There are some excellent grasses available on the market today; many companies have access to top quality synthetic carpets. But just as all chefs are not equally as good, it is equally true of synthetic grass installers. I have been to meetings where large samples of grass have been produced and been told that this is the best grass on the market and that it is the all new singing and dancing surface only to see the actual surface poorly installed, what a shame! If clients got what they were promised then that would be great, the problem is they all don't.

Recently my office has been receiving several calls asking could we undertake remedial repairs on surfaces laid by some of our competitors! The most common complaints are the seams and lines are coming apart and the surface is lying flat and lifeless, others have issues with the levels and grades with some complaining that the so called All Weather Pitch is only suitable in fine weather and floods when it rains! I kid you not.

So where does it all go wrong? There are many reasons as to why a pitch will not perform as promised and I will do my best to identify as many of them as I can.

Johnny Come lately
So the landscaping and general construction industry has slowed down, so Johnny decides to diversify, has he the necessary specialized equipment and know how? In truth most likely not, but that won't stop our new entry. The problem with Johnny is if he couldn't survive in his chosen field how long will he last in an alien one, and how many problems will he leave behind when he decides to change focus once more.

The Sub Contractor
Can produce very high quality work, however it is dependent on everyone else involved being as competent as he is! Most work that is subbed out can works out cheaper than having a one stop shop, however should a problem arise or something goes wrong who will take responsibility for the issue, thus the blame game begins.

The Rogue
Or butterfly as I like to call them, fly around from one sports code to the next, and like the butterfly appear immediately attractive but also like the butterfly when the tough weather comes in are nowhere to be seen.

So how do you avoid being the victim of a poor job! Left to pick up the pieces.

Reputation, any company worth their weight in salt will have a client list which you can research, along with due diligence visit the sites and experience firsthand the surface, don't just accept a sample of naked grass as a guarantee of finish or performance.

Ask the right questions
Not just of the prospective contractor but of their previous clients such as,
* Did the contractor issue a contract that was easily understandable which fully outlined the works to be carried out
* Was there any hidden extras
* How did they maintain the site?
* Was it supervised properly, had the contractor a designated contract manager and contract supervisor(s).
* Was there a Health and Safety plan in place, did the site have proper safety signs and fencing in place during all phases of construction
* Had the contractor regular and meaningful discussions with the client
* How did the work force conduct themselves on site, did they respect the clubs grounds, property and members.
* Did they leave the site in as good if not better condition than they found it?
* Did the contractor supply maintenance manuals equipment and training
* Did the contractor supply advisory signs on display for end users
* Did the contractor return within a reasonable period to ensure the system was working and performing as promised
* How did the contractor respond to any issues arising during or after construction
* What was the level of after service like
* How is the surface performing, and how does it fair against other similar surfaces locally.
* Did the finished surface fully comply with its required compliance testing?
* Is there an insurance backed warranty with the job?
* Can the contractor offer you a design and build solution which is covered by professional indemnity

If you are receiving positive replies to all the above well then you are most likely proceeding in the right direction.

Most decision makers in clubs frequently are not going to be the ones who will end up using the facility once it is built, a good piece of advice would be to ask some of your members who do play on this type of surfaces to check out the surface being offered at another location first, any contractor who values your business will do all they can to make this possible for you.

During the current period of financial uncertainty, it is in everybody's interest to ensure that they get best value for money, this however does not mean that the cheapest price is always going to be the best option, how many times have I heard that we were more expensive than someone else, only to find that when the project was completed items were missing or rushed through so quickly to make the job cost effect poor quality of work was the end result. I do understand that Clubs have the undertaking of their members to get as much value as possible, but this must be a long term view and not just a short term one, a cheap job can become a very expensive mistake if it is not built properly.

Should your club be considering a synthetic grass project please feel free to contact myself or my colleagues and we will gladly arrange a free site visit, consultation and quotation.

Thornton Sports have been building pitches for over twelve years and during that period laid over 450,000m2 of synthetic grass "let our Experience and Expertise be your bench mark for Quality and Success".

Dick Ridge - Marketing & Development Manager
Thornton Sports Ireland
[email protected]
www.thorntonsports.ie
090 9741955/086 8096068

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