IntelliTurf.com

The old nylon turf produced under the well known trademark Astro Turf and other companies of that era contained lead.  Dust from this turf caused concern in many parts of  the country as the fields aged.  The latest study released by the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded the dust from these fields is safe.

You can read more by clicking here.

Today’s artificial turf and fake grass is lead free and 100% recyclable.  For more information on today’s artificial turf, contact IntellitTurf.

IntelliTurf has updated our playground page for our playground surfaces at intelliturf.com.  Please take a look at the safety information and lean how we install playgound surfaces that meet or exceed playground manufacutrer fall height ratings.  Playround Surfaces made from artificial turf can be viewed by clicking here.

IntelliTurf recently completed a bocce ball court installation for a senior housing facility in Tennessee.  The installation covered roughtly 3,000 square feet and looks great surrounded by the walkways in a rear courtyard.

See our bocce ball information by clicking here.

We have updated our site with a putting green page that outlines once of our core products.  You can access the site here by clicking this link to get the putting green information:

Putting Green

While many other areas of the real estate market are suffering from the current status of the economy, Active Lifestyle communities cannot be completed fast enough. As many Baby Boomers near retirement, they are looking to downsize from the home they may have raised a family in. Maintaining an aging home is not in the cards of many retirees.

Offering a planned community that addresses the needs of this adult sector has been popular for many years. Now as the largest population of the Boomers enters the market for these communities, the competition among developers is strong. The design of the property, senior needs, community lifestyle, and offered amenities are the driving forces in landing residents.

Among the most popular types of amenities for these communities are made from artificial turf. Golf greens, bocce ball, croquet, and lawn bowling courts offer unique additions to a planned community. Since they are synthetic, these amenities are attractive, functional, and low maintenance. They are not only powerful selling tools, but are a perfect fit for the active retirement lifestyle. Synthetic grass amenities promote social interaction and friendly competition; things that are an important part of living an active and healthy retirement.

The addition of a low maintenance amenity is an inexpensive addition to a property. Not just included in new developments, many existing communities are adding these amenities as they continually upgrade what they offer residents.

As prospective residents shop for a place to enjoy their later years of life, most desire a place that allows them to enjoy what they have worked so many years for. Offering a community that fulfills the health needs of retirees along with an active and social lifestyle is a niche in the real estate that seems to keep growing. Because of understanding what most active retiree’s desire, these communities are helping these people live longer, healthier lives.  Synthetic turf is playing a key role in many residents lives.

IntelliTurf has helped numerous Senior Housing companies add these amenities to thier existing properties and we are always considered during their new developments.

As winter is ushered out, the idea of lawn care is back on many peoples mind.  Not only home owners, but commercial property owners are budgeting what will be spent on landscapes and lawns.  These expenditures rely largely on whether municipalities will allow for watering or not.  Many areas of the country have experienced drought conditions that have resulted in strict regulations or even total watering bans.  As a result many are expecting these restriction remain in place, which leaves many in an quandary.  With the economy playing a large role in budgets for properties, the decision how to spend what money is available for landscaping is quite difficult.

Many landowners and developers have embraced the idea of the water efficient landscape.  These designs have been growing in popularity for the last decade.  The idea has it roots out West where the water issue has been around the longest.  The explosion in the population, paired with the increased agricultural demand of that population, has caused a real strain on water resources.  “The New Deal Projects” of the first half of the last Century were cutting edge at the time; addressing the water and electricity requirements of a migrating and growing population.

Now, at a critical point in water usage, most of the West has shifted to major restrictions.  The result is the use of low consumption landscapes.  Drip lines, native drought resistant plants, cistern systems and hardscapes are just a few features of water efficient landscapes.  Lawns are often made of synthetic turf.

These design features are becoming the norm in the Southeast.  Shifting weather patterns and large urban areas demanding more water is what drives the need for a water efficient landscape.  The very real restrictions of the West are now part of many other regions of the country.  With a poor economy, it is only making more sense to embrace these designs.  Not only do they save on water, but they also are lower in maintenance.  They have a longer life and are less prone to environmental issues as non native species.

Having an attractive property benefits both residential and commercial properties.  The catch is how much must be spent to offer these results.  The water efficient design adds value to the property and offers a strong message on the owners stance on water resource issues.  The money spent up front generally pays off in years of  attractive, efficient, low cost landscapes.

The dire situation that the U.S. economy is experiencing has effected the safety concerns of many playgrounds across the country.  As municipalities tax dollars evaporate, so do the budgets that go towards parks and recreation departments.  If money was there, it was either spent or diverted to higher priority concerns.  Because of this, many foundations around play equipment remain dangerous and/or not up to code.  The biggest concern lies with some of the older pieces that are much taller than most modern ones.  These playgrounds are the ones that need the help the most.  Children’s play habits are not effected by the economy.  Unfortunately, their safety may be.

Fall height requiremnets for playground equipment are specified by playground associations and manufacturers are not posted or known to most of teh people who use the playground.  If your playground is not safe, your children are not safe.  IntelliTurf has the ability to resurface older playgrounds so that the surface complies with regulations for years withtout much maintenance and virtually no maintenance cost.

