Reference

Artificial-grass glossary

Plain-English definitions for the terms that show up in turf quotes, spec sheets, and base-construction scopes.

26 entries with cross-references and entity links.

Reference glossary for artificial-turf terminology — yarn specs like face weight and pile height, infill and base-construction vocabulary, drainage, seaming, and Arizona contractor terms, with links to authoritative sources where applicable. Useful when comparing turf quotes that use unfamiliar technical language, or when reading a spec sheet before you sign.

Antimicrobial infill / Zeolite: Infill products designed to control pet-urine odor. Zeolite is a porous natural mineral with a high cation-exchange capacity that captures ammonium ions from urine, reducing odor; it is often combined with or coated onto sand. Other products use antimicrobial coatings. These infills reduce odor but do not eliminate the need for rinsing pet areas.

Backing (primary / secondary): The two-layer base the yarn is tufted into. The primary backing is the woven sheet that holds the stitched yarn; the secondary backing is a coating (commonly polyurethane or latex) applied to the underside to lock the tufts in place and give the turf its dimensional stability. Backing quality drives how well seams hold and how flat the turf lies over time.

Compacted base / aggregate base: The layer of crushed rock spread and mechanically compacted beneath the turf to create a firm, free-draining, level foundation. A typical residential base is 3–4 in of aggregate (more under high-traffic or vehicle areas), compacted in lifts with a plate compactor to roughly 90% or better, then fine-graded. The base, not the turf, determines long-term flatness and drainage.
Class II road base: A graded crushed-aggregate material meeting a Caltrans/agency specification (a controlled blend of rock sizes down to fines) that compacts into a dense, stable layer. It is a common turf base in the Southwest because it locks up firmly under compaction and drains adequately. The "Class II" name refers to the gradation spec, not a brand.
Critical fall height (playground): The maximum height from which a fall onto a surface is unlikely to cause a life-threatening head injury, established by impact testing. Playground turf is rated by the critical fall height it provides with a given foam pad or shock layer beneath it, and must meet the relevant ASTM impact-attenuation standard for the equipment height it surrounds.

Decomposed granite (DG): Weathered granite that has broken down into a mix of gravel, sand, and fines. As a base material it compacts into a firm surface and is widely available in Arizona. DG drains more slowly than open-graded road base, so on pet installs it is often topped or replaced with a more permeable aggregate to keep drainage high.

Face weight: The weight of the yarn fibers per square yard, measured in ounces, not counting the backing. A higher face weight (60–90+ oz) means more yarn in the carpet, which generally feels denser and wears longer. It is the single number most often quoted on a turf spec sheet, but it should be read alongside pile height and density, since a tall, sparse turf can post the same face weight as a short, dense one.
Fringe turf: A longer-pile turf installed around the apron of a synthetic putting green to imitate the rough or collar of grass that surrounds a real green. It is a transition and aesthetic detail, not a playing surface, and is usually a standard landscape turf cut to border the short putting nylon.
Face weight vs total weight: Face weight counts only the yarn fibers per square yard; total (or product) weight adds the backing and coatings. A spec sheet may advertise a large total-weight number that is inflated by a heavy backing rather than more yarn. When comparing quotes, compare face weight to face weight, then look at pile height and density to judge the actual surface.

Gauge (stitch): The spacing between the rows of stitches across the width of the turf, expressed as a fraction of an inch (for example 3/8 in or 5/8 in). A tighter gauge places rows closer together for a denser surface. Gauge combined with stitch rate (stitches per inch along the length) determines overall stitch density.
Green speed / Stimpmeter: Green speed is how fast a ball rolls on a putting surface, measured with a Stimpmeter — a notched ramp that releases a ball from a fixed height; the roll-out distance in feet is the "stimp" reading. Synthetic putting turf is built up and infilled to a target speed; more sand infill and a tighter mow generally make a faster green.

Infill: Granular material brushed down into the turf between the blades after installation. It weights the turf to keep it flat, holds the blades upright, protects the backing from UV, and adds ballast against wind and foot traffic. Common types are rounded silica sand, coated sand, and antimicrobial mineral infills. Infill rate is usually 1–2 lb per square foot depending on pile height.

