Replacing an Old Artificial Grass Lawn in Bromley

Artificial grass has become far more popular and widely accepted over the last 10–15 years. As a result, we are now getting more and more enquiries from customers who already have an artificial lawn but want it replaced, upgraded or properly re-laid.

This project in Bromley, London is a good example of how an older artificial grass installation can be brought back to life, especially when the original groundwork was done reasonably well.

The customer’s existing artificial lawn had reached the end of its useful life. The grass was tired, the fixings had started to rot, and an old decked area also needed removing. Rather than starting completely from scratch, we were able to assess the existing base, strip everything back, and upgrade the area to our current high-spec installation standard.

 

The Problem: An Old Artificial Lawn Ready for Replacement

The original artificial grass had been down for several years and was no longer looking its best. This is something we are seeing more often now as the first generation of domestic artificial lawns begin to age.

Common problems with older installations include:

• Flattened or worn-looking grass fibres
• Rotten timber edges or fixings
• Poor joins starting to show
• Uneven areas where the base has moved
• Old decking or borders beginning to decay
• Grass that is difficult to clean or no longer drains as well as it should

In this Bromley garden, the old artificial lawn had been installed with a decent sub-base originally, which made the replacement much more straightforward. When an artificial lawn has been laid properly the first time, it is usually much easier and cheaper to upgrade later.

That is why we always say: if you are having artificial grass installed for the first time, do it properly.

 

Removing the Old Lawn, Rotten Fixings and Decking

The first stage of the project was to remove the existing artificial grass and inspect what was underneath.

We stripped out:

• The old artificial lawn
• Rotten timber fixings
• The old decked area
• Any unsuitable or tired materials around the edges

This gave us a clean starting point and allowed us to see exactly what could be reused and what needed upgrading.

Because the original installation had a reasonable sub-base, we did not need to completely excavate the entire garden. This helped keep the project more cost-effective for the customer.

 

Upgrading the Groundworks to Our Current Specification

Although the existing base was in better condition than many older installations we see, we still upgraded the groundworks to bring the lawn up to the standard we use today.

Good groundworks are the difference between an artificial lawn that looks good for a few months and one that performs properly for years.

Our installation method focuses on creating a strong, free-draining and stable base. Where required, this includes improving the levels, refreshing the laying course and making sure the area is properly prepared before the new grass is fitted.

For this Bromley project, we improved the base and edging details before laying the new artificial grass. This meant the finished lawn would sit neatly, drain properly and have the correct support underneath.

 

Fitting the New Knoll 35 Recyclable Artificial Grass

For the new lawn, we fitted our Knoll 35 recyclable artificial grass.

The Knoll 35 is a natural-looking, high-quality grass that works particularly well in domestic gardens. It gives a realistic finish without looking overly bright or fake, which is especially important when replacing an older lawn where the customer wants the garden to look fresh but still natural.

One of the biggest benefits of the new Knoll 35 is that it is recyclable. This means that when the lawn eventually reaches the end of its life in the future, it does not have to end up in landfill like many older artificial grass products.

That is a big improvement compared with earlier generations of artificial grass.

 

The Result: A Cleaner, Smarter and More Future-Proof Lawn

The finished garden now looks much cleaner, smarter and more usable. By removing the old grass, rotten fixings and tired decking, then upgrading the groundworks and fitting a modern recyclable product, the customer now has a much better long-term solution.

This project also highlights an important point for anyone considering artificial grass for the first time.

A cheap installation may look fine on day one, but if the base, fixings and drainage are not done properly, it can become expensive to put right later. A properly installed artificial lawn will not only look better, but it will also be far easier to replace or upgrade in the future.

Thinking of Replacing an Old Artificial Lawn in Bromley?

If your artificial grass is looking tired, uneven or worn out, it may not always mean starting again from scratch. If the original base is in good condition, we may be able to remove the old lawn, update the groundworks and fit a new artificial grass product at a lower cost than a complete new installation.