The US carpet industry goes back hundreds of years, yet there are only a handful of skilled tufting companies that focus on manufacturing artificial turf materials; many are located here in the North America. Manufacturing plants, in the US, are currently located in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.

Artificial turf construction for sports fields, golf applications and landscape projects is a steadily growing industry.

Follow these 8 easy steps and your project will go off without a hitch!

Grab a pen and pad of paper so you can take a few notes and write your thoughts down while we guide you through capturing the vision of your new, low maintenance dream lawn, landscape or putting green.

1. What does the area look like to you when it's finished?

To help you visualize, you might get a hold of garden and landscape magazines and flip through them.

Know what you are buying!

An educated buyer is a savvy buyer that knows how to spot a great deal and a worth-while value because they know what to look for!

If this is your first venture into the world of artificial turf for residential or commercial use - you want to explore artificial turf grasses and how they are manufactured as if you were purchasing any outdoor flooring solution.

As every pet owner experiences, what is consumed at the front of the pet usually comes out the back; some how, somewhere.

Defecation materials, spit and other biological "stuff" can be deposited by your pets on the area. Just like any surface around your site, synthetic grass and artificial turf need some regular attention to keep it clean, fresh and safe for your family, friends and customers.

The report's author John Nash, Managing Director of AMI Research, says that 'Soccer and residential landscaping applications were the hot spots in 2007, but strong demand was enjoyed in most regions of the world and in most applications for artificial grass'.

While many will remember the fields they played on as kids and think artificial turf is a niche market, today's reality is quite different.

Reported in several east coast news providers, a school in a mature neighborhood, located next to an iron works plant, had to have their artificial turf surface removed because it appeared to have been contaminated by lead.

The field's surfaces, built in the early days of artificial grass technology, were examined and fibers tested positive for high levels of surface contamination though no one can conclude where these kinds of results would come from.

There is truly no concern for alarm about the potential of lead leaching out of artificial turf yarn fibers, either now or in the future - however - sometimes a person (or a group, association or agency), just has to know themselves, right?

Available studies, reports and industry statements are available on the Association of Synthetic Grass Installers (ASGi) website and you can go there from the link below.