You’ve seen people using artificial grass to brighten up their yards and revitalize their existing lawns.

You like the look of it, but you don’t have a whole yard to place artificial grass in.

What do you do?

If you have a balcony or deck, why not use it there?

Here’s why you should think about installing it, and a step by step guide to getting the job done.

Why Use Artificial Grass?

There are lots of reasons why you would use artificial grass on your deck.

Think about your deck as it looks now. Does the wood look faded and worn? Usually, your best bet to getting it looking good again is to spend time sanding it down and retreating the planks to get it looking new again. It’s a laborious and long-winded process that you may want to avoid.

There’s also the issue of safety. As a deck ages, it becomes more worn and more likely to splinter. If you want to walk on your deck barefoot, you’re out of luck. Also, wood becomes incredibly slippery in the rain. If you want to use the deck after a rain fall, you’ll have to wait until it dries.

Artificial lawn on your deck means that your deck will be usable no matter what.

It drains well so there’s no worry about water logging, and it’s so soft that you can walk on it barefoot whenever you want.

The Tools You Will Need

Convinced that artificial grass is right for your deck? Here’s what you’ll need to install it:

• Artificial lawn, measure out to fit your deck
• Utility knife
• Turf adhesive
• Deck cleaner
• Garden hose
• Scrub brush
• Measuring tape
• Trowel
• Seam sealer
• Weighted lawn roller

How to Install a Lawn on your Deck

Step One: Clean your deck. Before you do anything, you need to clean the deck off so the adhesive will be able to hold properly. Spray the deck with the garden hose, so the deck is wet and ready for cleaning.

Step Two: Mix your deck cleaner with water and spray it liberally over the deck. With the scrub brush, scrub the mixture into the wood so it penetrates it well. Once it’s been cleaned, give the area a spray with the garden hose to remove any residue, and leave it to dry for 48 hours.

Step Three: Once the deck is dry, you can get started installing your lawn. Measure out the deck and order the right amount of turf (enough so there’s an overhang when you lay it out). Once it arrives, unroll it out on the deck and let it lie out for at least an hour, so it flattens out.

Step Four: Now, you’ll want to start attaching the lawn to the deck. Start from one end, and spread the turf adhesive down in a thin layer across the wood using a trowel. Stick your turf down a section at a time, making sure that there’s some overhang over the edges.

Step Five: If you need to use more than one section of artificial turf, lay it down as in step four and butt it up against the piece you’ve already laid down. Squeeze some seam sealer along the join to ensure that the edges sit correctly on the deck.

Step Six: Once all the turf is down, roll over it with a weighted lawn roller. This will ensure all the lawn is stuck down correctly. Leave your deck for at least 24 hours before using it again, to allow the glue to set hard.

Step Seven: Enjoy your new deck! Now you can use it whenever you’d like, and your friends will love what you’ve done with it. Decks covered with artificial grass are bright, airy, and certainly a talking point.

How To Maintain Your Deck

Once you’ve installed your artificial grass, you’ll have to take steps to maintain it so it looks its best. However, it’s a much easier job than you’d think.

Every so often, you’ll need to go out and brush your deck with a stiff bristled brush. This removes any debris that’s piled up on it, like leaves, and pulls the pile up and makes it look fluffy and natural. Debris can encourage weeds to grow on top of the lawn, so make sure you do this.

You also may need to hose the lawn down if there’s a lot of debris or it needs cleaning. Otherwise, that’s it! You’ll never have to water or mow it, so there’s little work needed to keep it looking fresh.

What Are The Benefits Of Artificial Grass?

There are lots of reasons why you’d decide to lay artificial grass on your deck, such as:

– It’s a different look: Your deck can take on a whole new look. Why not add potted plants for a mini garden effect? It’s certainly better than your dull old and worn out wood.

– It’s easy to look after: As you saw above, you’ll never have to mow, water or seed the lawn. It will always be green and lush, no matter what the weather is like.

– It’s soft underfoot: It’s as soft as real grass, so why not come out and take your breakfast in the sun on your deck? What a great way to start the day.

– It’s good for the environment: As it needs no watering your artificial lawn is good for the environment. Also, you won’t need to rip out your old deck to install it, meaning nothing goes in a landfill.

– Pets love it: Got furry friends? They love artificial grass as much as they love real grass. Give them a tiny garden of their own right on your deck!

There are lots of reasons why you’d install artificial grass on your deck. It can cover up old wood, make it safer, and really freshen up your yard. Give it a try and see for yourself.