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Definitions & Terms

Pile height – the height of the tall, uncurled fiber.

Gauge – the distance between stitch rows. The measurements are typically 3/8”, 1/2″, or 5/8” for landscaping grasses, and are typically tighter for putting greens (3/16” or 5/32”) and wider for traditional sports grasses (up to 3/4”).

Stitch Rate – the number of stitches in a fixed distance – typically a stitch every 10cm or 3”.  As an example, 15 stitches per 10 cm would be quoted as a 15/10 stitch rate.

Face weight – the weight of the yarn used in an artificial grass product typically quoted in terms of ounces per sq. yard. Face weight is a function of the density (i.e. number of stitches per sq. yard), the pile height, and of the decitex (DTEX) of the yarn (i.e. the thickness & width of the individual fiber). If you increase the pile height you increase the face weight; if you increase the stitch rate you increase the face weight; if you reduce the gauge you increase the face weight; if you use a thicker, heavier fiber you increase the face weight.

Total weight – the sum of the face weight, weight of the primary backing, and the weight of the secondary backing. For all Purchase Green products that have a latex backing the total weight is the face weight + 40 oz. per sq. yard (8 oz. for the primary backing and 32 oz. for the secondary backing); for all Purchase Green products that have a polyurethane backing the total weight is the face weight + 32 oz. per sq. yard (6 oz. for the primary backing and 26 oz. for the secondary backing).

Square Foot – this measurement is used to indicate the area of an object or space. Because artificial grass is sold by the square foot and is typically cut as a rectangle, this measurement is calculated as the length x width.  A piece of artificial grass that is 20’ long by 15’ wide is 300 square ft.

Square Yard – this unit of measurement indicates the size of an area in terms of yards (1 yard = 3 feet). A square yard is equal to 9 sq. ft. (3’ x 3’ = 9 sq. ft.). You can determine the number of square yards by calculating the number of sq. ft. and dividing by 9.

Linear Foot – this measurement is used to indicate the length from one point to another ignoring the width of a particular object. As an example 20 LF of artificial grass would be a piece of artificial grass that is 20’ long by whatever the width happens to be. 20 LF of Nature’s Sod (a 13.1’ wide roll) would be 262 sq. ft.; 20 LF of Southwestern Sod (a 15’ wide roll) would be 300 sq. ft. of Southwestern Sod; 20 LF of our weed barrier (a 4’ wide roll) would be 80 sq. ft. of weed barrier; 20 LF of the 8mm XPE shock pad (a 5’ wide roll) would be 100 sq. ft. of shock pad. It is important you understand this distinction because customers may either order a designated LF of artificial grass and you need to know how to convert it to sq. ft. since it is priced and sold by the sq. ft., or the reverse – a customer may order by the sq. ft. and you need to be able to convert it to LF for the purposes of cutting the roll.

Artificial Grass Backing – artificial grass backing consists of two components – the primary backing and the secondary backing. When comparing artificial grass backings people often only focus on the secondary back or the “glue” but in fact both components are critical to the life of an artificial grass product.

Primary Backing – this is the fabric that the artificial grass is tufted through – similar to multiple layers of a commercial grade weed barrier. The quality and durability of a primary backing determines the dimensional stability of an artificial grass product (i.e. how much it expands and contracts.) Purchase Green grasses typically have an industry best triple layer backing (8 oz. per sq. yard).

Secondary Backing – this is the glue that secures or adheres the artificial grass fibers or yarn to the primary backing. The quality and durability of the secondary backing determines the tuft bind of an artificial grass product. The tuft bind is a measurement of how hard it is to pull the fibers out. Purchase Green grasses use 32 oz. per sq. yard of latex on our grasses that have a latex backing, and 26 oz. per sq. yard of polyurethane (PU) on our grasses that have a PU backing.

 

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