Case study: Artificial grass installation in Chorley.
Ashleigh had already been through two installers before she called us. By the time we surveyed her rear garden, she was stressed -- a quote had been given by someone else and then withdrawn, then another estimator had come and never followed up. The garden in the meantime was bar...
Project at a glance Verified Wolsten build
- Property type
- Family garden -- Chorley
- Time on site
- 3 days
- Pile height
- 20mm artificial turf
- Subbase
- MOT type-1, whacker-compacted
- Surrounds
- Treated timber perimeter
- Finish
- Kiln-dried sand top-dress
- Customer
- Ashleigh
Why Ashleigh called us.
Ashleigh had already been through two installers before she called us. By the time we surveyed her rear garden, she was stressed -- a quote had been given by someone else and then withdrawn, then another estimator had come and never followed up. The garden in the meantime was bare, dug up, and unusable.
We surveyed, quoted a fixed price, and started within the week. Job delivered in 3 days, as quoted.
What we did.
Standard AG install on a garden already dug out by the previous (unfinished) contractor.
The build sequence:
- Stripped any remaining old turf and debris left by the previous contractor
- Laid 2" x 2" treated timber surrounds around the perimeter
- Laid MOT type-1 as the subbase
- Whacker-plate compacted
- Bedded with sharp + kiln-dried sand to a fine level
- Rolled out the 20mm artificial turf
- Joined the pieces invisibly
- Pinned the perimeter into the timber surround
- Top-dressed and brushed in kiln-dried sand
Three days, fixed price, finished. Ashleigh went from being messed around twice to a usable garden in under a week.
The transformation.
Real photos from the actual Chorley job.
What Ashleigh said.
I was messed around twice before finding Wolsten. A price was given and the job delivered within 3 days. I honestly, can't speak any highly of the company.
Every detail of the Chorley build.
The full set of photos taken throughout the project.
For the discerning homeowner.
What we actually built into this install.
Fixed-price quoting -- why we never "day rate" landscaping
We quote fixed for every landscaping job. Day-rate quotes are the trick most cowboys play to win the first day on site and then run hours up later. Ashleigh had been on the wrong end of that twice before she called us.
Inheriting a half-finished site -- handle with care
When a previous contractor has dug a garden out and disappeared, the site usually has compaction gone wrong, mismatched MOT depths, and rubble mixed into the subbase. We strip and re-do the prep rather than "finishing off" someone else's mess -- it's the only way to give the same long-term performance as a fresh job.
Cost-conscious AG install patterns that still hold up
Some AG jobs need extra spec (French drains for swampy ground, heavier MOT for over-saturated soils). Ashleigh's didn't -- so we kept the spec lean: 2" x 2" timber surround, standard MOT depth, kiln-sand top-dress. Honest spec, honest price.
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 AG install lead.
Paul
Cut the timber surrounds and handled the finish detail.
Chorley
Chorley is well covered by our North West service area. We install artificial grass right across Lancashire -- usually within 30 minutes drive of our Westhoughton base.
Questions homeowners ask about AG installs like this.
How long does an artificial grass install take?
This Chorley job took 3 days. Most North West AG 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.
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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