PRODUCT SHOWCASE ARTIFICIAL SURFACE MAINTENANCE
CHARTERHOUSE
Clean and clear When it comes to looking after a synthetic surface, maintenance does not need to be complex or costly, but it does need to be consistent and effective. Infill is imperative in supporting the fibres of the surface, ensuring they stand vertically to achieve the desired playing characteristics. However, footfall during play will naturally compact the infill and flatten the fibres – reducing drainage ability and leaving the most vulnerable part of the fibre exposed to loading and UV. Ineffective maintenance will lead to premature wear and reduce the expected life of the carpet. Regular brushing will help to move infill around the surface and stand fibres upright. It should be conducted in conjunction with surface cleaning – a little-and-often approach is considered the most effective. The Redexim Verti-Top from Charterhouse Turf Machinery uses a powered rotary brush to sweep the carpet, lift the pile and extract the top 1-15mm of infill, along with any foreign material. The infill is then passed over a sieve to separate any detritus before the cleaned infill is dropped and brushed back into the surface, leaving a clean, level and aesthetically pleasing finish. “A regular maintenance plan incorporating decompaction brushing
and cleaning will give grounds managers a surface that they can be proud of – one that looks great and, more importantly, is safe and playable throughout the year,” says Jonathan Woolfall, operations manager at Premier Pitches, which purchased a Verti-Top 1200 in the summer of 2018. “We’ve used the Verti-Top in a range of environments, with particularly high demand from local schools and sports grounds. It’s very simple to set up and easy to use, and it is really good at extracting dust and contaminants from the infill which helps to prevent those
problems with dirt and compaction deeper down in the pile. Its ability to carry out multiple processes in a single pass makes it a convenient and effective part of ensuring the long-term life of an artificial pitch.” The Verti-Top is available in either a 120cm or 180cm working width, with both models featuring powerful vacuum extraction, adjustable decompaction tines as standard and interchangeable sieves for use on surfaces with different infill types. www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk
SCH
Top tips and tools for synthetic surfaces A synthetic sports surface needs to remain level and with a consistent texture so that it gives a true and predictable game. Water has to be able to drain freely, which requires infill materials to be routinely decompacted and to be evenly distributed over the surface. A decompaction rake is designed to carry out routine maintenance on surfaces with a sand or crumb-filled base. Spring rake tines tease through the surface to remove heavy surface compaction and aid drainage. This is usually followed by a nylon brush, which helps to level and groom the area. Leaves, pine needles and other debris rapidly rot down,
forming a drainage-inhibiting ‘skin’ in the surface, an ideal medium for growing algae and moss. Keeping debris off the surface is crucial in autumn and winter, as damp conditions exacerbate the problem. A wide brush or a powered sweeper with a collector is essential for keeping this debris at bay. Powered brushes significantly reduce the time it takes to maintain a surface and can provide results unachievable with manual methods. If a powered brush with a debris collector is used on synthetic surfaces with an infill, a fine mesh grate in the collector is essential. The mesh allows sand or rubber crumb fill to return to the surface, whilst debris is caught. A chemical spray should be applied periodically to the surface to help prevent moss, lichen and algae from growing. www.schsupplies.co.uk
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