We think the best way to answer this is to compare it to a natural lawn. Obviously the initial cost of having a synthetic
lawn installed is greater than re-sodding your lawn but the difference is that with a natural lawn your costs keep occurring
year after year. Installing a Heavenly Greens lawn saves you those monthly and yearly bills that you must pay just in the hopes
that your lawn will look good. The "break even" point is usually between 5-6 ½ years unless you need to install irrigation which
lowers that number to about 4-5 years. With this kind of investment, it makes a lot of sense to install the most respected and
used turf in the world.
How long will it last?
The life expectancy of a FieldTurf lawn is 20-25 years. FieldTurf has installations that are still looking
great after 15 years and under more extreme conditions than those here in the bay area.
Is it safe for kids?
A lawn installed by Heavenly Greens is softer than many forms of natural earth and grass. Furthermore,
FieldTurf is less abrasive and consistently free of the sharp stones and protruding objects typically
rising to the surface in natural soils. The sliding soles of children's feet have virtually no wear and
tear effect on our synthetic turf. Lastly, children don't get the staining and muddying of their cloths or
the dangerous wood splinters that is so common to traditional grass.
Also, recent reports
surrounding high levels of lead in artificial turf may, on the surface, be alarming as many manufactures have indeed
been cited for higher then acceptable levels of lead content. However, simply put, FieldTurf is safe and the science is
there to prove it, please take a look at this recent report supporting the safety of our products.
Will my dog destroy it?
A FieldTurf lawn is the perfect product for pet owners. It has been used in many applications
including: humane societies, doggie day care facilities, dog runs, dog parks and thousands of backyards
just like yours. Dogs won't dig it up, pet urine drains right through it and waste doesn't stain or
discolor it. It cleans by simply hosing it off when necessary.
What kind of maintenance is required?
No watering, no mowing, no fertilizing, no seeding, no thatching, no aeration. We recommend
keeping leaves and debris off by either using a blower or a leaf rake. Depending on how much traffic
your new lawn has, we suggest lightly raking or using a stiff push broom. The purpose of raking is to
help the fibers stand-up and to reconstitute the infill.
Will weeds grow up through the turf?
No… Weeds don't grow up through our turf. First, we compact our three inches of base rock with a
vibrating plate to what is called a 95% Proctor. Secondly, our backing has a built in 10 ounce weed block
for added protection. However, the sand and rubber infill can provide a hydroponic environment in which wind
blown seeds could drop and take root. The FieldTurf backing material, however, provides a strong barrier
that dramatically inhibits root growth to the underlying stone and soils. Usually when you lightly rake
your turf to "refresh" the blades, that is enough to stop those weeds from taking root.
Won’t the sand and rubber be blown out by wind?
Not really, except that a hurricane or tornado may cause some displacement! Within a short amount of
time and with the occurrence of weather and dusts, the infill will actually compact and consolidate to a
desirable surface density.
How does it hold up to rain?
It's great. The turf drains better than real grass. The silica sand and rubber infill in the turf
starts the capillary action of the water through the porous turf backing immediately. No other company
has our superior backing as FieldTurf holds the patent. All other competitors rely on punching holes in
their backing for drainage.
What about rabbits and gophers?
Say goodbye to pesky critters! FIELDturf will eliminate any troubles you have had with rabbits and
gophers. Rabbits will no longer ruin your lawn by eating your grass. Because of the 3 inches of compacted
base, gophers can't come up through the turf. In extreme trouble areas, we recommended to install a layer
of gopher wire.
Can it be installed on top of cement or asphalt?
Yes it can. Such an installation requires either a gradual natural slope for surface drainage or a
special underlayment for a sub-surface drainage system. The latter introduces some additional costs.
The surface produced is just as natural looking as grass.
Will the turf harm the environment?
All materials used in the turf and the patented infill are non-toxic which makes them safe for
children and animals. The use of washed silica sand does not break down from use or heavy traffic.
The cryogenic rubber is recycled, frozen and then shattered creating smooth-sided, spherical particles.
These particles offer superior stability and long term resiliency that won’t break down or leach.
What kind of warranty is included?
We warranty our landscape grass for 15 years and 8 years on our putting greens. The warranty protects
your investment from fading, product degradation, and excessive blade loss due to wear and tear. FieldTurf
is the only manufacture that also takes out a separate third party warranty for added piece of mind.
No more discoloring or burning. Liquids just drain through the porous backing. FieldTurf is
manufactured with a patented drainage design involving channels of permeability over the entire
surface of the backing. No other company has this technology but they all wish they did. No other
synthetic grass in the market possesses FieldTurf's porosity.
How do you clean it?
