease, oil, and cleaning solvents.
4. - Damage to Turf Filaments: Unlike real grass, the "blades" of grass in synthetic turf cannot regenerate or grow. Pedestrian traffic can cause tearing, abrasion, cutting, and general wear of the mono- or duo-filament material which forms the basis of your field's "grass."
5. - Damage to drainage systems: The additional weight and movement of pedestrians and equipment could damage under-field drainage systems, which is a very difficult thing to locate and fix.

For all of the above reasons, as well as likely exclusions in warranties by turf manufacturers, it is advisable to use a rigid turf protection system to protect your expensive synthetic turf during on-field events.Signature takes this responsibility very seriously and all of our synthetic turf protection products are designed to meet the specific needs of this application.

synthetic turf requires protection

A common misconception is that synthetic turf, due to its non-organic nature does not require the same level of protection as natural grass. In many ways, synthetic turf requires more protection than natural grass surfaces because they cannot regenerate and have no mechanism for the absorption and disposal of trash, waste, and liquids. Synthetic turf can be cut, dislodged, burned, and otherwise damaged in ways that natural turf cannot. It is more difficult to replace damaged sections of synthetic turf than sections of natural turf and unlike natural turf, proper post-event care will not repair a damaged synthetic turf surface.

As a result, any damage to a synthetic turf surface is permanent and generally requires significant efforts to repair.

EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck's effective distribution of ribs causes very little turf bruising, prevents concentrated pressure points and minimizes heat transfer to the underside of the flooring on hot sunny days.

We take our responsibility to assist you in protecting your turf seriously and work diligently to stay on top of current synthetic turf trends and to develop the most advanced modular ground protection products on the market.

experts in synthetic turf protection

Signature Flooring is a worldwide expert in protecting synthetic turf and converting facilities into true multi-purpose venues. The company continuously develops new technologies based on the latest research on turf and monitors the market for synthetic turf in order to react quickly to new demands presented by emerging synthetic turf technologies.

Signature's founder and President, Arnon Rosan, helped to develop the market for modular turf protection flooring in 1991. His designs are the basis for many of today's turf protection systems and have helped to open up synthetic turf fields to all types of multipurpose events.

From a small on-field event to full scale concerts and ceremonies, Signature knows the best flooring option for your needs. We both sell and rent our systems, so whether you have a one-time event or have continuous requirements, we can meet your specific budgetary and product needs.

types of synthetic turf & protection

At Signature Flooring, our team is knowledgeable about the types of synthetic turf and their unique characteristics and features. As such, Signature can offer educated advice on the type of modular protective flooring surface that is right for your field and your specific event. With so many different types of field and events, it is important to carefully consider which flooring is suited for each unique application.

There are several different types of synthetic turf fields as follows:

• Filled surface: a surface consisting of a synthetic yarn filled with sand (or comparable material) to the full height of the pile, helping to maintain its upright position or verticality. The pile height is highest for this type of synthetic turf surface and the sand or other infill is an important component which allows adequate drainage.

• Water-based filled surface: a surface consisting of a synthetic yarn filled with sand (or comparable material) to between 65% and 80% of the pile height helping to maintain its upright position or verticality. The pile is somewhat denser in this type of synthetic turf surface but the pile height is lower than a traditional "filled surface". For optimum performance, this type of surface is often watered for field hockey and other such activities.

• Unfilled surface (un-watered): a surface made from synthetic yarn only. As such this type of synthetic turf surface is woven significantly denser so that the yarn material itself provides stability and verticality to the turf surface. The pile height is lower than for a water-based filled surface as it does not rely upon an infill material for support.

• Water-based unfilled surface: a surface consisting of a synthetic pile of short length that is very dense. This type of surface is often maintained wet during play for such sports as field hockey. Such "watering" also minimizes wear on the turf carpet and enhances the expected life span of the turf.

• Long-pile surface (also known as "third generation" or "rubber crumb" pitch): a surface comprised of a synthetic yarn, the pile of which is much longer and less dense than other types of field hockey surfaces. The turf pitch is partially filled with small rubber granules to about 50% of the pile height although an initial bottom layer of sand is sometimes used. The FIH is reviewing the possible use of this type of pitch for development field hockey but does not, to date, recommend its use for competitive field hockey.

In addition to the specific type of turf field, an important factor to consider when thinking about special events and surface protection is what type of backing and shock pad is used in the construction of your field as this will affect the ability of a protective modular floor to bear and distribute weight effectively.

Signature has considered the unique needs of various synthetic turf surfaces when designing its portable flooring systems. Our team then considers your unique needs and helps you choose the system that is right for you.

Choose the Modular Flooring System That's Right for You

Signature offers 6 natural turf protection options which vary in design, rigidity, weight loading capabilities, and durability. Depending on what type of on-field event or multipurpose activity is expected, Signature has a cost effective protection option available.