How to Repair Non-Infill Turf Seams

Before repairing a seam, determine the actual failure mode.

The four most common situations are:

1. Minor adhesive separation
2. Seam separation with backing damage
3. Severe damage with yarn loss
4. Wrinkling or buckling caused by thermal movement

1. Minor Seam Separation: Local Rebonding

For a small area where the adhesive has separated but the backing and yarn remain intact, local rebonding is usually the simplest approach.

Recommended procedure

Step 1: Remove failed adhesive

Carefully lift the affected section and remove loose adhesive and debris. A plastic scraper is preferable to a sharp metal blade.

Step 2: Clean and dry the backing

Remove dust, sand and loose fibers. The bonding surfaces should be clean and dry before applying adhesive.

Step 3: Apply compatible adhesive

Use the adhesive system recommended by the turf manufacturer. Two-component polyurethane adhesives are commonly used for artificial-turf seam applications.

Avoid selecting adhesive purely according to price. The adhesive should be compatible with:

• Primary backing
• Secondary backing
• Seam tape
• Local temperature conditions
• Moisture conditions

Step 4: Re-align and compress

Align the two turf sections carefully, apply uniform pressure and remove air pockets.

A weighted roller can be used where appropriate.

Step 5: Allow sufficient curing time

Do not reopen the repaired area to traffic until the adhesive has reached the manufacturer’s specified curing strength.

Temperature and humidity can significantly affect curing time.