Sports Surface Maintenance

Deep Cleaning / Decompaction

On top of Regular Brushing we strongly recommend an annual Deep Clean. Over the year moss, dirt and debris build up and can adversely affect the colour and the performance of an Artificial Sports Facility.

Our powerful deep cleaning service revitalises your synthetic sports surface ensuring you continue to get the best play performance out of your surface. Deciduous trees and vegetation render artificial sports grounds susceptible to chronic drainage problems, moss and algae can build up resulting in slippery poor play characteristics. A deep clean is advisable in these circumstances as Drag Brushing, Sweeping and Power Brushing are often not invasive enough to tackle these problems.

Drag Brushing

Regular drag brushing is an essential part of an artificial sports surface maintenance programme, it ensures the infill is distributed evenly and reduces surface compaction.

Drag Brushing is carried out on sand and rubber in-filled artificial turf. The artificial fibres of the carpet pile is lifted by drag brushing this ensures the artificial pitch is more responsive. Regular drag brushing will keep well-used sports facility in good responsive condition. Weekly drag brushing is advisable on artificial sports pitches that have to endure continuous heavy use..

In Fill Top Ups – Sand or Rubber

Sand replacement and Surface Repairs may be required after a number of years as even sports surfaces that are regularly maintained can become compacted, in some cases debris can cause problems and this would result in poor drainage.
Areas which suffer excessive use ie: a penalty spots can after years deteriorate and the surface may deform. It is essential to keep the infill levels topped up to prevent poor play. Insufficient infill means the yarn pile is not sufficiently supported. If infill procedures are not carried out correctly it could lead to more costly maintenance costs in the future.

InFill Replacement
Over a long period of time the sand or rubber infill can become too contaminated or too compacted for a corrective maintenance procedure to be fully effective. Drainage can be badly affected and play performance can degenerate. In-fill replacement will rectify these problems and add a few more years on to the life of the surface.

3G Decompaction
3G sports surfaces have a rubber crumb in-fill; this can become compacted over time leaving the top of the yarn unsupported. A de-compaction maintenance procedure is advisable at this stage. De-compaction is carried out with specialist machinery; the infill is de-compacted and redistributed evenly, carpet fibres are lifted upright as a result and drainage is improved.

Moss and Algae Control

The appliance of chemicals prevents Moss, Algae and weed growth. These Chemicals require time to penetrate the surface in order to help kill spores and ensure detritus removal.

Algaecide injected deeply into an artificial sports carpet will successfully remove any deep rooted algae. Vegetation contamination can pose a slip hazard and render your artificial sports surface dangerous. Positioning near shaded, damp, deciduous tree lined areas can mean that an artificial sports surface will need moss and algae treatment at more regular intervals. If such contamination on an artificial sand filled and sand dressed sports surface is at an advanced stage then HB Sports Surfaces would recommend a Deep Clean maintenance programme.

Power Sweeping

Regular Power Brushing of artificial sports grass helps to bed the sand into the fibres, moving the sand around also reduces any moss and debris build-up within the fibres. It ensures the sports surface is safe to play on, gives the best performance and gives it that essential long lifespan.

Power Sweeping is an important maintenance service used on all types of artificial grass sports surfaces. Rotary power brushes lift the pile and filter the top infill layer, which is then put back into place. Power Brushing effectively reduces surface contamination like algae and moss etc.

Surface Repairs

High wear areas and damaged areas: around goals, penalty spots etc, can become badly affected and need repair.

Heavy use can mean Artificial Sports Surfaces require some repairs from time to time. Adhesives can break down, seams and lines may need to be replaced. Rain and frost on older sports surfaces can penetrate under the artificial carpet especially on older sports surfaces. This can cause adhesives to break down and seams to fail. We cut out and patch affected areas and we rectify any sub-surfaces that require attention.

Line Marking

Britton Sports have over 5 years experience line marking using Two Pack Polyurethane for a range of Artificial Sports Surfaces. From framework jobs with 5 years experience to other lines, anything from tennis courts to multiple different size football pitches. We recommend that line markings are renewed twice a year on sand-filled and sand-dressed sports surfaces.

A number of variables effect the longevity of painted sports lines on artificial grass, the wax coatings applied at the production stage of the artificial grass can make it harder for the paint to adhere, but we have found that Two Pack Polyurethane Paint lasts longer than the water based acrylic. Two Pack Polyurethane paint is very flexible, it bonds to artificial surfaces well and it is chemically cured.