Airdrie - Perfect Turf

Airdrie
&
Spring 2013
HOUSE HOME
Highlighting our city’s communities
Genius Genesis
Enjoy the friendly
feeling in the shoreline
community of Bayside
See page 8
Also in this issue:
• Melt Down: How to
avoid disaster as ice
starts to thaw
See page 11
• Green Clean: Spring
cleaning the safe way
See page 23
8 HOUSE
HOME
Airdrie
&
10
Cover Story:
8
On the Water
Take a tour through Airdrie’s maritime
community: Bayside.
Inside:
28
32
26
24
10
All in the Family
Sovereign Homes prides itself on care
and attention when designing unique
houses with convenience in mind.
18
Stage Right
Everything you need to know about
setting the stage to sell your home.
24
Decor Dollars
Redecorating doesn’t have to break the
bank. How to redo a room for $150.
26
Garden Greats
Get your hands dirty this spring. Explore
the worlds of interior and exterior plants.
28
‘Green’ Grass
See how far artificial turf has come and
why it is the perfect fit for your yard.
32
Change is Good
Two local business owners transform
aging houses into trendy establishments.
Guest Columnists:
18
4 • AIRDRIE HOUSE & HOME • Spring 2013
17
Designer’s Eye
Grace McKee shares her favourite design
trends of 2013. Get tips on how to
integrate popular fads into your home.
38
Double Digits
Realtor Gary Lock tells readers why
Airdrie has surpassed Calgary in sales.
Cover Photo
Photo Illustration: Bayside Canals
Turf Time
hat are two of the signs that spring
has arrived? The smell of freshly cut
grass on a warm day and the sound
of your neighbour’s lawnmower.
However, there is no need for all that manual
labour to have the lawn of your dreams.
Artificial turf is an alternative for homeowners as a replacement for natural seed and sod.
Perfect Turf, a company that has 15 locations
across Canada, has been in Airdrie for eight
years and owner Darcy Richards has seen a
steady incline of homeowners that are converting to artificial turf when landscaping their
lawns.
“We keep getting busier,” he said. “It’s definitely growing year after year.”
A home’s yard is often a focal point for a family, whether it’s a children’s playground, an entertainment venue or a haven for the family
dog.
The latter often poses a problem for homeowners with natural grass because pet urine
and waste kills it. Richards said artificial turf is
becoming a popular option for pet owners, as
urine and waste doesn’t discolour it and isn’t
damaged by animals creating wear paths or
digging it up.
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28 • AIRDRIE HOUSE & HOME • Spring 2013
But the company’s clientele isn’t limited to
pet owners.
“Some people have time (to take care of their
lawn),” Richards said.
“Nowadays, most families are two-income
home where both parents are working and a lot
are commuting to Calgary. When they do have
free time, they want to spend it with their kids
or golfing or whatever they do.
“Summer here is pretty short, so people want
to enjoy it when they get a chance and cutting
the grass and keeping it looking good isn’t an
easy task anymore.”
The low-maintenance aspect of artificial turf
has become a big selling points among Airdronians. It doesn’t require any mowing, fertilization, watering or other chemical enhancements.
Made of recyclable plastic, it’s also environmentally friendly and helps reduce water usage
and soil pollutants thanks to the low level of
upkeep it requires.
Low maintenance? Check. Environmentally
friendly? Check. Cost efficient? Over time, yes,
according to Richards. In the 25 years since
Perfect Turf was established in the United
States, the company has done cost comparison
studies and has found that the turf becomes
money in the pocket of homeowners within
three to five years.
“You’re saving on your water bill, fuel for
your lawnmower and not having to fertilize or
aerate it,” Richards said, who has artificial turf
in his own yard. “I haven’t mowed grass in
seven-and-a-half years and I’ve realized I’ve
saved money, but it’s mostly the time aspect.
“Summer is our busiest season, so when I’m
not working, I want to spend it with my family.
I value my time after work, so that time saving
over 7.5 years is huge.”
Richards said there are several other benefits
to employing artificial turf as a landscape grass
of choice.
It comes in a variety of styles and colours,
drains away moisture quickly, takes less than a
week install and it can be used in any weather,
a plus for Albertans.
Artificial turf was developed in the 1980s in
hot, desert climates like Nevada and Arizona,
so the manufacturers were able to master it to
fit the summer heat. When it expanded into
Canada, the company was tasked to do the
same so the turf would be able to withstand
-40°C temperatures and being battered with
heavy snow and ice.
g
Save Time and Money
No Mowing • No Watering •No Maintenance
JUST PERFECT SYNTHETIC TURF!
Artificial lawn
growing in popularity
as
a ‘green’
alternative
to
traditional
grass
Artificial Lawns
Dog Grass, Playground
Turf and more!
Locally Owned & Operated
www.perfectturfgrass.ca
403-948-7484
Mission accomplished.
“We have turf in the Northwest Territories,”
said Richards. “In the winter, people flood ice
rinks for their kids to skate on. In the spring,
the ice and snow melt and you have green
grass. The only thing is that on a really hot day,
real grass is cool on your feet. The turf isn’t
going to be like walking on a sand beach, but
it’s going to be warm.”
And it’s DIY friendly, Richards said. While the
company often handles the installation, it does
have a DIY kit for those who want to take on
the project by themselves.
“We have a lot of people that do it themselves,” he said. “It’s certainly something that
almost anyone can do if they’re handy.”
One final bonus: it has a lengthy life expectancy.
“It’s been around since 1987 and some of the
original product was awful looking stuff,”
Richards said.
“But it’s still standing. The longest we have
around here is eight to 10 years, but it looks
like the day we put it in.”
For more information on artificial turf by Perfect Turf, visit www.perfectturfgrass.ca
HH
or call 403-948-7484.
Spring 2013 • AIRDRIE HOUSE & HOME • 29