Artificial turf is ideal for high-traffic sports fields, offering a durable and low-maintenance alternative to natural grass. However, it is not invincible. The intense physical activity associated with sports can significantly impact the longevity and performance of synthetic turf.
In this blog, we’ll reveal what’s the true impact sports have on your artificial turf’s durability!
Deterioration Over Time
While artificial turf is designed to withstand considerable wear, lasting up to 20 years with average use, it inevitably deteriorates over time. With the heavier use accounted with sporting facilities, the lifespan can be reduced to ten years. The natural aging process involves the breakdown of synthetic fibers and infill materials due to repeated stress and environmental exposure. When infill moves around, it leaves areas exposed to harsher elements such as UV and sharp objects. While deterioration is inevitable, regular cleaning and maintenance can help address some of these issues and preserve turf performance.
Physical Impact of Athletic Activities
- Excessive Pressure: Frequent foot traffic and cleat pressure from practices and games can compress turf fibers, leading to matting and loss of cushioning. For example, regular sports activities, such as football and soccer, involve constant running, tackling, and jumping, which increases the pressure on the turf. Football tends to cause extreme wear between the 20-yard lines, while soccer fields experience heavy damage between the 20-yard lines and goal mouths. These specific areas endure the most wear and tear due to the concentration of play in these zones. Over time, this leads to compaction and flattening of the turf, reducing its shock absorption capabilities and making it harder for athletes to perform safely.
- Frequency of Use: High usage rates, including numerous games and practice sessions, place additional strain on the turf. Effective cleaning solutions can help address the cumulative effects of frequent use by maintaining the surface clean and functional. Studies show in dry years, a field can withstand 30 to 50 events, including games, practices, and performances, without much turf damage. However, wet conditions drastically reduce this number, and just one extremely wet game can destroy a high-quality field.
Environmental and External Factors
- Excessive Heat: Artificial turf can experience significant temperature fluctuations, especially in hot climates. Excessive heat can cause the turf materials to become brittle and lose flexibility.
- Sharp Objects: Think of how sharp your equipment and even debris can be, impacting the consistency on the playing surface. Even cleats can cause micro-tears in the turf leading to faster degradation of the surface. When the infill moves, it allows for the turf to become susceptible to damage from additional factors.
Contamination and Health Risks
- Biological Contaminants: Turf fields are prone to contamination from bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens, including E. Coli and MRSA. Studies show that microbial populations in artificial turf increase over time, with the highest counts at the sidelines. This can only increase depending on the number of serious injuries. Think about the crowds of people on your turf during the season that need to be protected, from practices to gameday.
The Solution
Maintaining artificial turf during a busy sports season involves understanding the impacts of athletic activities and environmental factors. Consistent upkeep, including brushing, grooming, and deep cleaning, is essential for keeping the turf in optimal condition. By implementing regular cleaning and maintenance strategies to combat these challenges, facility managers can keep their artificial turf in top condition, ensure safe and high-performing playing surface throughout the season.
If you’re looking for a reliable solution for your turf cleaning routine, consider Athletic Turf Wash. Its unique blend of nano-metallic silver oxide hydrogen peroxide solution. This solution delivers powerful results in under 10 minutes and provides protection for 5 weeks, with a simple monthly application process. Don’t just maintain your turf, ensure the safety and performance of your playing surface all season long.
About Athletic Turf Wash LLC
Athletic Turf Wash LLC is a leading provider of advanced turf maintenance solutions, specializing in the use of cutting-edge Nano-Silver and H2O2 technology. Their products are proven on university artificial turf fields in a multiple year study to keep fields clean and safe for up to 5 weeks (even with heavy use) with just one application, helping to ensure safe and pristine athletic fields. Athletic Turf Wash serves sports teams and venues by enhancing the quality and safety of their playing surfaces, as part of their goal to support athlete performance and well-being. For more information, visit www.athleticturfwash.com or contact info@athleticturfwash.com.