Droppings can be picked up just as you would with regular grass. The difference is that regular
grass has those high and low spots that can hide those droppings. You can then simply rinse off with a
hose. Some of our kennel customers use either "Simple Green" or a bleach and water mixture to sanitize
those common areas, however this is not usually necessary for regular residential applications.
Will the dogs dig out the fibers?
Animals are not interested in digging the turf and infill. Dogs don't get the same sensation that
they get when digging dirt, so they just stop. Pet owners and commercial boarding facilities are
constantly telling us how surprised they are that they haven't had a problem since they have had the
FieldTurf installed.
What cleaning chemicals can we use?
The ability to apply a type of bacteria fighting chemical, cleaner and deodorizer is required to
keep the surface clean. We have talked with kennels using our product and they speak highly of the
product "Simple Green" as a very good cleaner, disinfectant, and deodorizer. Another bio-active odor
counteractant is AlphaZymePlus. There are a number of disinfectants that are available on the market.
The target should be a full spectrum germicide that kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The most
common product in this business is the quaternary ammonium chloride compounds or Quats. Trade
names such as, KennelSol®, Roccal-D, Parvasol II, Cetylcide II, A-33 Dry, Quatracide, and
AirChem products can be used. AlphaZymePlus has bio-active stabilized bacterial spores that use
enzymes to breakdown and remove animal organic compounds. Byproduct is CO2 and water.
Where is it installed commercially at kennels or dog daycares?
San Diego Humane Society, 5500 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110, 619-299-7012
San Francisco Pet Camp, 525 Phelps Street, San Francisco, CA 94124, 415-282-0700
Waiterock Kennel Group, 18 South Acres Road, Lafayette, CA 94549, 925-284-4729
Breton's School For Dog's and Cats, 1455 Lawrence Road, Danville, CA 94506, 925-736-6231
The Animal Keeper, 3532 College Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92056, 760-941-3221
Oceanside Pet Hotel, 2909 San Luis Rey Road, Oceanside, CA 92054, 760-757-2345
Marin Humane Society, 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, CA 415-883-4621
Silicone Valley Humane Society, 901 Ames Ave, Milpitas, CA
Butcher Dog Park, Camden Ave and Lancaster Dr, San Jose
What kind of shapes and slopes can you have on a putting green?
All of our putting greens can be custom shaped and sloped to the same characteristics of a
natural turf putting green. We will create left-right, right-left and straight putts based on
the size of the putting green. We can also include undulations, water hazards or a sand trap,
using PGA sand.
What kind of green speeds can I expect on a Heavenly Greens putting green?
The average speed of our putting greens measures a 10 on the stimpmeter. The speed can be
increased by using a roller or slowed by using a brush to stand the fibers more upright. We
include a water filled roller with each putting green purchased.
What kind of maintenance is required for the putting green?
The maintenance for a Heavenly Greens putting green is minimal. Maintenance consists of keeping
the green free of debris which can be done with a low speed blower. Additionally, it is important to
keep natural turf from growing in with the synthetic turf. This can be accomplished by spraying the
encroaching natural turf with a product such a Round Up. The Round Up will not harm the synthetic
turf and will prevent the encroaching natural turf from spreading. This can be done on
an "as needed" basis.
Will a Heavenly Greens putting green receive a shot from the fairway?
Yes. Heavenly Greens putting greens are built to receive shots from the fairway and from around the
green. Our patented infill of silica sand and cryogenic rubber provide a surface that will receive a shot
very similar to that of a natural turf putting green.
What is the putting green surface made of?
The synthetic turf is a polypropylene fiber. The infill is a combination of silica sand
and cryogenic rubber.
What is the base material under the synthetic turf?
The base material is a combination of 1/4 inch washed chips and 3/8 minus fines. These layers are
rolled and compacted to provide a solid foundation. We then add approximately one inch of decomposed granite.
We use the decomposed granite to create the breaks and undulations that the design calls for.
Will the putting green drain?
Yes. Our putting greens are graded to allow for 90% to 95% of the water (rain) to
surface drain off the turf. The remaining water will be absorbed into the infill material.
What is the life expectancy for a Heavenly Greens putting green?
FieldTurf putting greens are warranted for 8 years.
Will the turf fade from UV rays or is it protected?
The synthetic turf is protected against fading from UV rays and is included in the warranty.
Is there a minimum square footage for putting greens?
Yes. We do have a minimum size of 250 square feet but a green that size really limits the shots
we can design for you.
How much does it cost to have a putting green installed?
Each project is different. To give an accurate price quote we would need to have one of our
knowledgeable turf consultants come to your home or office to evaluate your needs and situation.
Please contact us for a free estimate.