Colchester & Essex
Artificial Grassin Colchester, EssexBuilt On A Base That Drains
A lawn that looks right and drains properly in every season, not one that ripples, pools or bald patches at the seams: excavation, sub-base, membrane and installation carried out as one job, with a free site visit and a bespoke written quotation before anything starts.
10+ years' experience · 5-star Google rating from 13 reviews · £1m public liability · 2-year workmanship guarantee
- 10+ years' experience
- 5-star Google rating (13 reviews)
- £1m public liability insurance
- 2-year workmanship guarantee
- Free site visits & quotations
Artificial Grass completedin Colchester & Essex
Service overview
What artificial grass installation actually involves
Artificial grass is only as good as what's underneath it. The yarn and backing you choose change how the lawn looks and feels; the excavation, sub-base and drainage decide whether it stays flat, drains properly and still looks right in five years rather than rippling, pooling or smelling in damp weather. Lawton Landscapes carries out the groundwork and the laying as one job, so there is no gap for corners to be cut between the two.
Work begins with excavating the existing lawn or surface to a depth that allows for a proper free-draining sub-base, removing spoil from site and compacting the sub-base in layers. A screeded laying course sits on top of that to give a true, even surface, a permeable membrane goes down to stop weed growth from beneath, and the grass is then laid, joined at any seams and fixed securely around the perimeter.
Most gardens in Colchester and the surrounding Essex villages sit on clay, which drains poorly on its own. Artificial grass laid without a properly built free-draining base doesn't fail by dying like a real lawn would; it fails by holding water at the surface, smelling after rain, and eventually rippling as the base beneath it moves.
The existing surface is excavated, a free-draining sub-base is compacted, and a laying course is screeded to a true level. Membrane, secure perimeter fixings and tightly joined seams keep the surface flat and stop edges lifting.
It suits shaded gardens, dog owners and families who want a usable lawn twelve months a year without the mud and mowing.
Who this is for
- Homeowners tired of maintaining a lawn that never quite recovers from wear, shade or a clay base that waterlogs every winter
- Families wanting a usable, mud-free lawn for children and pets that doesn't need mowing or feeding
- Anyone with a shaded, north-facing or awkwardly shaped garden where real turf has repeatedly struggled
- Landlords and homeowners wanting a consistently presentable garden with minimal ongoing upkeep
- Anyone finishing a wider garden project who wants a low-maintenance lawn area to sit alongside new paving or planting
Every project includes
- Excavation and compacted free-draining sub-base
- Screeded laying course for a true, flat finish
- Seams joined tight and perimeters fixed securely
- Weed membrane and infill as required
- Free site visit, bespoke written quotation and a 2-year workmanship guarantee.
The cost of getting it wrong
What happens when artificial grass is laid badly, or the base is skipped
Artificial grass laid without proper groundwork often looks fine for the first year, which is exactly why the shortcut gets taken so often. The problems that follow are almost all to do with what's underneath: a thin or poorly compacted sub-base moves with the seasons and telegraphs through as ripples and dips in the surface; skipped drainage leaves water sitting at the base of the grass rather than passing through it.
On clay specifically, the risk is standing water. A free-draining sub-base is what lets rainwater pass through the grass and away, rather than pooling underneath it. Skip that layer and lay the grass over compacted clay with a membrane and not much else, and the garden ends up with a lawn that looks dry on top but squelches and smells for days after rain, often worse than the real lawn it replaced.
Poorly joined seams and weak perimeter fixings cause a different set of problems: visible lines where two rolls meet, edges that lift and curl over time, and a surface that separates under regular foot traffic or a trampoline leg. None of these are yarn defects; they're installation shortcuts that show up months or years later.
Relaying artificial grass properly, on a base built to drain, costs less than doing it twice. Where an existing sub-base is genuinely sound, that will be said; where it isn't, the reasons will be explained honestly at the site visit before any quotation is given.
Common mistakes we're called in to fix
- Laying grass directly onto existing turf or bare soil without excavating for a proper sub-base
- Using a sub-base material or depth that doesn't drain freely, so water sits underneath the grass
- Skipping the screeded laying course, leaving a surface that isn't true and shows every dip
- Poorly jointed seams that open up, curl or become visible lines across the lawn
- Weak or missing perimeter fixings, so edges lift and the grass moves underfoot over time
- Fitting the wrong pile height or yarn type for how the garden is actually used
Our process
How your artificial grass project runs, step by step
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Step 1
Free site visit and assessment
Dominic looks at the existing lawn or surface, checks ground conditions and current drainage, discusses how the space is used (children, pets, entertaining) and recommends pile height and yarn type accordingly.
