How and when to resurface your artificial sports field

SIS Pitches is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining world-class sports surfaces from elite stadiums to schools and universities. We help clubs and organisations choose the right surface for usage, performance, safety and long-term value.

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There is no exact length of time for field resurfacing, as each field is unique. There are several factors that will affect the quality of a sports field that will determine when it needs to be resurfaced; for example, the levels of usage, the type of sport being played, the type of surface, maintenance and upkeep of the field and local environmental conditions.

Generally, good-quality synthetic turf should last for 8 years. Assuming around 40 hours of play a week, with correct usage and maintenance, an artificial field should continue to meet the appropriate standards for the next 8 years.

After this, the field may still continue to perform for some years, but you should expect a drop-off in its quality. Some surfaces have lasted over 15 years, but by that stage there are plenty of tell-tale signs that the field has passed its shelf life.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TO KNOW IT’S TIME TO RESURFACE AN ARTIFICIAL field?

Warning signs that it’s time for artificial field resurfacing include seams opening up, drainage not working,, and fiber coming out. In some cases, the fiber can be worn away completely, especially in heavily used areas. But why wait until your field has reached this stage of distress?

If a field is regularly maintained and is inspected or tested annually, it should be possible to predict when a field’s performance starts to dip. At this stage, plans should be put into place to replace the surface. And if the field was installed over a good shock pad and base, the replacement cost is restricted to just the surface itself.

1. REMOVE THE EXISTING ARTIFICIAL TURF SURFACE

The first step to resurfacing a sports field is to remove the existing artificial field surface. This can be done in a couple of different ways. Before removing the surface, examine the condition, as some parts of the current field may be reused.

2. field INFILL EXTRACTION AND REUSE

If parts of the old surface can be reused, then the infill material is extracted out.

For old hockey fields, it is unlikely the sand can be reused in another synthetic turf field, but it can be used on natural grass fields. If it is an old artificial turf field being resurfaced, then the rubber infill can be taken out, cleansed and reused. Again, the sand from an old artificial turf field is harder to reuse on a new surface.

The old artificial field surface is now much lighter and can be cut into strips ready for reuse or disposal. The strips are rolled up and stacked ready for disposal. Often old synthetic turf is used for walkways and occasionally re-laid in smaller sports areas.

It can be recycled, but currently the transport costs make this an expensive exercise. Synthetic turf can be converted back into a low-grade plastic, converted into energy through burning in kilns or can be disposed of in landfill.

If there is no value in the synthetic turf and extraction is not a viable consideration the turf will be lifted, complete with iinfill,and disposed of. There are companies that will take the turf in this way and find alternative uses for it, such as in equestrian areas. Often very old turf will be taken to a landfill..

The synthetic turf industry has working groups monitoring recycling and disposal options, whilst specialist companies are currently looking for commercial solutions to re-use turf. With tighter environmental regulations coming in there now has to be a record of where and how waste is disposed, ensuring companies are compliant with regulations and pitch owners can ensure their pitch is disposed of correctly.

HOW LONG DOES Field RESURFACING TAKE?

The time it takes to resurface a field will depend on different factors, including the company you choose to do the resurfacing, the size of the field, the quality of the current field, and its location.

At SIS Pitches, we can re-turf a natural grass field in just 48 hours and a synthetic turf field in only three weeks.

HOW MUCH DOES FIELD RESURFACING COST?

The cost to resurface a field will depend on:

• who you choose to complete the project
• the quality of field you choose
• the size of the field
• the type of field
• the location of the field

At SIS Pitches, every project will have different needs and requirements. If you’re interested in having your field resurfaced then please get in touch.

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HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF NEEDING TO RESURFACE YOUR ARTIFICIAL GRASS field?

Every field will need resurfacing eventually, but there are several things you can do over the lifespan of an artificial grass field to keep it looking and performing its best.

• Avoid using harsh chemicals on the artificial grass field.
• Avoid using extreme heat on the artificial grass field.
• Ensure to complete regular maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep of the field.
• Do not use sharp objects on the field.
• Avoid excessive weight on the artificial grass, for example, vehicles or heavy machinery.