Synthetic fields: end-of-life issues: How do you evaluate an older field? What’s the next step?
Nothing lasts forever. Including, unfortunately, your synthetic turf field. And that field, which has remained cheerfully green and bright through wins, losses, sun and rain, is now showing its age. It hardly seems fair. But if it helps any, you're not the only one going through this. "A lot of fields are now coming up on their end-of-life," says Zach Burns of the Motz Group in Cincinnati, OH. The first generation of synthetic fields, installed approximately a decade ago (give or take a few years), is showing its age. Field builders, and those who work with sports facilities, say the symptoms are easily recognizable.