Editorial policy

This page explains how guides on ArtificialTurfGuide are produced and maintained, so you can judge how much weight to give what you read here.

Our standards

1. Specific over general. A guide should leave you able to make a decision or do a task. We prefer numbers, ranges, tolerances and procedures to adjectives.
2. Primary sources first. We base technical claims on manufacturer specifications and installation manuals, published standards, public agency guidance and peer-reviewed research. We avoid relying on other websites' summaries.
3. Models are labeled. Where a figure comes from our own model (cost ranges, water need, lifespan), the page says "our model" or "our estimate" and lists the assumptions. Our calculators use the same assumptions and let you change them.
4. Uncertainty is stated. Where research is incomplete or contested, as with some health and environmental questions, we describe what is known, what is not and who is studying it, rather than offering false certainty in either direction.
5. Downsides get equal space. Heat, plastic, odor, cost and lifespan are covered wherever they are relevant, including on pages about benefits.
6. No brand rankings. We do not rank or endorse specific turf brands or products. We explain what to look for so you can evaluate any product.

How a guide is produced

• Scoping. We identify the questions people actually ask about a topic and the decision they are trying to make.
• Research. We collect specifications, standards, agency guidance and research relevant to those questions, and note where sources disagree.
• Writing. Each guide opens with a direct answer, then explains the reasoning, gives a decision aid (a table, checklist or rule) and at least one worked example or test you can run yourself.
• Fact-check. Numbers, units and arithmetic in worked examples are checked, internal consistency with related guides and calculators is checked, and claims are traced back to a source or labeled as our estimate.
• Review. Guides are reviewed for clarity, safety-relevant omissions and accuracy before publishing.

Safety-related content

Some topics affect safety: playground fall heights, heat exposure for children and pets, chemicals and cleaning products, electrical and utility hazards during excavation. On these pages we cite the relevant standard or agency guidance, tell readers when a professional or a tested system is required, and do not suggest shortcuts. Our guidance is general information and does not replace product instructions, local codes or professional advice for your site.

Updates

Each guide shows the date it was last updated. We review guides when prices, standards, regulations or product norms change, and on a regular schedule for cost pages and state guides, where information goes out of date fastest. Substantive changes update the date; typo fixes do not.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it and, where the error was substantive, note the correction on our corrections page. You can report an error through our contact page.

Independence and conflicts of interest

We do not sell turf, installation or related products, and we do not accept payment for coverage, rankings or placement in guides. Suppliers and installers cannot review or approve content before publication. If a page ever includes a commercial relationship, it will be disclosed clearly on that page.