Pile height: The length of the grass blades measured from the top of the backing to the tip of the yarn, in inches. Landscape turf typically runs 1.5–2.0 in; pet and high-traffic turf is often shorter (1.25–1.5 in) so blades stand up under use; putting surfaces are very short (0.4–0.5 in). Taller is not better — longer blades lay over more easily and trap more debris.
Permeability / drainage rate: How fast water passes through the turf backing, usually given in inches per hour per square yard. Drainage depends on the backing perforations (hole-punched or fully permeable backing) and on the base beneath. High drainage rates matter most for pet turf and for areas that need to clear monsoon rain quickly. Drainage is only as good as the base under the turf.
Plate compactor: A walk-behind machine with a heavy vibrating steel plate used to compact aggregate base in layers. Compacting in shallow lifts and wetting the material slightly helps the base reach target density. Skipping or under-compacting leads to settling, dips, and wrinkles in the turf within the first year.
Perimeter anchoring / nails-and-staples: Fastening the turf down so it cannot lift, shift, or shrink. Edges are typically secured with non-galvanized landscape nails (commonly 5–6 in) or staples driven through the backing into the compacted base every few inches; the field may also be anchored where needed. Bender board or concrete edges give the perimeter something firm to nail against.
Pet turf system: A turf assembly built for dogs: a fully permeable or heavily perforated backing, an open-graded free-draining base for fast drainage, and an antimicrobial or zeolite infill for odor control. Some installers add a drainage layer or deodorizing underlayment beneath the turf. The goal is that urine drains through quickly and solids rinse off the surface.
Putting turf / nylon: Short-pile turf made for putting greens, usually from nylon rather than the polyethylene used in landscape turf. Nylon is stiffer and holds a true, fast rolling surface but is more expensive and hotter underfoot. Pile heights are very short (about 0.4–0.5 in) and the surface is sand-filled and rolled to set its speed.

ROC license (Arizona contractor): A license issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC), the state agency that licenses and regulates contractors. Landscape and turf-installation work above the statutory dollar threshold generally requires the appropriate ROC license. A valid ROC number can be verified on the Registrar of Contractors website before hiring.

Silica sand infill: Rounded, washed silica (quartz) sand used as the standard ballast infill for landscape turf. The rounded grain shape lets the sand settle between blades without compacting hard. It is inert, inexpensive, and drains well, but offers no odor control, which is why pet areas often add or substitute an antimicrobial infill.
Sub-base grading: Shaping the native soil beneath the aggregate base to the correct slope and elevation before any rock goes down. Proper grading sets the drainage fall (typically a slight slope away from structures) and prevents low spots where water would pond. Errors at the sub-base stage telegraph up through the finished turf and are expensive to fix later.
Seam / seaming tape: Where two pieces of turf meet, the edges are joined over a strip of seaming tape using outdoor turf adhesive (or, less commonly, seam staples). Blades are kept running the same direction across the seam and the rows are aligned so the join disappears. A well-built seam is the hardest part of installation and the first place a poor install shows.

Thatch / fringe: Short, curled, often tan-colored yarns tufted in among the taller green blades to imitate the dead-grass layer found at the base of real lawns. Thatch adds realism, helps the longer blades stand up, and gives infill something to nest against. It is sometimes called the curled or fringe layer.

UV stabilization: Additives compounded into the yarn and backing to resist breakdown from ultraviolet sunlight, which otherwise fades color and makes fibers brittle. UV stability is critical in Lake Havasu City, where intense year-round sun is the main aging stress on turf. Better turf carries a UV-related fade warranty, and infill also shields the backing from UV.

Weed barrier / geotextile: A woven or non-woven fabric laid between the soil and the aggregate base to block weed growth up through the turf and to separate the native soil from the base so the two do not mix. Geotextiles are also used for soil stabilization and filtration in civil work. On turf jobs the fabric is the main long-term defense against weeds emerging at seams and edges.

Xeriscape: Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation, using drought-tolerant plants, efficient design, and low-water ground covers. Artificial turf is often used within a xeriscape to provide a green, walkable surface with no watering, mowing, or fertilizer, which is a common motivation for turf in the desert Southwest.

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