How to Install Artificial Turf on Concrete, Patios and Slabs
How to lay turf over a patio or slab, covering drainage checks, foam pads, glue vs perimeter fixing, expansion joints and the height step at thresholds.
On this page
- Can you put artificial turf on concrete?
- How do you check whether a slab drains well enough?
- Do you need a foam pad under turf on concrete?
- Glue vs perimeter fixing: how should turf be secured to concrete?
- How do you deal with expansion joints and cracks?
- How high will turf on concrete sit at doors and thresholds?
- Step-by-step: turf on a concrete patio
- Frequently asked questions
This guide is for homeowners covering a patio, slab, courtyard or concrete side yard with turf. It covers what is different from a soil install, and helps you decide on padding, fixing method and how to handle doors, steps and joints. Rooftop and balcony membranes have extra rules covered in rooftops and balconies.
Can you put artificial turf on concrete?
Yes, and it is one of the faster installs because there is no excavation or base work. The slab replaces the compacted base. But concrete does not absorb water, so all drainage must happen across the surface underneath the turf, to the slab edge, a drain or an expansion gap. If water cannot get off the slab today, turf will make the problem worse: it hides puddles and holds them against the backing, which leads to odor, algae and a soggy feel.
Turf on concrete also gets hotter and feels harder underfoot than turf on a base. A pad helps with both comfort and fall cushioning, although it does not reduce surface temperature much. See turf heat for what drives fiber temperature.
How do you check whether a slab drains well enough?
Run this test before buying anything:
- Sweep and hose the slab on a dry day, wetting it evenly.
- Wait 30 minutes. Mark every spot still holding water deeper than a film with chalk.
- Check slope with a 4 ft level. A 1% slope is 1/2 inch over 4 ft; 2% is about 1 inch. Measure in several directions.
- Find the exit. Identify where water leaves: a slab edge onto soil, a channel drain, an area drain, or expansion joints.
| Test result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No ponding, slope 1% or more, clear exit | Good candidate | Turf with drainage pad or perforated backing |
| Small ponds under 1/4 inch deep | Workable | Use a drainage pad with channels, or patch with leveling compound |
| Ponds deeper than 1/4 inch | Risky | Grind high spots, apply leveling compound, or drill drain holes |
| Slab slopes toward the house | Not suitable as is | Fix the slope or redirect water before turf |
| Cracked, heaving or uneven slab | Not suitable | Repair or remove; turf will telegraph every edge |
If you want more detail on drainage under turf on hard surfaces, read turf on concrete and rooftops drainage.
Do you need a foam pad under turf on concrete?
Not strictly, but in most residential cases we recommend one. A foam underlay (often called a shock pad or drainage pad) is a closed-cell or cross-linked foam sheet with channels or perforations on the underside. It does three things on concrete: adds cushion so the surface does not feel like carpet on a sidewalk, creates a drainage layer so water moves under the turf to the edge, and hides minor slab imperfections and joint lines.
| Pad thickness | Feel | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mm (about 3/16 inch) | Slightly softer than bare slab | Patios, balconies, low traffic |
| 10 mm (about 3/8 inch) | Noticeably cushioned | Family patios, pet areas |
| 15 to 25 mm (about 5/8 to 1 inch) | Soft, impact-absorbing | Kids' play areas, tumbling |
| 40 mm+ | Rated for fall height when tested | Playgrounds with fall heights |
For any area where children might fall from equipment, padding must be chosen against tested fall-height ratings, not just thickness. See shock pads and fall height and shock pads.
Glue vs perimeter fixing: how should turf be secured to concrete?
