How to lay artificial grass on concrete and stone

If you’re laying artificial grass over a natural lawn, then we’ve got you covered in our other guide on how to lay artificial grass, but you might be wondering can you put artificial grass on concrete too? It’s a really popular way to liven up an old patio or concrete surface and, luckily, laying artificial grass on concrete is incredibly simple to do. This process also works with wooden surfaces like decking, as long as the gaps between the boards are small. You can lay artificial grass on gravel and stones as well, provided the drainage is good and you can attach your artificial grass securely. Just follow our guide and we'll explain how!

In this guide:

• What you'll need to lay artificial grass on concrete
• What to look out for before laying the grass
• How to lay artificial grass on concrete
• How to join artificial grass

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
• A willing helper

What to look out for before laying your grass 

The main thing to look out for when laying artificial grass on concrete, stone, or paving, is whether the surface is good enough and whether there’s adequate drainage. Ask yourself these three questions:

Is the surface in good condition?

Undoubtedly, this is the most important question. To be able to lay artificial grass on concrete or paving, it needs to be mostly flat, stable, and without major cracks.

By major cracks, we mean anything that is wider than 20mm. If a crack is this big then there’s likely to be more damage that you can’t see underneath and it’s not wise to install artificial grass on top of it. Smaller cracks can be filled with self-levelling compounds during the process, as these shouldn’t be a major issue.

If there are any wobbly slabs or stones, or the concrete itself is damaged, loose, and coming apart, then it’s unlikely to be able to take an artificial lawn on top.

Is the surface even?

Small undulations on the surface shouldn't be an issue. You can lay artificial grass on concrete that’s uneven, as these bumps can be sorted 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 put down a more solid artificial grass underlay for your concrete.

Is the drainage sufficient?

Drainage is another thing to consider. Although artificial grass holds water well, if the existing surface retains too much water, it’s not ideal to lay turf on top of it. The only real way to check is to wait for good ol’ British weather to do its thing. If not, a hosepipe will do the trick.

Unless the puddles are significant, it won’t be an issue - you can simply drill some holes to allow the water to drain away.

How to lay artificial grass on concrete

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 artificial grass 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 an artificial grass 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 artificial grass 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. 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

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 zigzag 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 joins.
7. Once you’re happy with the join, lightly brush over it to seal it and allow it to dry.