One of the more common questions that is asked of companies that install artificial turf is if they are friendly for dogs. The main concern is that dogs and other pets urinating on the artificial turf will pool and ultimately cause the area to smell of urine as it dries. This is a very legitimate concern as the artificial turf of the past was very much like a carpet that is placed outdoors, and the backing materials that adhered the grass blades to the ground was made of rubber. When a pet would urinate on the artificial turf, it would create a puddle which had nowhere to go, and therefor dried directly onto the plastic. Especially when it got hot out, the smell of urine would be overpowering. Luckily, tow improvements to artificial turf products reduced this problem, one that exists at the point of manufacture and the other that exists at the point of installation. The combination of these elements will significantly reduce the odors that pet urine will produce, and a simple hosing off of the area every once in a while should fully reduce it to the point of not being noticeable.
The first improvement that happened to artificial turf was the development of water-permeable backing materials. These rubberized backing materials would hold the grass blades in place securely, but would also have tiny holes punched through in order to allow water and other liquids to drain if necessary. This eliminated the puddling that used to happen, which resulted in the pooling and drying of liquid on the surface. Instead, the liquid is allowed to pass through the material and move into the ground below, where it can be distributed the same way it would with growing grass. In areas like Las Vegas where the ground is very hard, you may have a pooling that happens at the ground level simply because the sand and dirt is packed so tightly, but this has nothing to do with the artificial turf. To prevent this, the areas should be tilled up before the turf is staked down, providing a more natural surface than the desert can typically provide. This will allow liquid to move further down into the ground.
The second feature that was developed is odor reducing crystals which are raked into the turf at the point of installation. These look like a type of sand, and both help the turf to remain vertical and natural looking and also help to reduce and eliminate odors from urine using a natural product. This is not a chemical, but instead is an odor-preventing product which is mined in Nevada. It is known to eliminate the odors or urine when it comes into contact with it, so it is a perfect product to use in an artificial turf installation where we know pets will be present. Ask your salesman about the options available for pet owners, and allow your family and pets to have a safe, happy and odor-free space for years to come.