Case study: A father-and-son referral in Knutsford.
Ian called us after we completed a job for his son Callum. He wanted something simple and classy for the rear garden, and a 30mm 'Miami' artificial grass was the way forward. The garden set an unusual challenge: two different fixing conditions in one lawn. On the...
Project at a glance Verified Wolsten build
- Property type
- Family garden -- Knutsford
- Time on site
- 3 days
- Pile height
- 30mm 'Miami' artificial turf
- Subbase
- 4" MOT bed, 20mm grano sand top
- Surrounds
- Timber frame left side; fitted to concrete walkway right
- Finish
- Kiln-dried sand top-dress
- Customer
- Ian
Why Ian called us.
Ian called us after we completed a job for his son Callum. He wanted something simple and classy for the rear garden, and a 30mm 'Miami' artificial grass was the way forward. The garden set an unusual challenge: two different fixing conditions in one lawn. On the left-hand side, part-removal of the earth and a new timber frame; on the right-hand side, the grass was fitted directly to a poured-concrete walkway.
A father-and-son double -- Callum first, then Ian. Referrals between family members are the strongest endorsement a small firm gets. Quoted for a 3-day install.
What we did.
Two fixing methods, one seamless lawn -- with every ton of the dig-out moved by hand.
The build sequence:
- Removed 1.5 tons of old, dead and boggy lawn -- by hand
- Part-removed the earth on the left side and built the timber frame perimeter
- Laid a 4-inch deep MOT bed, compacted solid
- Topped with a 20mm grano sand layer, screeded fine
- Fitted the 30mm 'Miami' grass to the frame on the left, and directly to the concrete walkway on the right
- Expertly cut the grass to suit the challenging winds and routes of the garden
Three days, one happy dad -- and two Wolsten lawns in the same family.
The whole project, in four shots.
Real photos from the actual Knutsford job.
1.5 tons of dead, boggy lawn out -- moved by hand.
30mm 'Miami' turf, trimmed to the winding borders.
The cut that makes the lawn.
The finished Knutsford project.What Ian said.
We were passed the details of Wolsten from our son, and we were happy they could fit us in. Highly recommend, the quality of astroturf is fantastic.
Every detail of the Knutsford build.
The full set of photos taken throughout the project.
For the discerning homeowner.
What we actually built into this install.
Two fixings, one lawn -- frame left, concrete right
Most lawns fix to a timber perimeter all round. Ian's garden had a poured-concrete walkway down one side -- sound, level, and a perfectly good base in its own right. So the lawn is framed in timber on the left and bonded direct to the concrete on the right. Done properly, the lawn reads as one surface; you can't tell where the fixing method changes.
A 4-inch MOT bed with a grano sand top
The left side got the full rebuild: a 4" compacted MOT bed with a 20mm grano sand screed above it. Grano screeds finer and flatter than sharp sand -- and on a 30mm pile, the flatter the bed, the better the lawn reads in low light.
Cutting to winding routes
Ian's lawn line winds around beds and routes rather than running straight. Curves can't be tensioned against a straight edge the way a strip can -- the turf is template-cut, relief-cut on the back, and pinned at tighter centres so every curve holds its line for the life of the lawn.
Referral jobs -- why they get our best work
Callum's job earned us Ian's. Every install is an audition for the customer's street, family and WhatsApp groups -- which is why the spec never drops on a 'small' job. The referral chain is how a three-founder firm grows without an ad budget.
Three founders, plus extended crew when the job calls for it.
Liam, Ryan and Paul on every job. Where the work needs more hands, we bring in trusted regulars.
Liam
Surveyed and quoted. Supervised the build on site.
Ryan
Time-served bricklayer and artificial grass install lead.
Paul
Cut the timber surrounds and handled the finish detail.
Knutsford
Knutsford is well covered by our North West service area. We install artificial grass right across Cheshire -- usually within 30 minutes drive of our Westhoughton base.
Questions homeowners ask about artificial grass installs like this.
How long does an artificial grass install take?
This Knutsford job took 3 days. Most North West artificial grass installs run 2-4 days depending on garden size and ground conditions. Drainage rescues (like Lisa's Westhoughton job) can add a day for French drain installation.
Is 'fake grass' the same as artificial grass?
Yes -- fake grass, artificial grass, astro turf, synthetic lawn: all names for the same product family. Whatever you call it, the quality difference isn't the name -- it's the pile density, the backing, and above all the sub-base it's installed on. A premium turf laid over a poorly compacted base will fail years before a mid-range turf on a proper one.
Will the joins between rolls be visible?
Not if they're done right. We use proper jointing tape + adhesive and match the pile direction across the seam. From a metre away the joins are invisible.
What's the lifespan of a properly-installed artificial grass lawn?
8-12 years on a properly compacted MOT subbase. The variables are pile quality, subbase compaction, and whether the perimeter is properly bordered. Lawns where installers cheap out on subbase often need replacing within 3-4 years -- which is why we never cut that corner.
Do I need to do any maintenance on artificial grass?
Very little. Brush the pile occasionally to keep it standing upright, top up the kiln-dried sand every 2-3 years, and rinse it off after the dog. That's it. Compared to a real lawn (mowing, feeding, edging, reseeding), the time saving is huge.
Do I need planning permission for artificial grass?
Almost never for a rear garden. Front-garden non-permeable surfacing over 5m² CAN trigger planning, but rear gardens fall under permitted development.
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