With increased time demands and rising water costs, many Australian families are considering more efficient backyards for their homes. Grass demands constant attention, from mowing and maintenance to pesticides, watering and flooding, a lot of work goes into keeping the backyard looking tidy! It’s no wonder that artificial grass (a.k.a. Astroturf or synthetic lawn) has become a serious option, but why is it so expensive?
Let’s start with a clear idea of price. A quality Australian made artificial lawn will usually cost between $30 and $49 per square metre. Most suppliers have plenty of options in this price range, but there are a few other important factors to consider when choosing your new backyard. Read more about choosing a quality supplier at the right price
While artificial grass has an upfront cost for installation, there are ongoing savings which will have your lawn paying for itself!
1. Low maintenance costs
Unlike regular grass, artificial grass does not need to be mown, watered, weeded or fertilised. This is not only a time saving (get your weekends back, Yehaa!!), you’ll quickly save money on purchasing and servicing a mower, petrol, fertiliser, pesticides, weeding tools and water. Synthetic lawns require only occasional vacuuming or washing down with a hose, leaving you to do the things you love.
2. Durability
Artificial grasses will never wear out or die! A quality Australian manufacturer will have a warranty to give you long term peace of mind. Once you’ve made the initial purchase, there is only a small (if any) further investment required.
3. Less mess
Artificial lawns produce less dust and are not susceptible to problems such as divots and rocks. Plus if it rains, you do not have to worry about mud.
4. HeatBlock Technology
In summer, grass can get very hot and die off. You might think artificial grass would be hot under foot, but top Australian brand NewTurf has developed an innovation in astroturf called ‘HeatBlock’ to combat this very problem.
Heat build-up occurs in most materials when thermal energy from the sun’s rays hit the surface of an object. In the same way dark clothing absorbs more heat than light clothing, some cheaper artificial grass varieties can also hold in heat making it uncomfortable when it is hot outside.
HeatBlock™ Technology incorporates infrared reflective pigments that help dissipate heat build-up, keeping it 20% cooler than similar artificial grass products.
5. Injury & Accident Reduction
Are you accident prone? Always slipping over on wet or uneven ground? Artificial grass means you’ll have a constant and stable surface, no matter how much rain has fallen. Plus no slippery mud!
6. Environmental Cost Reduction
In a recent article featured in ‘Green Lodging News’, journalist and environmentalist Glenn Hasek is initially sceptical about the environmental impacts of artificial grass.
“Can something mostly made from oil-based material—synthetic turf—be environmentally advantageous? Turns out a strong environmental case can be made for using synthetic turf instead of natural grass—especially in areas of the country where water is scarce.”
A few great case studies on this…
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced with synthetic turf saves 49 litres per sq/m.
- The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach expects to save 8 million gallons of water this year thanks to a new synthetic lawn.
- Last year, because of the use of synthetic grass, the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas saved almost 38.9 million litres of water.
While artificial grass installations can save millions of litres of precious water, a backyard with synthetic turf does not require highly pollutive fertiliser or pesticides. These nasties pollute groundwater and runoff, and can make kids and pets sick.
Leading Australian brands are now using recycled material to manufacture the grass, such as plastic bottles. This is a great solution to the growing problem of waste management while providing a quality product to the customer.
And if you needed just one more reason, artificial grass eliminates the need for a lawn mower! Statistics from the environmental protection agency show push mowers create 11 times more pollution than cars. Ride on mowers are even more costly, typically emitting up to 34 times more pollution.
Artificial grass is fast becoming the cost and time effective choice for many Australian families. Before long, your initial investment will be easily covered by savings from care, maintenance and mowing costs. Just imagine… cost neutral turf and your weekends to enjoy!!
Interested in exploring this as a possibility for your home? Call SYNLawn now on 1300 SYNLAWN to enquire about artificial grass for your home.