You cannot nail into concrete easily, so turf is held by adhesive, by fixing at the edges, or by weight within a frame.
| Method | How it works | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-spread adhesive | Turf (or pad) glued across the whole slab | Most stable, no movement | Blocks drainage if not done in strips; permanent | Commercial, high traffic |
| Strip or bead adhesive | Glue lines every 2 to 3 ft parallel to slope | Stable, keeps drainage channels open | More labor than perimeter only | Most residential patios |
| Perimeter glue only | Adhesive along edges and seams | Fast, easy to remove later | Can ripple on large areas in heat | Small patios under ~200 sq ft |
| Perimeter frame (wood or edging) | Turf nailed or screwed to a border frame | No glue on slab; removable | Raised edge to manage | Courtyards, enclosed slabs |
| Loose lay with weight | Turf rests in a walled area | Fully removable | Shifts, wrinkles | Temporary or rental properties |
Our rule: run glue lines in the direction water flows, never across it. A bead running across the slope acts as a dam. On sloped slabs, place lines parallel to the fall, leaving 2 to 3 ft gaps for water to travel.
Use an adhesive rated for both concrete and turf (or pad) backing, typically a polyurethane. Clean the slab first: sealers, paint and efflorescence prevent bonding, so test a small area. Seam pieces with tape and adhesive as you would on a soil base; see seaming.
How do you deal with expansion joints and cracks?
Concrete slabs have control joints (saw cuts) and sometimes expansion joints (wider gaps with filler) that let the slab move. Turf should not be bonded across a moving joint, or the backing can tear or ripple as the slab moves.
- Control joints (narrow saw cuts): usually fine to cover. A pad bridges them visually. Avoid a solid glue line directly over the joint.
- Expansion joints: do not glue within about 2 inches of either side. Let the turf or pad span the gap freely.
- Joints as drains: many slabs drain through joints. Keep them clear and avoid sealing them with adhesive.
- Cracks: stable hairline cracks can be covered. Cracks with vertical offset (one side higher) will show through and should be ground flush first.
How high will turf on concrete sit at doors and thresholds?
This is the detail that most often goes wrong. Turf plus pad adds height, and a sliding door or threshold that was flush with the slab may now be lower than the finished turf.
Rules of thumb at thresholds:
- Keep at least 1/4 inch, and ideally 1/2 inch, of fall from the door threshold to the turf surface.
- Stop turf 6 to 12 inches short of door tracks and use a paver strip or slab border if height is tight.
- Taper the pad at transitions so there is no trip edge, and bevel the turf edge where it meets an open walkway.
- Check building or HOA rules for egress doors; raised surfaces at required exits can matter.
Step-by-step: turf on a concrete patio
- Clean the slab thoroughly; pressure-wash, remove moss and let it dry fully.
- Run the water test and fix ponding with leveling compound or by grinding.
- Lay the drainage pad with channels running toward the slab's low edge, butting seams tight and taping them.
- Roll out turf with the grain facing the main viewing point, and let it relax 1 to 3 hours.
- Seam pieces with tape and adhesive.
- Fold turf back in sections and apply strip adhesive running with the slope, or fix to the perimeter frame.
- Trim edges, using a straightedge along walls and slab edges.
- Add a light infill (often 0.5 to 1 lb per sq ft on padded installs) and brush. Use the infill calculator to size it.
Frequently asked questions
Does turf on concrete need infill?
Usually a light amount helps. Infill holds fibers upright, adds weight so the turf stays flat, and protects the backing. On padded concrete installs, many use about half the rate of a soil install. Some low-pile patio products are designed to go without. See do you need infill for when you can skip it.
Will turf on concrete smell?
It can, if water or pet urine sits on the slab under the turf. Concrete does not absorb or flush liquids, so drainage channels and regular rinsing matter more than on soil. For pet areas on concrete, a drainage pad, a well sloped slab and frequent hosing are essential. Our turf smells page explains causes and fixes.
Can I remove turf from concrete later?
Perimeter-fixed or framed turf lifts out easily. Strip-glued turf can be pulled up, but leaves adhesive lines that need scraping or grinding. Full-spread adhesive is the hardest to remove and may damage the slab surface. If you rent or might change your mind, choose perimeter or frame fixing.
How much does it cost to put turf on concrete?
It is often cheaper per square foot than a soil install because there is no excavation or base, though a pad adds material cost. Expect pad prices of roughly $1 to $3 per sq ft depending on thickness, plus turf and adhesive. See artificial turf cost for full ranges.