Repair Artificial Grass Cigarette Burn Spots

Had a fun barbeque night with some friends, even lit some cigars? Woke up to find burnt patches on the lawn?

It’s all too relatable, isn’t it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about repairing artificial grass cigarette burn spots.

Repair Artificial Grass Cigarette Burn Spots

To assist you in getting rid of burn spots on your artificial turf, we have devised a comprehensive, step-by-step tutorial that is simple and easy to follow.

Step 1 – Vacuum Turf Infill

The most logical first step is to start by vacuuming out the turf infill before making any repairs.

Removing the infill will help to expose the primary backing of the artificial grass so that the initial cut is as close to the damaged area as possible.

Step 2 – Cut the Burned Turf Area

Now that the primary backing is visible, you’re all set to cut the damaged patch on the turf.

⚠️ But before you start cutting, a wise approach would be to separate the fibers at the cutting point so that the surrounding fibers are not spoilt.

Once this is done, you may use a sharp craft knife to smoothly remove the damaged area from the turf. This piece that you’ve just lifted out can be used as the template to make its replacement.

Step 3 – Place Turf Seaming Tape in Exposed Area

Next up, use a measuring tape to determine the approximate dimensions of the damaged area on the turf.

Keeping these measurements in mind, cut a piece of synthetic turf seaming tape, roll it into a tube and place it under the edge of the damaged area.

Once it’s in position, unroll the tube and ensure that the tape covers the entire space.

You should then secure the tape using small nails. Remember that it is essential to completely cover the damaged spot with the seaming tape.

This provides the area greater stability and resilience against unfavorable conditions.

Step 4 – Apply Adhesive On Seaming Tape

Before applying the adhesive, use blue painter’s tape to tape the grass fibers that you removed earlier, around the outer edge of the hole.

This will prevent the adhesive from spilling onto the surrounding fibers and creating more problems. This will also make the process of cutting the replacement piece much easier.

You’ll now use a trowel to carefully spread the seaming adhesive on top of the seaming tape.

Also, apply the adhesive underneath the backing of the turf that has been exposed after removal of the damaged piece, this will make sure that the replacement piece is held together more firmly.

Step 5 – Measure and Cut a Turf Replacement Piece

The measurements from the damaged turf section that you removed earlier will be used to cut out a new piece of synthetic turf with the same dimensions.

Do make sure that the replacement piece sits well with the rest of the turf.

Step 6 – Fit Replacement Artificial Turf Piece

Once the replacement piece is ready, place it on top of the exposed area that you secured with seamless tape.

Apply pressure on the new piece so that the adhesive spreads evenly underneath and it sits firmly between the gauges.

Step 7 – Add Turf Infill

Now that you’ve taken care of the tricky part, it’s time to add the final touches before your turf looks as good as new.

First, remove the seamless tape from the sides of the replacement piece. Place some weight on top of the repaired area, a 50-pound bag of infill or any other minimal weight will do.

This will help to secure the area by strengthening the adhesive bond between the new piece and its backing. Keep checking the repaired area every now and then to ensure that any excessive adhesive doesn’t rise to the surface.

Next, use a pair of sharp scissors to trim the extra fibers in the repaired area, helping the new piece of turf to blend well with its surroundings. Finally, add some more infill and spread it evenly across the repaired patch.

FAQs

Here are a few most commonly asked questions regarding damage to synthetic turf.

Can artificial turf burn?

To answer this question, we first need to understand the composition of  artificial grass.

In essence, synthetic grass is made out of a combination of different plastic polymers. Although synthetic turf is inflammable, it can melt when subjected to very high temperatures.

To be more exact, the melting point for most synthetic turfs ranges between 175 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is important to note that this type of heat-related damage cannot be inflicted by direct sun exposure to the turf, as the sun can’t reach those temperatures on its own.

The damage is usually caused by radiation that is reflected from certain types of glass windows.

What can damage artificial grass?

As mentioned earlier, artificial grass doesn’t catch flames but it can melt.

Commonly, the damage is caused by outdoor amenities, such as outdoor grills and fire pits.

Embers from the burning coal can fly onto your artificial grass and form burn patches on its surface. Similarly, ashes from cigarettes or cigars and burning remnants from fireworks can also spoil your turf.

In some cases, severe damage is caused by special types of windows, also called Low-E windows that reflect highly-focused sunlight onto the turf.

Although damage from these well-directed sun rays is localized to the area in contact, the surrounding fibers can conduct some of the heat and start melting outwards.

Can you repair artificial grass?

Artificial turf is considered to be a safe investment due to its durability, as it is designed to hold out against foot traffic and other factors that might easily cause damage to natural grass.

With that being said, it is possible for artificial grass to melt, discolor or get damaged.

But this shouldn’t bother you too much, since we have already discussed a step-by-step procedure to repair damaged artificial turf.

As a turf owner, it’s a wise idea to store a few patches of artificial grass fibers for future repair work.