Glossary
Artificial Turf Glossary
Pile height, infill, backing, seam tape, face weight and more: the words turf installers use, explained in plain English. Search or scroll.
- Backing
- The woven layer under the blades that holds them in place. Pet turf backing is perforated so liquids drain.
- Base
- The compacted layer of crushed stone under the turf. It carries the load and moves water away.
- Blade
- A single strand of synthetic grass, flat, curled or shaped to look and feel like a real blade.
- Compaction
- Pressing the base down in layers with a plate compactor so it does not settle later.
- Crushed stone
- Angular stone, usually in a mix of sizes, that compacts tightly into a stable base.
- Drainage rate
- How fast water passes through the turf and the base, often measured in inches per hour.
- Edging
- Boards, steel or stone that hold the turf along its borders and keep a clean line.
- Face weight
- The weight of the fibers per square yard. More weight usually means a denser, plusher turf.
- Fiber
- The plastic yarn that makes the blades, most often polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon.
- Fringe
- A band of longer turf around a putting green that blends it into the lawn.
- Gauge
- The distance between rows of stitches in the backing.
- Infill
- Sand or another granular material brushed between the blades to hold them upright and add weight.
- Nap
- The direction the blades lean. Matching the nap at seams hides them.
- Pile height
- The length of the blades from the backing to the tip.
- Power brush
- A motorized brush used to lift the blades and spread the infill evenly.
- Seam
- The joint where two pieces of turf meet, bonded with seam tape and adhesive.
- Seam tape
- A strip of fabric tape that sits under a seam and holds the adhesive.
- Shock pad
- A foam or rubber layer under the turf that adds cushion for play and sports.
- Stitch rate
- The number of stitches per measured length. A higher rate usually means a denser turf.
- Sub-grade
- The soil under the base. It is graded and compacted before any stone goes down.
- Thatch
- The curled, shorter fibers between the straight blades that make turf look more like a real lawn.
- UV stabilizer
- An additive in the fibers that helps them resist fading and breaking down in the sun.
- Weed barrier
- A woven fabric under the base or the turf that helps keep weeds from pushing through.
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