Exterus Sport & Play
Water Based Sports Surfaces
Regular preventative maintenance is key to extending the life of water based sports surfaces as well as maximising playing and safety characteristics.
Used from entry level right up to the highest level of competition, water-based artificial grass pitches are considered one of the best playing surfaces for hockey.
Made from synthetic carpet fibre, the tuft is very dense and short, and no sand infill or “rubber crumb” is required. This carpet is then bound to a shockpad. The shockpad usually consists of a rubber padding, which protects the players from stress to the knees and ankles thanks to its shock absorbent qualities.
This method of sports surface construction allows for a better playing surface, reducing friction and allowing for quicker and smoother play, giving the ball a true and uniform roll. It allows players to easily manoeuvre the ball with the stick without it catching. This is particularly important as hockey balls tend to be dimpled, and on a dry field this can cause the ball to bounce which can disrupt play and cause injury. A water-based pitch also further reduces the risk of injury as there is less chance of scrapes to the skin, when compared to sand alternatives. It also allows freer movement of the body, so is kinder on knees and ankle joints.
Water-based hockey pitches have an extremely dense, short pile. It is important that they are irrigated and kept continuously wet as the water acts as a wearing factor for the grass and affects playability; as much as the sand in a filled or a dressed pitch does.
Specialist machinery is needed to clean water based surfaces. Our mobile machinery has rotary cleaning heads are used to loosen debris. Water is jetted into the surface and then the contaminated material is sucked up into a tank ready for safe disposal. A regular maintenance programme is recommended from new as this will allow the surface to outlast manufacturers warranties by as much as 50% and ensures good playability throughout the year.
Due to the constant spraying with water, these pitches can suffer from lots of algae, moss and mould issues. Whilst the fibres of the playing surfaces are synthetic, moss and algae can build up over time. A regular preventative treatment for mosss and algae growth can be helpful in maintaining the playing surfaceIt is recommended that the pitch is treated with Algoclear Pro to eradicate algae, moss and mould every 6 months.
Carpets can fail over time, resulting in tears, seam and line movement or replacement of sections of carpet. Contact us if this has become an issue with your playing surface.
