As artificial putting green turf becomes more and more popular, installing it gets easier. Here is a quick and easy guide on installing a putting green on hard surfaces.
A putting green can be installed over concrete and most surfaces like gravel, asphalt, and dirt. When laying putting green turf on concrete, the surface needs to be clean and free of cracks. Install extra padding under the turf to accommodate children or alternate uses.
Here is a step-by-step guide on installing putting green on concrete.
Step 1: Prepare the Concrete
Before you can even begin installing a putting green over concrete, you need to make sure the concrete is ready. Be sure to remove any carpet, dirt, laminate, glue, or anything else that was on the concrete before. For stubborn glue, your local hardware store should carry a product that can dissolve the unwanted adhesive.
Once the concrete is cleaned, you will need to repair any cracks, dents, or chipped areas. This is done to give your putting green the best chance of staying looking its best and not getting ripped or damaged.
- This can be done with a leveling compound that can be found at local hardware stores.
- Be sure to follow the instructions for said leveling compound for the best results.
Step 2: Cut Holes in the Concrete for Ball Cups
If you are planning on installing ball cups, you will want to cut those into the concrete after it has been cleaned and made even and level. This can be done by core drilling or even by using a basic hammer and chisel. Sometimes, the hammer and chisel can be a better method because they can be more accurate.
- Whichever way you cut the ball cups into the concrete, you may have to do some touch-up work afterward.
- You may also need to mold the holes to the exact size of the ball cups.
- This can be done with any fast-setting concrete mix.
Wait for the concrete to be fully dry, clean, and crack-free before preparing the putting green turf.
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Step 3: Prepare the Putting Green Turf
When preparing the putting green turf, you want it to be about 1 to 2 feet larger than the desired area. Doing this will give you some wiggle room just in case you need it. Be sure to take into account where the putting green is being placed and what you want to use it for.
If, for example, you are placing the putting green over concrete to be a play area for children, you’re going to want to put down some padding between the putting green and the concrete.
- While the putting turf would provide some padding for a fall, there is still hard concrete underneath the putting green.
- Adding some extra padding between the concrete and putting green to help soften falls of children would not be a terrible idea.
If this putting green is going to be used for putting and putting only, you may not want as much padding. Whatever it is this putting green is doing for you, be sure to take into account possible padding.
If the putting green will be outside, another thing to think about is drainage. Because you are installing a layer of fake grass over bare concrete, there will be little to no draining if it is a flat surface. This could lead to molding and damage to the putting green.
While there is a myriad of ways to fix this, you will need to decide which is best for you. If you are in a place with heavier rainfall, maybe consider installing drainage tiles beneath your putting green. If you are in a drier climate, maybe some extra padding will do the trick. Or, if the putting green will be indoors, this issue may not be as applicable.
Step 4: Place the Putting Green Turf to Check Fit
After you have decided on your amount of padding, go ahead and place the putting green over the concrete area. Press the putting green down firmly and smooth it to the best of your ability to ensure a perfect fit.
- Once you are satisfied with the fit of your putting green turf, use some chalk and outline the exact area you want to be covered in putting green.
- It is also a good idea to outline where your ball cups are, however, you do not need to cut them at this time.
- Cutting them out now could encourage rips or damage that will worsen when you go to install the putting green.
Then, using a carpet knife or other cutter, cut away the excess putting green. Don’t worry about the chalk on the parts of the putting green in the desired area. The chalk will wash off.
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Step 5: Glue Down the Putting Green Turf
The best kind of glue to use when installing putting green on concrete is a urethane-compatible adhesive. This can be found and purchased at most hardware stores. Spread the adhesive evenly over the concrete surface.
Get the rims of the ball cups as best as you can without getting any adhesive on the inside of the holes. Be sure to follow the instructions for the particular adhesive you choose. Some adhesives require you to let it cure a bit before applying the putting turf.
- Once the adhesive is ready for the putting green, do your best to place it in just the right place.
- Once the putting green is in place, use a seam roller or something similar to roll over the putting green.
- This will help encourage the adhesive to stick to the putting green and will reduce air bubbles.
- You’ll want to go over it fairly continuously for about an hour.
When that hour is up, you’ll want to let the putting green sit for about another hour before giving it one more rollover.
This will help your putting green to stay and stick to the concrete for the longest time possible. Once the adhesive is dry and your putting green is set, go ahead and carefully cut out the ball cups.
Congratulations. You have now successfully installed a putting green over concrete!