Does artificial grass get hot in the sun? It depends, but in Vancouver, we usually get two hot months per year (July and August). 99% of the time this is a non-issue, but when it gets to 30 degrees and beyond and the turf is in direct sunlight, then yes the turf will get quite hot and you will want to keep your shoes on. If you go to the beach one day and the sand is too hot on your bare feet, your turf will likely be a similar temperature. If you really want to walk around the backyard in bare feet on a hot day or the little one is crawling around on the turf, you could also cool off the surface by spraying it down with a hose.
Most types of landscape turf have shaped yarn grass blades, which are specially designed to deflect UV rays from the sun. If you look very closely, you may notice a “U” shape, a “W” shape or a “diamond” shape, which also help the grass blades to bounce back upright after you step on it.
Infill also plays a role in temperature regulation and in Vancouver there are traditionally 3 different types: Silica Sand, Envirofill and Zeolite. Here is an article on the breakdown of each one: https://www.turfteamlandscaping.com/why-does-my-turf-need-infill/ but only envirofill and zeolite have cooling properties.
One final point worth mentioning here is that artificial grass can melt when it reaches 70 degrees Celsius and beyond. We see this happen when there is a reflective surface like a mirror that magnifies the heat of the sun in one concentrated area. Cheaper turf that comes out of China tends to melt a little easier which is why we don’t use it because the reflection of residential windows are enough to melt that stuff. Most modern homes are fitted with low-emissible windows which are usually fine near turf, but some of the older homes may require some kind of additional screen to prevent this from happening. It’s worth bringing up in conversation with your installer if you have any concerns, however melted spots can be repaired.
If you live in Vancouver, you really have nothing to worry about in terms of the turf getting too hot, but I imagine this would be more of an issue in places like Arizona or Las Vegas. Walking on turf with bare feet feels great, but just be careful in the summer once the temperature starts climbing!
