Laying Artificial Grass On Concrete & Stone

In a lot of cases, people laying artificial grass are replacing a natural lawn. We’ve covered that in our other guide on how to lay artificial grass, but it’s also a popular way to liven up an old patio or concrete surface. Luckily, it’s incredibly simple to do. This process also works with wooden surfaces like decking, as long as the gaps between the boards are small.

What you’ll need to lay artificial grass on concrete

• A sharp knife with spare blades
• Tape measure and/or straight edge
• Shovel
• Joining tape 
• Gloves and knee pads (or a garden cushion)
• A stiff broom
• Compactor plate or roller
• Artificial grass adhesive

The main thing about laying artificial grass on top of concrete, stone, or paving, is whether the surface is good enough and whether there’s adequate drainage.

Is the surface even?

Small undulations on the surface shouldn't be an issue. You can lay artificial grass on uneven concrete as these bumps can be remedied later in the process with sand and compounds. However, large bumps or depressions are again likely to cause problems. Anything less than 20mm above or below the main surface should be able to be rectified with sand but anything higher is likely to cause problems with the artificial grass.

If you think you’re unable to lay artificial grass on your existing concrete or paving, you should take it up and either lay a new solid base, or follow our guide for the more ‘traditional’ way to lay artificial grass.

1. Start by cleaning the base with a hose pipe and a stiff brush. If you’ve got a power washer, that’s even better (and let’s face it, much more fun!). Make sure you get rid of as much dirt and debris as possible.
2. Now’s the time to sort the drainage. If your base already drains well then there’s no problem but if it doesn’t, drill some holes or channels to allow water to run off. If you’re building your concrete base specifically for artificial grass, ensure it’s built with a very slight gradient.
3. As you already have the concrete base in place, you won’t have to do much measuring. Begin by laying down your foam underlay. This is a vital part of putting artificial grass on concrete. Firstly, it will smooth over any smaller bumps or cracks, and secondly, it makes the grass feel more cushioned and softer underfoot.

• Tapi Top Tip: We recommend choosing a foam underlay of at least 5mm, but we find many people opt for 10mm thickness for extra comfort.

4. If you’re laying artificial grass on paving or stones, you’ll need to spread a layer of sand to fill in the gaps before you lay the foam underlay. If you need to fill any cracks, then now is the time to do this too. You can join the foam with most sorts of masking tape.
5. Glue the foam down and allow to dry.
6. Now you can lay the artificial grass over the surface. Unroll it and cut to shape, leaving around 50mm of overhang on each side. Remember to flip it over and cut from the back, getting as close as possible to the stitching but without cutting through it.

• Tapi Top Tip: Lay the artificial grass with the pile pointing towards your home, or the area where you will be spending most time for the best look.

7. Allow the artificial grass to rest in place for at least 2-3 hours, even overnight if possible. This allows any creases from storage or transportation to work themselves out, and it should return to its true shape. Once it’s settled down, you can fix it permanently into place.
8. If your area is big, you may have to join two pieces of artificial grass together – the time has now come to do this. For more information on how to join artificial grass, scroll further down.
9. Apply a suitable outdoor adhesive around the edges of the artificial grass and bond them to the base. It pays to have a couple of extra hands during this stage as you only get one chance to get it right! For decking, you can also use carpet tacks to fix the grass down.
10. When applying the adhesive, it’s important to leave some small gaps (about 20mm wide) in the glue to allow water to drain away easily.
11. Let the adhesive dry according to the instructions before walking on the artificial grass.
12. The final step is to apply the sand infill. Sand infill helps to keep the fibres of the pile upright and stops the grass getting too hot during the summer. Simply spread this out and use a stiff brush to work it into the pile, brushing against the grain.

How to join artificial grass

If you’ve got a large garden (you lucky thing), you may need to join two pieces of artificial grass together. To do this, you need to buy joining tape and adhesive that is suitable for outdoor use, then follow these simple instructions:

1. Unroll your artificial grass into the correct position on the ground.
2. Line up your two pieces of artificial grass and cut away any excess so the stitching is as close to the new edge as possible.            
3. Offer up the grass and create a dry join to check the fitting.             
4. Roll the joining tape out underneath so that it covers equal amounts of each piece of turf.
5. Roll the turf back temporarily and apply the adhesive to the tape. Apply in a zig zag fashion and use a spreader to ensure it’s all covered.
6. Work your way down the seam pushing the two pieces of turf together, making sure you’re not trapping fibres or anything else between the join.
7. Once you’re happy with the join, lightly brush over it to seal it and allow it to dry.

Now have a cup of tea, or something stronger, and admire your new lawn! Artificial grass should last decades with proper care, so have a look at our rather handy artificial grass care guide.