Dealing with standing water before the grass goes down in Dunston
Dunston's low-lying riverside ground holds onto surface water, so drainage comes before anything else here.
Dunston sits on low ground close to the Tyne, and a fair number of its residential streets near Ellison Road and Dunston Bank hold onto surface water noticeably longer than gardens further up the bank towards Whickham.
That makes drainage the first question on most artificial turf jobs here, because a lawn laid on ground that doesn't shed water will simply sit wet and eventually smell, regardless of how good the grass itself is.
Being close to the MetroCentre and Team Valley also means some properties see more mixed use of their outdoor space, including vehicles occasionally crossing what would otherwise be lawn.
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Talk to us about your Dunston garden
If your garden holds water after rain, tell us — it changes how we build the sub-base underneath the grass.
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Low-lying ground and surface water
Where the water table sits close to the surface, we build in extra drainage capacity below the laying course — a free-draining aggregate layer with a positive fall towards a soakaway or existing drain — rather than relying on the turf backing alone to manage water.
Clay subsoil under the topsoil
Beneath the surface water issue is often a clay-heavy subsoil that doesn't drain on its own. We break up and improve that layer as part of the sub-base build rather than laying straight over it, since clay left untouched will hold water against the underside of the turf.
Occasional vehicle use on rear gardens
Some Dunston properties near commercial routes see the odd trade vehicle or trailer crossing the rear garden. Where that's likely, we specify a firmer, more heavily compacted sub-base than a purely decorative lawn would need.
About Dunston
- Postcode district
- NE11
- Local authority
- Gateshead Council
- Nearest road
- A1 at the MetroCentre
- Nearest station
- Dunston rail station
Quick turnarounds near busy retail routes
With the MetroCentre and Team Valley close by, some Dunston households want work completed quickly around their own schedules — we plan the drainage and sub-base work first regardless, since rushing that stage is what causes problems later.
Questions we get asked in Dunston
My garden always seems to hold water — will artificial grass make that worse?+
Not if the drainage is built in properly first. We add a free-draining aggregate layer with a fall towards a soakaway or drain rather than relying on the turf alone.
Is Dunston's clay subsoil a problem for artificial turf?+
It can be if left untouched, since clay holds water against the underside of the lawn. We break it up and improve it as part of building the sub-base.
Can artificial grass cope with occasional vehicle access?+
Yes, provided we know about it in advance — we'd specify a more heavily compacted sub-base than we would for a lawn that's purely decorative.
How quickly can a Dunston garden be completed?+
It depends on how much drainage work is needed on the day, but we plan the schedule around getting that right first rather than cutting it short.
Drainage first, grass second
Dunston's low-lying, clay-heavy ground needs proper water management before the lawn is ever considered finished.