Artificial Grass Dog Runs
Artificial grass dog runs are a true value when it comes to keeping your pet happy and those dog runs and dog kennels neat and tidy. They are also the most comfortable for your pet. Using gravel or decomposed granite can cause paws to become raw and tender. Artificial grass dog runs are soft on the paws and will give your pet a comfortable area for him or her to sleep and play on.
As more and more artificial grass gets introduced to the market, the styles becoming readily available are increasing dramatically. Generally, the quality of grass that is offered through most legitimate contractors is comparable between the companies. The average product cost is between $2.50 – $4.00 per square foot, and lesser quality products sell for $.85 – $1.99 per square foot. What home owners will find, specifically in San Diego, Orange County and San Bernadino County, are dramatic variances in the installed price. We have seen artificial grass dog runs installed for as low as $5.00 per square foot and some artificial grass dog runs installed for $11.00 per square foot. While there are plenty of reasons for price variances, there are only a few that would justify such a large swing in price. Generally what is found is those installations costing $5.00 use a less thorough installation methodology and typically come with a shorter warranty, if any at all. On the opposite side of the spectrum you have the marketing machines, companies that have hefty advertising budgets and robust operations teams. The funny thing is these companies typically hire the $5.00 installation companies as sub-contractors and use a slightly higher grade material and a little more thorough installation process.
For what it’s worth, the installation method that we have found to be extremely durable in artificial grass dog runs is to use a 1.5” x 1.5” composite anchor board that is installed around the entire perimeter of the project, below grade, with the edges of the artificial grass tucked over and pneumatically stapled and attached to the anchor board. This process paired with a quality infill material and a quality artificial grass product will give your artificial grass dog run enough bind to stand up against wear and tear of even the largest of dogs.
Now for the big question. What happens when your dog goes #1 or #2 on the artificial grass? Don’t worry. As weird as it may sound, it’s just as simple to clean up as if they had gone on natural grass. Simply scoop whatever feces you can from the surface and hose down the area. Bacterial will still be there and if you don’t spray it thoroughly enough, it will smell. It is recommended to spray the artificial grass with either a soap and water or vinegar and water mixture 3 – 4 times per month, especially if it becomes the regular potty place and/or if kids will be playing on the artificial grass. Some wholesale artificial grass suppliers sell anti-microbial sprays that work wonderfully and are non-toxic, environmentally, kid and pet friendly. http://www.Purchase-green.com offers a line of this spray as well as some of the highest quality artificial grass products in southern California.
