Infill Landscape Blog
Choosing Artificial Turf Sand Infill: Pros and Cons of Raw Silica Sand Vs. Envirofill
You’ve decided to make your home’s outdoor space lusher and lower-maintenance this year by installing artificial turf. Congrats! Whether you’re planning to put in a new outdoor feature, like poolside landscaping or a place to perfect your short game, or you simply want to make your yard friendlier to kiddos and pets, artificial turf is a great way to enhance your home’s greenspace without a lot of ongoing effort.
Unlike the time and costs that go into a real grass lawn, artificial turf is all about inviting ease. But there is one more decision you’ll need to make before you can send out those backyard BBQ invites. And that’s what type of artificial turf infill you’ll use to support your new turf yard’s looks, safety, and durability.
Among artificial turf infill options, many homeowners go with a sand or sand-based infill for landscaping projects. But not all sand infills are created equal. And some products — like raw, uncoated silica sand infill — come with specific drawbacks to be aware of, especially if you have dogs or kids at home.
As turf infill experts with more than 45 years in the business, we wanted to break down the real difference between raw sand infills and a coated sand infill like Envirofill, the leading polymer-coated sand infill. We’ll do that in this blog, with a summary of pros and cons for each. But first, we’ll do a quick refresh on why infill belongs on your turf landscaping list in the first place.
In this article, find:
Why is ARtificial turf infill important?
First things first. What’s the purpose of infill anyway?
Think of it like this: Your artificial turf infill is kind of like a house’s foundation. It supports artificial turf in the same way a foundation supports all the components of a sturdy home.
For starters, infill helps keep turf fibers upright, giving the turf surface a full and lush look. Without the structural support of infill, turf is more prone to blades breaking, fraying, and becoming matted. And without infill’s weight, which acts as a ballast to turf, your turf carpet could become wrinkled or shift around, too. All of that not only takes away from your turf yard’s aesthetics, but it can detract from the performance, safety, and longevity of your outdoor space, too.
Then there’s the issue of foot traffic. If you have kids and pets, or if you plan on doing a lot of entertaining, that’ll amount to a significant number of steps made, tumbles taken, and games played on your turf. Turf fibers are pretty flexible, so if you stand on them, they’ll bend a bit under the weight of your foot. In these moments, you’re not actually standing on the artificial turf backing — you’re standing right on top of your shock-absorbing infill! Without infill, toes, shoes, and paws have to dig straight into the artificial turf backing to get any traction, which, as you can imagine, wears out the turf backing pretty quickly.
Beyond keeping turf securely in place and protected, a quality artificial turf infill keeps your whole system draining well, too. And an infill with proven antimicrobial properties — like Envirofill, which carries Microban® antimicrobial protection in each grain — simultaneously helps prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and other odor-causing bacterias and microbes. All of that matters when it comes to investing in a backyard artificial turf system that’s as clean and high-performing as it is nice to look at.
choosing an artificial turf sand infill: factors to consider
When it comes to your home, family, and pets, there are going to be some different aspects to consider when picking an infill that suits the needs of your space. Factors we recommend keeping in mind include:
How Pet-Safe Is My Turf Infill?
Our furry loved ones are like family, so of course, you want the best care for them. Choosing an infill that’s non-toxic benefits both you and them. Pets love to roll around and ingest random things when they’re outside, so having an infill that you know is safe will keep them happy and give you peace of mind. Plus, a good infill directly informs how clean and well-draining your overall turf system is. With pets around that need to take potty breaks, that’s extra important.
Will Kids Use This Space?
Most parents — not to mention grandparents, aunts, and uncles! — hope for outdoor space that lets safe, happy kids play freely outdoors. With the right infill, your turf lawn is set up to support just that. Choosing an infill that’s clean and safe makes playtime one less thing you have to worry about.
How Environmentally-Conscious Is It?
Nowadays, this is a must for a lot of people. Since you’ve already opted to go for artificial turf, chances are you may have considered the positive impacts of a yard that doesn’t need to be regularly watered or sprayed for pests. But the quality and materials of your turf system have their own bearing on the environment, too. Luckily, there are reusable, sustainable infill options out there that do the job to take care of your turf and the environment at the same time.
How Long Will My Turf Infill Last?
That’s another way of asking: How often will I have to top off or completely replace my artificial turf infill, and what are the costs for that like? Here’s where paying a bit more on the frontend can really pay off, especially when choosing a high-quality infill with a good warranty. A hyper-durable infill will also help you cut down on environmental waste and consumption by avoiding frequent top-offs and replacements.
raw silica sand infill vs. envirofill: what's the difference?
So, you want an artificial turf infill that’s clean, safe for all who use your outdoor space, and low-maintenance. And you’re thinking that sand for artificial grass likely makes the most sense for your space. Before you pick a product, it’s time to make sure you understand the pros and cons of using raw sand infills vs. a coated sand infill, like Envirofill. Let’s get into it.
