Artificial grass comparison
Fully Permeable vs Perforated Turf Backing
Fully permeable backing offers water paths across a broad portion of the product, while perforated backing directs water through spaced holes. Either can work in an appropriate system; neither fixes a poorly graded or saturated site.
Option one
Fully permeable backing
Often considered where frequent rinsing or concentrated pet use makes broad flow paths attractive. Product claims still need documented test conditions, and seams, infill, base, and discharge must support the design.
Option two
Perforated backing
Common in landscape turf and capable of useful drainage when holes, base, grade, and discharge are suitable. Hole spacing and product test results vary, so the label alone is not enough.
How to decide
Start with the site: rainfall or rinsing volume, soil, current puddles, slope, pet concentration, and where water can discharge. Then compare documented product performance as one layer of the complete system.
The money question
How the choice affects cost
Backing selection may change material cost, but drainage remediation, excavation, aggregate, grading, drains, and access usually create larger project-level differences.
Understand the related terms
- Fully Permeable BackingFully permeable backing is designed to let water pass through a broad portion of the turf backing rather than primarily through spaced drainage holes. Actual installed drainage still depends on infill, base, subgrade, slope, and a discharge path.
- Perforated BackingPerforated backing is artificial-turf backing made with regularly spaced holes that allow water to pass through at those points. Hole size and spacing vary by product, and the complete installation determines real-world drainage.
- Drainage RateDrainage rate describes how quickly water passes through a turf product or tested surface assembly, usually under stated laboratory conditions. It does not by itself describe how quickly an installed yard can absorb and discharge water.
- Pet TurfPet turf is an artificial-grass product or complete installation system selected for areas used by animals. The label is not a single standard: practical performance depends on backing, drainage, seams, edges, infill, base, cleaning access, and maintenance.
Sources
Use it on your project
Build a shortlist around your site—not a sales label.
The Turf Advisor brings product preferences, drainage, access, and installation conditions into one realistic planning estimate.
Estimate my project