Most people view synthetic turf the same way; fake grass.  Sure, it looks real and is incredibly durable.  It requires little or no maintenance.  It requires no water of fertilizing and it always looks good.  Isn’t that what artificial turf is all about?  Well, it is; until you show it to an Engineer.  Especially if they are a structural or civil engineer like the members of the American Society of Civil Engineers or ASCE.  These guys look at synthetic turf in an empirical fashion.  They think of ways to use artificial grass in applications that most had not thought of.

The nature of synthetic turf allows an engineer see it as a tool to solve a problem.  It is light weight, durable, and drains well.  These facts allow for a thought process that could solve a problem and offer aesthetically pleasing results.  When an engineer works with a site planner, architect or developer, the application of synthetic turf may be the result of an issue that demanded a low maintenance and attractive solution.

The idea of covering systems or designing drainage fields are some of these applications.  The ability for synthetic turf to be part of a cistern system is quite feasible.  A lawn that actually captures water?  Very innovative.  Roof tops and terraces on high rises that feature the look of grass without the load issue?  These applications are just a few being utilized in many designs.

As the design of synthetic turf continues to evolve, so will the applications.  Beyond the athletic field, modern artificial grass is a sight to behold.  Many engineers have recognized this.

Commercial properties are among the newest and fastest growing markets for the synthetic turf market.  No, they are not installing football fields adjacent to office parks.  The interest in the artificial grass comes in the form of amenities, specifically golf greens and bocce ball courts.

The idea to have amenities at a commercial property has evolved from the introduction of the “work/play” business campus.  These campuses were created, largely, by Tech firms such as Microsoft.  The notion to make a work environment that promotes social interaction was based on the belief that such an environment would increase teamwork, creativity, and productivity.  Business campuses often include such amenities as day care, game rooms, athletic courts, gyms, cafeterias, and rest areas.  To set themselves apart, many property developers and owners have adopted some of the aspects of the work-play campus.  The ability to offer office space to businesses that include some of these amenities helps attract potential clients.  If the amenities are well-cared for, retention rates of the lease’s increase.  The catch is, these amenities add a considerable cost to the property.  Someone has to pay for it.  Theoretically, it is worth the expense.  If these work environments create a stronger, more profitable company, then the additional cost of these amenities are worth it.

The addition of a synthetic golf green or bocce ball court to a office property is a low cost, low maintenance approach  to the work-play office environment.  These amenities are easy to install, attractive and promote social interaction.  They can easily be added to existing properties or included in the design of new properties.  Mixed-use property developers are among the most receptive to the addition of a golf green or bocce ball court.  Many have experienced what these amenities can do for multi-housing properties.  As new projects are introduced, these experienced developers automatically include new and different amenities into the plans.  Synthetic golf greens and Bocce ball courts are not limited to Class A or B commercial properties.  Warehouse and distribution centers have seen the value of them.  They are attractive, fun and promote social interaction.  This results in team work and increased production.

Setting a property apart is often what drives sales.  Often it is the small tangible features that makes a possible clients decision.  Offering more to clients without costing property owners more is what makes a  property profitable.  Low cost, low maintenance amenities such as a synthetic golf green or bocce ball court are an easy way to attract clients and make a property more unique and attractive.

Across the country, many Americans live in neighborhoods with beautiful tree lined streets.  Often close to cities, these communities were built in the early half of the 20 century.  A large  number of well built craftsmen homes have endured time, though the communities may have not.  Now, as the population of the United States shifts even more towards cities, older areas have been transformed.  A renewed interest in older neighborhoods location, design and beauty has spurred community renewal and urban gentrification.  Not only rescuing the home from decay, homeowners are transforming the neglected property around these old dwellings.

One of the most attractive parts of older neighborhood properties are the immense trees that grow throughout them.  Often over 100 years old, these trees have experienced the history of these communities for better or for worse.  The trees are what makes the properties beautiful, but they also come with a price.  These giants shroud the homes and keep them in shade.  The low light limits landscape options and often homeowners find themselves wrestling with a choice; to keep the trees or cut them down.  The hope for a lawn is usually tied to this decision.  Tree removal is expensive and can often partially destroy what makes the older home or neighborhood attractive.  Many cities have dramatically limited the removal of trees in older neighborhoods.  The notion is to protect from rampant removal of trees that would permanently alter or destroy a communities identity.  The Large trees limit urban surface heating and help scrub the atmosphere of carbon dioxide.  Trees provide protection from erosion and add habitat for creatures that populate the wild urban landscape.  If a lawn were to be enjoyed by a landowner, how do they circumvent all these issues?

A synthetic lawn is usually the answer.  Being an outdoor carpet, an artificial turf lawn can easily be installed without any major property alterations.  Municipalities generally do not dictate the installation of synthetic turf.  Not only does artificial grass solve the watering issue that so many communities are encountering, but it also can help protect areas that have limited plant growth and are prone to erosion.  Synthetic lawns are generally easy to install; depending on the condition of the site.  They do cost more “up front” than a traditional lawn, but they can be located where you want them, they require no water or fertilizer, they last a long time, they look great everyday of the year, and they require virtually no maintenance.

The beauty of an older urban neighborhood depends on many factors.  The most important is the level of intrest from the investor of the property.  As older properties enjoy a new beginning, home owners find using new materials and products to improve the older homes a key to rescuing them.  A synthetic lawn is one of the modern products that contribute to the beauty of the home.