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Step 2
Bespoke written quotation
You receive a written quotation covering excavation, waste removal, sub-base, membrane and installation, priced for your garden specifically. No 'from' pricing and no charge for the visit or the quote.
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Step 3
Excavation and drainage
The existing lawn or surface is dug out to the depth needed for a free-draining sub-base and spoil is removed from site. Drainage is assessed and corrected at this stage, while the ground is open.
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Step 4
Sub-base and screeded laying course
A free-draining sub-base is laid and compacted in layers, then screeded to a true, even level so the finished grass sits flat with no dips or high spots.
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Step 5
Membrane, laying and joining
A permeable weed-suppressant membrane goes down first. The grass is then laid, seams are joined cleanly so they don't show, and the perimeter is fixed securely so edges can't lift or creep.
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Step 6
Handover and 2-year guarantee
The site is cleared, waste taken away, and you're walked round the finished lawn with basic cleaning and care advice. The workmanship is covered by a 2-year guarantee, and Dominic remains the person you contact, not a call centre.
What you get
The difference a properly built job makes
Water passes through, not around
A free-draining sub-base and proper falls mean rain moves through the grass and away, instead of sitting underneath it and turning the garden into a bog every winter.
A flat, even surface underfoot
A screeded laying course removes the dips and high spots that show through cheaply installed grass, so the lawn looks and feels right from every angle.
Seams and edges that stay put
Properly joined seams and secure perimeter fixings mean no visible lines, no curling edges and no movement under a trampoline, swing set or regular foot traffic.
A lawn that copes with shade and heavy use
Where real turf has struggled with shade, poor drainage or wear, artificial grass laid on a correct base gives a consistently green, usable lawn all year round.
One point of accountability
Dominic quotes the work, runs it and answers for it, so there's no confusion about who to contact if something needs attention.
Fully insured, properly guaranteed
£1m public liability insurance and a 2-year workmanship guarantee, so you're covered while the work happens and afterwards.
In detail
Artificial Grass in Colchester: materials, methods and variations
Excavation, sub-base and the screeded laying course
Excavation depth is set by how the existing ground drains and how the finished level needs to sit against patios, paths and borders. Spoil is removed from site rather than left in the garden. A free-draining sub-base, typically a compacted stone layer that allows water through rather than holding it, is built up in layers, because a single deep layer never compacts evenly through its depth.
On top of the sub-base sits a screeded laying course, worked to a true, even level. This is the layer that stops the finished grass telegraphing every dip and lump in the ground beneath it, skipping it is one of the most common reasons a cheaply installed lawn looks uneven within months.
Membrane, seams and perimeter fixings
A permeable membrane is laid over the screeded base before the grass goes down. It suppresses weed growth from below while still allowing water to drain through freely; a solid, non-permeable membrane defeats the purpose of the free-draining base underneath it.
Where a lawn is wider than a single roll of grass, seams are joined using a jointing tape and adhesive so the join sits flat and the pile direction matches across it, a badly joined seam is one of the most visible signs of a rushed installation. The perimeter is then fixed securely, typically with fixing pins or timber edging, so the edges can't lift, curl or creep inward over time.
Pile heights, yarn types and choosing the right grass
Pile height and yarn type both affect how a lawn looks and performs. A longer pile gives a lusher, more natural look but flattens more under heavy furniture or constant foot traffic; a shorter, denser pile recovers faster from wear and suits gardens used hard by children or dogs. Yarn shape and colour blend also vary between products, and the right choice depends on how the garden is actually used rather than which sample looks best in isolation.
This is discussed properly at the site visit, with samples available to see and feel, rather than a single product being recommended for every garden regardless of how it will be used.
Pets, children, shaded gardens and drainage
Artificial grass suits families with children and pets particularly well because it removes mud, bald patches and the need to keep dogs off a recovering lawn. A free-draining base and backing matter more here than anywhere else, where pets are using the lawn regularly, drainage that actually works is what stops odour building up over time, rather than the grass itself.
