Artificial Surfaces
“Beware of the landscaper professing to include your
artificial pitch as part of an overall grounds
maintenance
package; practices suitable for natural turf do not transfer well to an artificial sports pitch”
particularly if implemented from day one. It affords a level of consistency and continuity that can otherwise be found lacking, and regular inspections and reports provide a ready-made audit trail required for warranty purposes. Monitoring and reporting can also help to identify any defects or issues with the structural condition of the surface. Where groundstaff might lack the confidence or experience to diagnose the problems that could affect an artificial pitch’s playability, drainage or even safety, a specialist contractor can assume responsibility. After all, such a substantial investment deserves to be maintained properly, so who better than the experts to take care of everything? Well, at first glance this would be an ideal scenario (as much for us maintenance companies as for our customers) but, in reality, it is neither the most economical nor practical way to look after your artificial pitch. The most fundamental operations are daily and weekly duties; regular brushing, dragging, litter picking and leaf collection, all of which require minimal time and effort. By completing this work in-house, rather than outsourcing it to a contractor, you can
dramatically reduce your spending, freeing up additional funds for more specialist procedures.
It would also be prudent to ensure that you have selected the right company to look after your artificial pitch. Beware of the landscaper professing to include your artificial pitch as part of an overall grounds maintenance package; practices suitable for natural turf do not transfer well to an artificial sports pitch. Indeed, it is a common misconception that little or no expertise is required to maintain artificial sports pitches. True, a different set of skills are required, but they are skills nonetheless, and a poor understanding of the maintenance requirements of an artificial pitch can be detrimental to its long-term viability. This leaves us with a third and final option to consider; a combination of in- house and specialist maintenance. Where possible, you should utilise the
resources available to you within your grounds team, and invest in some suitable machinery to undertake everyday maintenance tasks, whilst outsourcing the more costly, specialist works to a suitable maintenance provider.
They should be able to recommend
■ Regular Sweeping ■ 3G Decompactions ■ Infill Top-Ups ■ Vegetation Treatments ■ Machinery & Equipment ■ Demonstrations & Training ■ Specialist Deep-Cleaning ■ Infill Extraction & Replacement ■ Line Marking ■ Repairs
50 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012
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