Does artificial grass burn in summer? Myths, facts and tips for your pool

It's every homeowner's number one concern: you've designed the space of your dreams, but you're afraid that under the August sun the artificial turf will burn your feet.

And, they may be right. As a synthetic material, it tends to accumulate more heat than natural grass, but comfort does not depend on the sun, but on fibre technology and intelligent installation.

In this Turfgrass guide we tell you everything you need to know about synthetic turf installations next to the pool and how to optimise its temperature. Are you interested? Read on and find out how to keep your garden always cool!

Yes, artificial turf gets hot, but it doesn't have to burn.

To answer the question directly: yes, artificial turf increases in temperature when it is exposed to direct sunlight and can reach high temperatures during peak summer hours.

However, whether or not the artificial turf burns depends on the quality of the installed system. The key to a lawn that does not "burn" and is a walkable space for children and pets lies in:

• The fibre technology (heat dissipation).
• The use of technical filler (silica sand).
• Simple maintenance (refresher watering).

The physics of the fibre: Why does artificial turf burn when I walk on it?

Artificial turf absorbs heat because it is composed of polymers. However, the geometry of our fibres and their density are key to mitigating this effect. You can consult our specific range for swimming pool applications and choose the model that best dissipates heat:

• Geometry for shade: Our "C" or "W" shaped fibres create micro-shaded areas between the filaments, preventing solar radiation from striking flat and reducing heat build-up.
• Thermal Resilience: A fibre that recovers its verticality after walking on it allows air to circulate. "Flattened" turf exposes more surface area to the sun, causing you to feel that artificial turf burns much faster. To maximise this comfort, it is vital to choose the right height of artificial turf for your garden's use.

Technical strategies: How to prevent artificial turf from burning

If the goal is to walk barefoot in the garden in total comfort, you only need to apply these technical maintenance and design criteria that we use in our high-performance installations:

1. The secret of the filler: Silica sand

If you are wondering how I can prevent my artificial turf from burning, the answer is silica sand. This mineral acts as a moisture accumulator; when watered quickly, the sand retains water and slowly releases it through evaporation, cooling the fibre from the base upwards. It is, in essence, a natural cooling system.

2. The cooling effect of rapid watering

Thanks to Turfgrass' high-flow drainage (60 litres/minute), you can cool the surface in seconds. A quick hose-down immediately lowers the temperature (reducing wind chill by up to 20°C) and, by draining instantly, leaves the turf ready for use: cool, dry and slip-resistant.

Turfgrass in the swimming pool: Comfort, safety and hygiene

The pool area is where the foot is most sensitive and the individual user is most demanding. At Turfgrass we focus our engineering on ensuring that the water-grass binomial is impeccable:

• Total resistance and comfort: Our fibres are inert to chlorine and saltpetre, keeping their softness and thermal properties intact.
• Superior hygiene: Efficient drainage prevents bacterial growth after cooling irrigation, ensuring a healthy, puddle-free bathing area for the whole family.