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FlowTech Drainage Technology

Traditional artificial grass commonly uses a coated backing with drainage holes punched through the surface to allow water to pass into the base below. FlowTech takes a different approach, using an open-mesh backing designed to allow water and other liquids to pass through across the entire backing surface rather than relying on individual drainage holes.

This fully permeable construction makes FlowTech particularly well suited to applications where efficient drainage is important, including pet lawns, high-use areas and New Zealand properties exposed to frequent or heavy rainfall. As with every artificial grass system, overall drainage performance also depends on correct base preparation, site conditions and the ability of the underlying ground or drainage system to manage the water passing through the turf.

Performance Feature Conventional Hole-Punched Backing FlowTech Open-Mesh Backing
Drainage Design Water passes through spaced perforations in the backing Water can pass through across the open-mesh backing surface
Permeable Area Drainage concentrated through individual holes Continuous open-mesh construction designed for whole-surface permeability
Pet Applications Liquids must reach drainage perforations Open construction allows pet liquids to pass directly through the backing
Backing Construction Coated backing with drainage perforations Lightweight open-mesh backing construction
Drainage Performance Depends on perforation design and the complete installation Designed for high-permeability applications when combined with an appropriate base and drainage system
Best Suited To General landscape applications Pet lawns, high-use areas and sites where increased turf permeability is beneficial

How FlowTech Works as a Complete Drainage System

FlowTech is designed as the permeable backing layer within a complete artificial grass drainage system. Water management does not depend on the turf backing alone — the turf, infill, backing, aggregate base and underlying ground all influence how efficiently water can move away from the surface.

  1. Water Passes Through the Turf: Rainwater, cleaning water and pet liquids move down through the turf pile and any infill toward the backing.
  2. FlowTech Provides Whole-Surface Permeability: Instead of relying on spaced drainage perforations, the open-mesh construction allows liquids to pass through across the backing surface.
  3. The Aggregate Base Disperses Water: Once through the backing, water enters the prepared aggregate base. Unreal Lawns typically uses compacted GAP20 with a GAP7 levelling layer, with the exact base construction adjusted to suit site conditions and drainage requirements.
  4. The Site Completes the Drainage System: The aggregate base must ultimately discharge or disperse water into the underlying ground or another drainage solution. Clay soils, high water tables and poorly draining sites may require additional preparation or drainage design.

Why Whole-System Drainage Matters

Artificial grass drainage is not determined by the turf backing alone. Water must move through the turf surface, through the backing and into the prepared base below. The drainage performance of the completed installation therefore depends on the combination of turf permeability, base construction, underlying ground conditions and, where required, additional site drainage.

FlowTech addresses the backing stage of that drainage path. Its open-mesh construction allows water and other liquids to pass through across the backing surface rather than relying on spaced drainage perforations. Once the water has passed through FlowTech, the prepared base and underlying site must still be capable of receiving and dispersing it.

Independent technical guidance:
Turf Network – Artificial Grass Drainage

Pet-Friendly Performance: FlowTech + Zeolite Infill

Pet lawns create a different drainage challenge from ordinary landscape areas because urine needs to move through the turf efficiently rather than remaining within the surface and backing layers. FlowTech’s open-mesh construction is particularly suited to this application because liquids can pass through across the backing surface rather than relying on spaced drainage holes.

When combined with Zeolite organic infill, the system provides two complementary approaches to pet odour management:

  • Efficient Liquid Passage: FlowTech allows pet urine and cleaning water to pass through the open-mesh backing into the prepared base below, helping reduce the amount of liquid retained within the turf system.
  • Natural Ammonium Management: Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral with ion-exchange properties that can adsorb ammonium ions associated with pet urine, helping manage one of the major contributors to pet odour.
  • Designed for Regular Flushing: The permeable turf construction allows water used during routine cleaning to pass through the backing, helping flush the turf and supporting ongoing pet-lawn maintenance.

Why Backing Architecture Matters

The backing of artificial grass does more than provide drainage. It forms the structural foundation of the turf, helping secure the yarn, maintain dimensional stability and support the integrity of the finished surface.

One important measure of backing performance is tuft bind — the force required to pull a tuft of yarn from the turf backing. Strong tuft retention helps the turf withstand use over time and reduces the risk of fibres becoming loose from the backing.

Different backing technologies achieve these functions in different ways. Conventional tufted artificial grass commonly uses a secondary coating such as polyurethane or latex to secure the yarn. Fully coated systems generally require drainage perforations, while alternative backing constructions can be designed to allow water to pass through without relying on punched drainage holes.

FlowTech uses an open-mesh backing architecture designed to combine whole-surface permeability with structural yarn support, removing the need for a heavy, fully coated and subsequently perforated backing.

