FAQ 03 Comparing Savings

More in this section

• Hybrid grass
• Innovation
• Performance and safety
• Resistance and durability
• Ecology and savings
• A forward-looking choice
• Types of Playing Fields
• Resistance and durability indices
• Precautions
• FAQ 01 Key Features
• FAQ 02 Application Areas
• FAQ 03 Comparing Savings
• FAQ 04 Market Demand
• FAQ 05 Duration Comparison
• FAQ 06 Comparing maintenance processes
• FAQ 07 Multidisciplinary Fields
• FAQ 08 Water Consumption
• FAQ 09 Frost and Heat Resilience
• FAQ 10 Innovative Value

What does the savings of POWERgrass hybrid grass consist of compared to other sports surfaces of natural grass and those entirely of synthetic grass?

Natural grass fields built on earth substrate require less maintenance than those in sand, but the risk of postponing games is very high because no drainage system on the ground can remove excess water quickly. Playing under moderate rain, mud is produced on the surface between the drains and the natural grass is gradually choked. During a rainy winter, it's easy to damage the natural grass due to excess mud, and playing on wet ground initiates the formation of numerous depressions.

On natural grass fields built on a sand substrate following USGA or DIN standards, like in the current stadiums, it is possible to play under rain without the formation of mud, but maintenance costs increase especially because the cohesion of the sand is poor and the grass carpet resists less to player's tearing. During winter, roots are superficial and it's easy to lift natural grass turfs forming dangerous potholes; the restoration of these holes significantly increases maintenance costs.

Vegetable organic infill moves when it rains heavily

On synthetic grass fields with sand + treated rubber infill, it is theoretically always possible to play. The maintenance cost is reduced compared to natural grass fields because it's enough to brush the infill about 2 times a week, and to weed and clean the infill once a year by replacing a small part of the removed rubber. However, the amortization of the investment and the set-aside for the replacement of the synthetic grass system at the end of its life cycle is more burdensome on the annual field budget.

On synthetic grass fields with sand + treated rubber infill + vegetable organic infill, it is possible to play with more stability on the ground which tends to simulate natural grass. The cost of regular maintenance is further reduced because the infill is more "stable", so it's brushed once a week. However, special interventions to loosen the infill are necessary at least 3 times a year, the cleaning of the infill remains unchanged but the replenishment of the vegetable organic part is the highest expense and the overall maintenance cost increases.

In synthetic turf fields with inflow of sand + enriched rubber + organic vegetable infill, it is possible to play with greater stability on the ground, which tends to simulate natural grass. The cost of regular maintenance is further reduced because the infill is more "stable", thus it is brushed once a week, but extraordinary interventions to break up the infill are necessary at least 3 times a year, the cleaning of the infill remains unchanged but the replenishment of the organic vegetable part is the most significant expense and the overall cost of maintenance is equivalent to a natural grass field while the cost for the amortization of the field and the reserve for the replacement of the synthetic grass system remains high at the end of its life cycle.

Fields in synthetic grass made with infill entirely in organic vegetable material (coconut, cork, rice husk, corn cob, or pine bark) are currently the most expensive system on the market and the replenishment of the organic vegetable infill render this solution less suitable if saving in the medium and long term is an objective to pursue.

The cost of the hybrid POWERgrass field, including the depreciation of the initial investment, the reserve for the replacement of the system, calculated prudently over a twenty-year period, maintenance and water consumption, for the same number of actual playing hours, offers a cost equivalent to a synthetic field. With an investment in professional machines for regular maintenance and the purchase of fertilizers, seeds and paint for the annual white lines, the consumption of potable water for irrigation is significantly reduced, the costs of extraordinary maintenance are almost eliminated and the risk of damage from bad weather that cause flooding is prevented.