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Original poster

Does astroturf put you off?

392 replies

GingerBeverage · 12/10/2021 10:04

If you're looking at family houses, would astroturf (fake grass) put you off viewing/buying?

I'm seeing it a lot in city terraces and semis these days. There seems to be a resurgence from being out of fashion decades ago.

OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 12/10/2021 11:07

Yes, definitely wouldn’t buy a house with astroturf.

Zarene · 12/10/2021 11:07

Vile, vile stuff.

I would factor in the cost of replacing it, and assume that the owners had made other environmentally stupid and / or naff decisions elsewhere (which might not be apparent till we moved in), which would concern me greatly.

Snoken · 12/10/2021 11:07

Yes, it would massively put me off. I would not be able to live with it as it's inexcusably irresponsible for our planet, but I could also not live with getting rid of it and add a massive pile of plastic onto a landfill somewhere. So, it would be a no from me based on that.

Classica · 12/10/2021 11:10

It certainly wouldn't put me off viewing or buying a property but ripping it up would be one of the first things I'd attend to. Awful stuff.

Mol1628 · 12/10/2021 11:10

Yes it would put me off.

Franklyfrost · 12/10/2021 11:10

I wouldn’t not buy the house but it would be a negative as I would be factoring in taking it up, sell/recycle/landfill it,” and planting something to replace it. Also, it would put me off the seller in general.

Pontypandytaxpayer · 12/10/2021 11:12

I hate fake grass but I'm surprised by the number of posters who are saying it's a big enough reason not to buy a house!

godmum56 · 12/10/2021 11:13

@BikeRunSki

As well as the aesthetic and plastic pollutions issues, I’d like to know what the associated impact on land drainage is. But then I’m a flood risk management engineer.
its permeable laid on a permeable base. Same or better permeability as loose gravel, block paving and so on.
godmum56 · 12/10/2021 11:15

I am two ways about this. I don't want a load of it but my neighbour and I have got small difficult front gardens.....very wet soil, lots of shade. I have mine block paved and park my car on it and she has astroturfed hers which is about a quarter the size of mine. I have to say hers does look nice.

Melroses · 12/10/2021 11:16

My neighbour put astroturf down.

It involved taking off all the top soil (three skips full), a thick layer of clay hoggin which was wacked down, a layer of sand that was wacked down, and they plastic grass was laid on top of this.

I would never buy that house as

a. if you ever wanted to grow anything it would cost in landscaping and top soil to take it all up and just plant something.

b. Even plastic does not last forever so it will need replacing at some point which will not be cheap.

c. He is always vacuuming it. It looks a PITA.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 12/10/2021 11:16

Awful stuff. Horrendous for the environment and I would take it up if I moved anywhere that had it.

ChillyB · 12/10/2021 11:17

Yes it would put me off.

TheGrumpyGoat · 12/10/2021 11:18

I see it as a negative and would factor the cost of removal into my considerations.

Classica · 12/10/2021 11:20

I think too many people think that there has to be a lawn and if the ground is too marshy for grass sees to flourish that they have to get a fake lawn. But there are other options aside from grass. Lawns aren't the be all and end all.

TuftyMarmoset · 12/10/2021 11:20

@Pontypandytaxpayer

I hate fake grass but I'm surprised by the number of posters who are saying it's a big enough reason not to buy a house!
The ground underneath will be compacted, so it’s not as simple as just ripping it out and rolling out real turf
OwBist · 12/10/2021 11:21

I have it, due to multiple small terraces in my garden (too small to mow), and I have lots of different surfaces (not all AstroTurf). It's very expensive, and looks "ok" - I don't pretend it's real, but it doesn't look totally plastic, either. Its like carpet - a permeable underlay, then the turf. It's as easy to remove as carpet, too - roll it up and off you go. I replaced solid concrete with mine, so increased drainage. I don't have pets using it as a toilet, but would not recommend for people with pets anyway, as it gets very hot in the sun (something I didn't know before I got it). Don't know if I'd get it again, but it reduces my allergies, is neat and tidy and suits the type of garden that I have. I wouldn't reject a whole property because of it.

Milkbottlelegs · 12/10/2021 11:21

@IamMaz

No. I think it's fine. It can look much better than a really bad lawn.
This. There’s a reason so many terrace houses in London have it.
Tomatalillo · 12/10/2021 11:22

Yes, massively. For the awful plastic pollution

Abraxan · 12/10/2021 11:25

Whilst MN hates artificial grass (not astroturf, that is a very different produce to artificial grass) our real life experience locally as that it isn't preventing any sales. Homes with artificial lawns are still selling extremely quickly and for well above asking prices, as are homes with real lawns.

Pokhora · 12/10/2021 11:31

It completely depends on the house/market. In a very small city garden where it has been laid professionally it is not a problem. In a large garden I would not be keen but would still view as I feel it could be easily removed.

nellly · 12/10/2021 11:33

@Camandmitch

In general yes but I can understand why people may want it in a very small garden especially north facing ones.
I agree with this. If the garden doesn't get any light/good drainage and the alternative is patchy grass/mud bath then I would rather good quality fake grass
purplesequins · 12/10/2021 11:34

wouldn't put me off viewing but I would consider the cost of getting rid and replacing with actual plants in my offer.

DoubleTweenQueen · 12/10/2021 11:34

AstroTurf is awful - only similarity to grass is it's colour!
Gets dangerously hot for pets & bare feet in sunshine in the summer.

However - probably quite nice softer surface Vs slabs in a shady courtyard, or balcony/terrace.

Wouldn't put me off viewing a property at all but would be factoring in replacing it if necessary. And if the previous occupant had dogs or cats, I'd want them to dispose of it before I moved in :)

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 12/10/2021 11:35

Yes. I’d have to think about the expense and hassle of removing and replacing it.

I probably wouidnt view a house with it unless it was perfect in every other way.

minipie · 12/10/2021 11:41

Lots of haters on MN OP, less so in RL.

I would say 50% of the houses round us have it. Many of the houses which don’t have fake grass have fully paved gardens instead - very few real lawns around. Small gardens, terraced houses, real grass won’t grow well and gets full of weeds and ants nests.

If you were house hunting round here and wanted a real lawn you’d be looking a long time.