Glossary
Artificial turf is a unique material that comes with its own set of terminology. Our artificial turf glossary has everything you need to know about synthetic grass, from adhesive to Zeolite Max. By the end of this read, you’ll be an expert on all things artificial grass!
Adhesive
Artificial turf’s adhesive bonds the different parts of the material together. The adhesive is used to attach the seams to the inserts to the base. It’s a water-based material made from urethane and/ or epoxy.
Backing
Artificial turf’s backing is what the fiber tufts are secured to. Backing is most commonly made from either latex or polyurethane. Stronger materials like polyurethane result in a more durable, long-lasting material.
Color
Artificial turf comes in a wide range of colors, so you can choose one that suits your taste and matches the region you live in.
Compaction
Refers to an increase in density. The base area underneath your artificial turf installation should be compacted to ensure a seamless final result.
Crumb Rubber
A material commonly used as infill. Crumb rubber is made from recycled tires and can either be ambient or cryogenic. SGW strongly recommends against the use of crumb rubber infill in any installation as there have been reports of harmful chemicals.
Denier
The unit used to describe the mass density of fibers.
Density
How close the tufts are to one another. Or, the mass of turf fibers per unit of volume.
Drainage
Drainage is the part of artificial turf’s design that enables it to wash away water and other liquid materials efficiently.
Durability
The ability of a material to withstand regular use and the elements.
Envirofill
An infill material made from acrylic-coated sand. Envirofill helps moderate the temperature of artificial turf.
Extrusion
How each individual turf blade is formed. Extrusion is the process of turning liquid plastic into individual solid fibers and can be used to create blades of many different shapes, such as “W” and “U” shaped turf blades.
Face Weight
The weight of artificial turf minus its backing material. The greater the face weight, the more dense the turf fibers. At Synthetic Grass Warehouse, our products range from 50 to 100 ounces per square yard.
Fall Zone Safety Rating
Refers to a material that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Guidelines for fall safety; used in reference to playground systems.
Fiber/Filament
An individual blade of artificial grass.
Galvanized Nail
A nail coated with zinc to prevent oxidation or rusting. Galvanized nails are used for construction.
Gauge
Refers to the distance between stitch rows. The optimal gauge will depend on the weight of an artificial turf style.
Infill
The material between turf fibers. Infill is usually made from rubber or sand and helps ensure proper drainage and prevent matting.
Luster
A shining, light-reflective quality.
Memory
A material’s tendency to return to its original shape after a constraint has been removed.
Monofilament
A single filament of synthetic fiber.
Non-Galvanized Nail
A nail not coated with zinc used to secure artificial turf during installation.
Nylon
A resilient fiber used in artificial turf blades.
Perforations
Holes in artificial turf backing to allow for proper drainage.
Permeable
A material’s ability to let gas or liquids pass through it.
Pile Height
The length of an artificial turf fiber.
Polyethylene
A soft plastic used in most face yarns.
Polymer
The chemical molecules that make up synthetic fibers, infill and artificial turf backing.
Polypropylene
A coarse plastic used in thatch yarn or artificial grass putting greens.
Polyurethane
A material used to coat artificial grass backing to secure its fibers.
Powerbroom
A unique tool used for de-matting artificial turf.
Seam
Where two panels of synthetic turf are joined together.
Silica Sand
A common sand variety consisting of broken-down quartz, minerals or rocks that measure between one-sixteenth and two millimeters in diameter.
Square Foot
Unit of measurement used in artificial turf installation.
Stitch
A loop of yarn that connects one material to another.
Stitch Rate
The number of stitches per row – typically, how many stitches per inch of artificial grass.
Synthetic
Refers to an inorganic, man-made material.
Thatch
Textured yarn used below the face yarn to enhance the turf’s ability to recover.
Total Weight
The total weight of artificial grass, including the backing material. SGW’s products range from 75-130 total weight in ounces.
Tufted
The process of inserting tufts through the backing material.
Tuft Bind
The force needed to remove a tufted blade from its backing.
Zeolite Max
Zeolite Max is a nontoxic zeolite material that neutralizes odors from ammonia.
Other Topics:
Maintenance & Care
How to take care of your turf
Environmental Impact
Our pledge to taking care of our planet
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Terminology & FAQs
Learn terms & see frequently asked questions
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Installing artificial grass
Our tried and true steps for installation
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Product Information
Learn about our turf in depth
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Technology
What goes into our Turf
Here to help
Our Commitment
We are committed to providing the best artificial turf products at competitive prices. Our warehouse carries the most advanced synthetic grass products available, engineered to look and feel like real grass. Every turf product is made with high quality materials that are safe for everyone, especially children and pets.
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Industry Leaders
SGW San Diego has always stood out among competitors, offering new products with the latest technology.
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Service Oriented
The only thing better than our grass is our customer service. Our staff is committed to providing the best experience possible for our clients.
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Quality Driven
At SGW San Diego we only offer products that maintains a high standard of quality. Backed by up to a 15 year warranty, the best in the industry.