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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:
Beautiful3 · 12/10/2021 11:45

Yes

Karwomannghia · 12/10/2021 11:45

It looks ok but I wouldn’t choose it. I’ve also realised it can smell very bad after sitting in 2 gardens with it wondering what the pissy smell was.

TheGrumpyGoat · 12/10/2021 11:46

I’d far rather have a paved garden than fake grass.
Surely you’re immediately discounting anyone with a pet dog from being interested in the property?

elbea · 12/10/2021 11:47

I probably wouldn’t view a house with plastic grass. It’s tacky, dreadful for the environment as it sheds microplastics directly into the ground and most of it looks old and gross.

godmum56 · 12/10/2021 11:47

@Karwomannghia

It looks ok but I wouldn’t choose it. I’ve also realised it can smell very bad after sitting in 2 gardens with it wondering what the pissy smell was.
you need to rinse it off if you have pets, but in dry spells I have to rinse my real grass too
AosSi · 12/10/2021 11:48

Absolutely puts me off, it's horribly tacky and bad for the environment. All those bits of leaves and muck that get into your lawn just get caught up in astro anyway - a friend of mine has a leaf blower for it.

godmum56 · 12/10/2021 11:48

@TheGrumpyGoat

I’d far rather have a paved garden than fake grass. Surely you’re immediately discounting anyone with a pet dog from being interested in the property?
why?
TheGrumpyGoat · 12/10/2021 11:49

Because dogs tend to wee in their gardens, and it soaks into the fake grass and smells.

TheGrumpyGoat · 12/10/2021 11:51

Having to rinse my garden down every day to get rid of the dog wee would absolutely put me off, not least because of the water wastage.

DinaofCloud9 · 12/10/2021 11:53

Yes it would put me off. Horrible stuff.

Tubbyinthehottub · 12/10/2021 11:55

Yes, I don't like it at all. Maybe if it was a tiny courtyard or terrace it would be OK but I'd rather see some sort of paving there.

coronabeer · 12/10/2021 11:55

It would put me off, definitely. I'm also, generally, put off my back gardens that have been entirely paved over.

SickAndTiredAgain · 12/10/2021 11:57

Absolutely. I think it’s awful, so would have to factor in the work and cost of removing it into any decision on the house.

caoraich · 12/10/2021 11:58

Would put me off. It wouldn't be a deal breaker but I'd have to factor in the cost of removal and redoing the garden in my budget.

It never looks real, even the very expensive stuff. Our neighbour put the most expensive stuff you can buy down and it's glaringly obvious.

jackstini · 12/10/2021 12:06

A house is a massive purchase with loads of factors, so whilst I am not keen on plastic grass, not in a million years would I base a property purchase decision on it!

There are far bigger things to consider so it would not be a deal breaker

How big is the area?

Els1e · 12/10/2021 12:13

I don’t like it but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker if rest of property was right.

Idontlike · 12/10/2021 12:15

Yes it would put me off due to the micro plastics issue and the fact it looks awful.

Fallagain · 12/10/2021 12:19

Yes, they get far too hot in the summer so it isn’t safe for children and pets. It wouldn’t stop me buying but I would allow for the cost of replacing with grass.

MariaAngustias · 12/10/2021 12:22

It did not put me off buying our house - cos we ripped it up and planted grass as soon as we moved in. Personally I dislike it but each to his own so do whatever suits you and your lifestyle OP.

Snoods · 12/10/2021 12:26

We have it. I love real grass but for us it’s much easier and looks smarter than before. When I have more time (hopefully one day), we’ll have real again

Original poster
GingerBeverage · 12/10/2021 12:27

@Melroses

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.

Good info, thanks, I didn't realise it requires prep that way but it makes sense.
OP posts:
EggsellentSmithers · 12/10/2021 12:32

I wouldn’t discount a house purely on the presence of Astro, but I think it’s grim on so many levels and I would have to consider getting rid of it and the cost associated with that.

CarrotSticks23 · 12/10/2021 12:37

I would put it in the same category as a rickety greenhouse or outdoor loo. A massive PITA that I would need to deal with but if I absolutely loved the house I would. It would be a strong negative but not unworkable.

It's tacky, it looks crap, it smells, it's environmentally poor, not workable with pets or any animals tbh. Also it's not comfortable particularly to play on so not great for children. It's something that I would need to sort ASAP, unlike say dodgy decor or an avocado bathroom that are liveable

CarrotSticks23 · 12/10/2021 12:38

It's not just dogs that will poo on it either, foxes, hedgehogs, cats birds, all poo and wee. You don't just need to hose it down if you have pets!

Pices · 12/10/2021 12:40

It would put me right off. I'd rather not live in the house where the Lorax pops through to tell you what twats you are. It will be banned eventually. It's literally costing the planet in plastic and killing off the very thing that gives us oxygen.