Shaded and north-facing gardens, where real turf often thins and moss takes hold, are a genuinely strong case for artificial grass, since the finished lawn doesn't depend on sunlight to stay looking right. The same free-draining sub-base principles apply regardless of aspect; shade doesn't change the groundwork, only the reason for choosing the product in the first place.
Cleaning, lifespan and aftercare
Artificial grass is low maintenance, not no maintenance. Leaves and debris should be cleared off periodically so they don't break down into the pile, and an occasional brush against the direction of the pile keeps the grass standing upright rather than matting down in high-traffic areas. Pet mess is simply removed and rinsed, which is one of the more practical everyday advantages over real turf.
A well-installed lawn on a correctly built base should give many years of consistent use, with the sub-base and drainage, not the grass itself, being what determines how well it performs over time. Straightforward cleaning and care advice is given at handover so the lawn is looked after properly from day one.
Artificial Grass is carried out across Colchester and the surrounding areas, including Chelmsford, Braintree and Witham. You can see the full range of landscaping services, read more about how Lawton Landscapes works or get in touch for a free site visit.
Questions
Artificial Grass questions we're asked most
How much does artificial grass cost to install in Colchester?
Every installation is measured and priced individually, because cost is driven by excavation depth, ground condition, drainage requirements and the grass product chosen, not a headline square-metre rate. Book a free site visit and you'll get a bespoke written quotation with the work set out clearly.
How long does artificial grass installation take?
A typical domestic garden runs across several working days, depending on size, ground condition and any drainage work required. A realistic timescale is given with the written quotation.
Will artificial grass drain properly after heavy rain?
It will, provided the sub-base underneath is free-draining and correctly built, which is exactly why the groundwork matters as much as the grass itself. Poorly built bases are the main reason artificial lawns hold water or smell after rain.
Is artificial grass suitable for a garden with dogs?
Yes, and it's one of the more common reasons it's chosen. A free-draining base is particularly important here, since it's what stops odour building up where pets use the lawn regularly, rather than the grass surface itself.
Can artificial grass be laid in a shaded or north-facing garden?
Yes. Unlike real turf, artificial grass doesn't depend on sunlight to stay looking green and even, which makes it a strong option for shaded gardens where real lawns have repeatedly struggled.
Do you lay artificial grass over an existing lawn?
No, the existing lawn and topsoil are excavated out first. Laying artificial grass directly over turf or soil skips the free-draining sub-base entirely and is one of the most common causes of pooling and rippling later on.
How long does artificial grass last?
A well-installed lawn on a correctly built base should give many years of consistent use. The sub-base and drainage, rather than the grass product itself, are usually what determine how well an installation performs over time.
What guarantee comes with the work?
All workmanship is covered by a 2-year guarantee, and Lawton Landscapes carries £1m public liability insurance. Dominic runs the job and remains your point of contact, so if anything needs attention afterwards you contact him directly.
Do you install artificial grass outside Colchester?
Yes. Artificial grass is installed throughout Essex and into Suffolk, including Chelmsford, Braintree, Maldon, Witham, Tiptree, Halstead, Clacton-on-Sea, Harwich and Sudbury.
Can artificial grass be installed alongside other garden work?
Frequently it is. Artificial grass is regularly installed alongside patios, planting and fencing as part of a wider garden project, with levels and drainage worked out together across the whole scheme.
Often done alongside
Turfing & New Lawns
Correct soil preparation and levelling so new turf knits in rather than patches out.
Patios
Natural stone, Indian sandstone, limestone and porcelain, laid on a properly prepared base.
Decking
Solidly framed timber and composite decking, set level and built to carry real use.
Fencing
Straight, solid, well-set fencing, with panels assembled and fitted on site where needed.
Garden Clearance
Overgrown or rubble-strewn plots cleared and taken away, ready for a fresh start.
Next step
Get an artificial lawn that actually drains
Book a free site visit and Dominic will assess your ground, drainage and how the garden is used, then send a bespoke written quotation. No obligation, no sales patter, and no charge for the visit.
07444 726106Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm · Colchester, Essex
Request your free estimate
Free site visit and bespoke quotation. No obligation, no pressure. Prefer to talk? Call 07444 726106