Last Updated on December, 2024
Artificial grass is easy to maintain, provides a realistic appearance, and offers enhanced weather protection. However, a common concern for homeowners is that it heats up on sunny days.
But is this really that big of a problem, and should it stop you from installing artificial grass?
This article will answer all your questions and help erase those doubts. Let’s dive in!
Quick Summary
- Artificial grass gets hotter than natural grass under direct sunlight due to its synthetic materials, but it remains cooler than concrete or asphalt. Extreme temperatures are usually only uncomfortable in very hot weather.
- Artificial turf can become too hot for pets, especially if the area lacks shade. It’s essential to monitor the surface temperature and look for signs of overheating in pets, such as panting or lethargy.
- To keep artificial grass cooler, homeowners can water the turf, add shade, select high-quality turf, choose the right infill material, and block reflective surfaces. These methods help reduce surface temperature, especially during hot summer days.
Does Artificial Grass Get Hot?
Let’s start by answering the big question: does artificial grass get hot? The answer is yes.
When exposed to direct sunlight, artificial grass reaches higher temperatures than natural grass. Heat buildup will depend on the outside temperature, turf quality, infill material, and how much shade your garden gets.
Even though an artificial grass lawn will get hotter than a regular one, it will stay cooler than concrete or asphalt.
Moreover, your synthetic turf will only become uncomfortable in extremely hot weather. On such days, the temperature of your yard shouldn’t be a concern as you will probably avoid going out in the sun.
Relevant guides:
Does Artificial Grass Get Too Hot for Pets?
Artificial grass can sometimes get too hot for pets like cats or dogs. Once again, this will depend on factors like how much shade your yard gets, turf quality, and how sensitive your pet’s paws are.
Dogs and cats are more sensitive to heat than humans, as they can only produce sweat through their noses and paw pads. This makes them more vulnerable to heat exhaustion on hot days.
Check the surface temperature of your synthetic lawn before letting your pets out. You should also keep a look out for lethargy or excessive panting.
Why is Artificial Grass Hotter Than Natural Grass?
So why does fake grass get hotter than real grass? The answer is the different materials used in the manufacturing process.
Artificial turf is made of synthetic materials that retain heat and lack the cooling properties of regular grass. These include nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Infill options like crumb rubber also increase heat retention when exposed to direct sunlight.
On the other hand, the water in regular grass removes the absorbed heat faster to create a cooler surface.
5 Ways to Keep Artificial Grass Cool
You can take specific measures to keep your artificial lawn cool, especially during the summer months.
Long-term measures need to be taken during artificial grass installation, while others can be effective in the short term. Let’s have a look.
Cool Your Turf With Water
Watering your turf is a quick and easy way to cool it off during the hot summer months.
Spraying the turf with a garden hose or turning on your sprinkler system will provide a temporary reprieve from the sun.
As an added benefit, regular watering will remove odours by washing pet urine down to the sub-layers of your garden.
Add Shade to Your Garden
Another way to reduce artificial grass heat is by providing shade to your garden.
Canopies, awnings, and outside furniture are great additions if you don’t want to spend summer days in the house. They also give your pets a cool spot if other parts of the yard get too hot.
If you have trees in your garden and are considering cutting them, you may want to think again.
Synthetic grass lawns benefit from tree shade as it provides cooling year-round and keeps temperatures down on even the hottest days.
Select High-Quality Artificial Grass
Synthetic turf has evolved greatly since its early days, and certain turf products on the market are better at deflecting heat than others.
Along with weight, colour and density, ensure that you consider the cooling properties before purchasing.
While no artificial turf is immune to heating up, high-quality grass will perform substantially better than lower-grade options, making it worth the additional cost.
Choose the Right Infill Material
Infill materials give artificial lawns their cushioning properties but also affect how hot they get.
When selecting an infill material, you typically have three choices: crumb rubber, silica rubber, and durafill sand. Sand options are generally better at keeping artificial grass cool than crumb rubber.
However, there are other factors to consider, so you should seek professional advice to inform your decision.
Block Reflective Surfaces
Sun rays can get magnified if they come into contact with reflective surfaces. On the hottest summer days, the heat could become so intense that it causes the grass to melt.
Add shading to windows and aluminium siding to ensure your grass stays cooler.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to install artificial grass and are worried about it getting too hot, now’s the time to let go of that concern.
While it heats up more than natural grass, it is still cooler than other alternatives and will only cause discomfort under extreme conditions.
Besides, you can use the guidelines in this article to keep your grass (and yourself) cool even in the hottest temperatures.
