Artificial Grass Fitters

Association Membership

• The Association of Synthetic Grass Installers, founded in 2007 by a group of independent installers, offers a certified training program for artificial grass installers resident in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia and South Africa. The association’s website lists certified installers in the states of Arizona, California, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas and Washington.

Turf Council Membership

• Small businesses and private artificial grass fitters may be able to install the turf adequately, often for a lower fee than the larger professional businesses. The Synthetic Turf Council, registered in 2003, promotes guidelines and professional standards for the artificial grass industry, extending to its certification program for distributors. Members are listed in the council’s online buyer’s guide and member directory, so choosing an artificial grass fitter listed with the council ensures consumers will receive qualified service.

BBB Registration

• The website of the Better Business Bureau of Southern California lists seven companies accredited to install artificial grass turf in the state. At least three of these installers have A-Plus ratings, which means they comply fully with the bureau’s requirements, have been in existence for the minimum time period and have no complaints filed against them. For example, L.A. Faux Grass in Woodland Hills has been in business since 2006, and Hunny Do Artificial Grass, based in Hesperia, was registered in 2001.

Franchise Operations

• Founded in 1996 in Arizona, Southwest Greens International has grown to more than 90 franchise operations worldwide by 2011. The company provides training and ongoing support to franchise owners, helping them to design and fit premium artificial grass installations for golf courses, residential lawns, baseball fields and commercial office parks, among others.

Artificial Grass Statistics

• According to the Synthetic Turf Council, approximately 5,500 sports fields covered with synthetic turf are in use in the U.S. Statistics published on the council’s website indicate that the installation of artificial turf fields in schools, colleges, parks and sports stadiums across the country grew by 150 percent, from 400 to more than 1,000 in the six years between 2003 and 2009. The Association of Synthetic Grass Installers estimated that “in 2009 more than 60 million square feet of synthetic turf lawns was installed in the U.S., up 20% from 2006.”