A Simple Guide to Painting Artificial Turf Fields
Artificial turf is designed to be a versatile surface for a variety of outdoor activities. Whether it’s a high school football game or fun family outdoor activity, here is a simple guide to painting artificial turf fields.
Remove Unwanted Paint
Before you apply the correct paint to the turf, remember to remove any old, unwanted paint. This will not only improve the look of the turf, but will minimize paint buildup and damage over time. Paint can be removed with a dry brush, water, or remover solution.
Find the Proper Marking Equipment
Keep in mind the type of field you’re marking. What’s the purpose of painting the turf? You need to know the answer in order to choose the right field marking equipment for the job to ensure you don’t damage the field.
Types of Paint
There are a few different types of turf-marking paint to choose from: chalk, removable, and permanent.
Chalk Paint
Chalk paint is the most common option for striping sports fields. This paint will wear off after a lot of heavy traffic, so it’s not made to last for days.
Removable Paint
Removable paint is water-based and will last longer than chalk paint. It can be easily removed with a water-based paint remover and won’t harm the turf fibers.
Permanent Paint
Permanent paint behaves just as the name indicates—it’s permanent. This paint is ideal for displaying logos or advertisements that won’t need to be removed from the artificial turf fibers.
Use the Correct Amount of Paint
Using too much paint on the field can cause damage to the artificial turf. You only want to cover the tips of the turf, not paint the entire length of the fibers. When applying paint too heavily, it can not only be difficult to remove in the future, but it can cause the turf to become a rough surface. A toughened turf surface can lead to future damage. Artificial turf fields are meant to withstand years of use, so make sure you apply paint carefully and lightly.
Paint for Regulated Sports Games
If you’re preparing the field for a sports game, it’s important to know what the specific sport requires of the field’s design.
Measurements
Each sport played on artificial turf has specific field measurements to be followed. Remember to pay attention to details and precisely measure out the necessary distances before painting the field.
Paint Colors
Some sports use different colors to indicate certain field markings. Look up the rules of the particular game to ensure the proper colors are lined throughout the field.
No matter the game being played—a regulated sport or fun family game—using this simple guide to painting artificial turf fields will help set up your next outdoor adventure.