Raw Silica Sand Infill
What Is It?
Raw silica sand is untreated, natural sand that’s composed primarily of finely ground quartz. It’s one of the oldest and most common infill materials.
Pros:
- Inexpensive: Raw artificial turf silica sand is often more affordable than other infill types, at least at first. It’s plain sand that hasn’t undergone any special treatments for cleanliness, durability, or performance, making it about as inexpensive an infill option as you can find.
- Widely available: Raw artificial turf sand tends to be easy to find.
Cons:
- Health & environmental concerns: Uncoated silica sand’s fine, dusty particles can cause respiratory issues when inhaled. In fact, prolonged inhalation is a risk factor for silicosis, a serious lung disease, and even cancer. That’s why raw silica sand is sold with a warning label, cautioning buyers not to inhale it. And excessive dust and sand runoff can contribute to environmental pollution, too.
- Mess: You know the feeling when you’ve been at the beach and, no matter how cautious you are, sand still makes it into your car, house, and everywhere else? Well, raw sand infill isn’t any different. It gets into your clothes and spreads easily, and with young kids, that makes for one big, time-consuming mess. Not only that, but visible sand can make your turf surface look dirty, necessitating more frequent maintenance.
- Hardens and becomes compact: That’ll impact how comfortable and safe your turf yard is, and how natural it feels. Between sand’s ease in shifting around and its tendency to harden, more frequent top-offs and maintenance are often needed in order to avoid higher injury risks with silica sand for turf.
- Drainage issues: Turf rolls are manufactured with a holed backing that’s concealed within the height of the turf fibers, or blades. Raw sand, especially when wet, can clog the drainage holes in artificial turf’s backing so that water has nowhere to go, leaving you with a watery, soggy mess.
- Cleanliness challenges: If you have kids or pets, you likely know what we mean when we say that turf can retain undesirable fluids. Raw silica sand infill absorbs urine, blood, and even vomit, so if there’s an accident, your turf lawn takes the hit.
- Weed growth: The last thing you want to see when you look out your window to your beautifully groomed artificial turf lawn is weeds. Sand infill is prone to allowing seeds to germinate, which means that in the spring and summer months, you could see some unwanted greens sticking out of your turf fibers.
Use It For:
Due to the health, safety, and practical concerns associated with raw sand infill, it’s ideally used for temporary turf installations and general landscaping in areas with low foot traffic.
Envirofill
What Is It?
Envirofill infill is made from rounded sand grains coated with a polymer that helps avoid compaction, keeping turf surfaces durable and high-performing in all elements and conditions. And every grain of Envirofill is infused with Microban® antimicrobial protection, too, helping to prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew growth as well as stains, odors, and product deterioration.
Pros:
- Safe and non-toxic: Extensive third-party testing found Envirofill to be non-toxic, non-hazardous, and safe for pets and people of all ages. Not only that, but Envirofill exceeds ASTM standards for hazardous metals in children’s toys and is even exempt from California’s strict Prop 65 labeling requirements, making it one of few infills in that category.
- Not dusty: Each sand grain that becomes Envirofill is washed three separate times to remove any dust residue. Then, the clean grains are encapsulated with a coating and submitted to more tests — like the famous shake test — to ensure none of that protective coating leeches off, which has been shown to happen in lesser-quality coated sand infills.
- Resists compaction & clogging: The sand used to make Envirofill is mined from the ground as round grains, a shape that naturally allows for optimal water drainage and resists compaction. By comparison, the angular grain structure of raw, uncoated silica sand for turf impairs drainage and can accelerate compaction.
- Clean for pets and kids: Envirofill is the cleanest turf infill around, thanks to the Microban® antimicrobial protection infused in every grain. In especially good news for dog lovers, Envirofill is even proven to reduce ammonia odor in pet urine by up to 99% by disrupting the bacterial process that results in unwanted odors.
- Industry-best warranty: Unlike a bag of raw sand, which is usually sold with minimal, if any, company branding and protection, Envirofill is the only turf infill on the market with a 16-year warranty. For even more peace of mind, it’s made and backed by Motz, a trusted brand with over 45 years of experience in turf system design.
Cons:
- Higher cost: Envirofill typically costs more upfront compared to more basic infill materials, like raw silica sand or crumb rubber. But as a low-migration infill with limited need for top-offs and an industry-best warranty, spending more on Envirofill initially will save you money in the long run. Case in point: Envirofill can even be reused for more than one turf lifecycle.
Use It For:
- Any kind of turf application! Envirofill isn’t just a favorite for homeowners and a top pick for playgrounds. It’s a favorite infill for athletic fields, too, showing that you don’t have to sacrifice on performance features to get an infill that’s safe, clean, and kid-friendly.
Interested in Motz Infills?
Be kind to your family, your pets, and the planet. Choose an infill that prioritizes your safety and health while keeping your lawn looking pristine all year-round.
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