Artificial grass is becoming a popular home trend, but does it impact the resale value of a property? The decision is a matter of personal choice, but Grant Gavin, broker/owner Re/Max Panache, says installing artificial grass often has a more positive than negative effect.
“In general, most buyers react positively to it.” Gavin says the material used is far removed from the hard nylon fibres of its birth in the 1960s, and has grown into a viable rival to real grass.
“Over the past 10 years, artificial grass has peaked in popularity owing to the quality of the material. Many manufacturers quote a lifespan of more than 25 years on their product. One negative is that no matter how much the material is developed, it will always be synthetic.”
Homeowners who decide to install artificial lawn should be warned about the possible environmental impact. Artificial lawns are not biodegradable and will end up in landfill.
Responsible homeowners should only consider options that are made from recycled materials and can themselves be recycled, Gavin says. In areas prone to drought, artificial lawns can be an environmentally responsible option that can add value to a home.
“The worst thing for sellers is to have real grass with sandy patches. Artificial grass will look good no matter the season.” While it might be costlier to install artificial lawn over grass, the long-term costs of maintaining a real lawn will quickly add up to make the initial costs of Astroturf worthwhile.
“If you have children who want to use the space to play games, Astroturf would make more sense than paving if you have a shady space where grass struggles to grow. “Astroturf can get much warmer than grass, so it might not be a best fit for sunny spaces.