Independent technical guidance:
Synthetic Turf Council – Glossary of Terms

Close up macro view of FlowTech open mesh polyolefin backing weave for artificial grass

Future-Focused Material & Recyclability

End-of-life recycling is one of the challenges facing the artificial turf industry. Artificial grass can contain several different material types within the turf, backing and infill system, and separating these materials into usable recycling streams can be technically difficult.

FlowTech’s open-mesh construction reduces reliance on the heavy secondary latex coating commonly used to secure conventional artificial turf. Its backing is based on polyolefin materials, including PE/PP-compatible components, giving the construction a more recycling-conscious material design.

This distinction is important. A material being technically recyclable does not mean that a complete artificial grass product will automatically be recycled at the end of its life. Actual recycling depends on the complete product composition, contamination, separation processes and the availability of suitable recycling facilities.

For New Zealand, commercial end-of-life recycling pathways for artificial turf are still developing. Unreal Lawns therefore views FlowTech as a step toward designing artificial grass with future material recovery in mind, rather than claiming that every installation can currently be recycled locally.

Independent research:
End-of-Life Management of Artificial Turf: State of the Art and Future Challenges

Three Technologies. Different Performance Requirements.

  • FlowTech Drainage Technology: Open-mesh backing designed for whole-surface permeability, particularly suited to pet lawns, high-use areas and applications where efficient liquid passage through the turf is important.
  • TrueRoll Hybrid Yarn Technology: Hybrid PE/PP turf construction developed for putting green and performance applications where ball roll, surface consistency and durability are important.
  • Cool Turf 5-in-1 Technology: Advanced turf technology combining IR-reflective yarn technology with antibacterial, anti-moss and pool-friendly properties. Manufacturer testing has recorded surface temperatures up to 20% lower under test conditions.

Learn More About Drainage, Pet Solutions & Installation

FlowTech open-mesh technology is one component of a high-performing artificial grass installation. Explore our related guides, products and technologies to understand how drainage, base preparation and turf construction work together.

Drainage & Pet Guides

System Technologies

Targeted Solutions

FlowTech Frequently Asked Questions

Conventional artificial grass commonly uses a coated backing with drainage holes punched at intervals through the surface. FlowTech uses an open-mesh backing that allows water and other liquids to pass through across the backing surface rather than relying on individual drainage perforations.

Yes. FlowTech is particularly suited to pet lawns because urine and cleaning water can pass through the open-mesh backing into the prepared base below. When combined with appropriate base construction, regular cleaning and Zeolite infill, the system is designed to help manage pet liquids and odour.

No. FlowTech improves permeability through the turf backing, but the complete installation still needs to manage the water passing through it. Base construction, underlying soil, site levels and additional drainage where required all affect the performance of the finished artificial lawn.

Tuft bind is the force required to pull a tuft of yarn from the artificial grass backing. It is one measure of how securely the turf fibres are held within the backing structure and is an important consideration when evaluating artificial turf construction and durability.

Yes. FlowTech is the permeable backing layer, not a replacement for correct ground preparation. Unreal Lawns designs the base to suit the individual site, commonly using compacted aggregate layers such as GAP20 and GAP7 where appropriate. Poorly draining soils or difficult sites may require additional drainage measures.

FlowTech uses a polyolefin-based open-mesh backing designed with future material recovery in mind. However, technically recyclable materials do not automatically mean the complete turf can currently be commercially recycled at end of life. Recycling depends on the complete product composition, separation processes and the availability of suitable recycling facilities.

Different artificial grass backing technologies have different characteristics and applications. FlowTech's particular advantage is its open-mesh architecture, which provides whole-surface permeability without relying on drainage holes punched through a fully coated backing. Other factors, including tuft bind, dimensional stability, turf construction and the requirements of the installation, should also be considered when selecting artificial grass.

Ready for a Better-Draining Artificial Grass System?

FlowTech gives Unreal Lawns another way to match artificial grass construction to the requirements of the site. Its open-mesh backing is designed for whole-surface permeability, making it particularly suited to pet lawns, high-use areas and installations where efficient drainage through the turf is important.

Whether you need professional installation or supply-only artificial grass, our team can help select the appropriate turf, base construction and drainage approach for your project.

  • Turnkey Professional Installation: Site preparation, aggregate base construction, geotextile where appropriate, and professional artificial grass installation by our experienced team.
  • DIY & Supply-Only: FlowTech artificial grass supplied nationwide with practical technical advice for self-installers.

Get a Free Assessment & Project Quote

Talk to our team in Hamilton, Auckland or Tauranga to discuss your site’s drainage requirements, request turf samples or calculate project pricing.

Cross section of FlowTech fully permeable open mesh artificial grass backing showing water draining through the surface
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