WB Rubber spreads and levels infill material as part of every artificial turf installation across Texas. Crumb rubber, silica sand, and blended infill applied at the correct rates per square foot and brushed deep into the turf fibers keep blades upright, add cushion underfoot, and give the finished surface its stability. We do not consider an installation complete until infill is right.
The two most common infill materials for synthetic turf installations are crumb rubber and silica sand. Crumb rubber, recycled from used tires, adds cushion and ballast. Silica sand provides compressive stability and helps keep turf fibers standing upright. Many installations use a blend of both to balance performance, drainage, and cost. WB Rubber specifies the right infill type and blend for each application.
Infill rate is measured in pounds per square foot. Too little infill leaves turf fibers limp, reduces cushion, and creates a surface that compacts under repeated use. Too much infill buries the fiber tips and reduces the turf's natural appearance. WB Rubber applies infill at the rates specified by the turf manufacturer for each product and application type.
Spreading infill on top of the turf surface is only the first step. The infill needs to be worked down into the fiber pile with a power broom or drag brush to reach the turf backing where it provides real support. Infill that sits at the surface rather than the base of the fibers does not hold fibers upright and migrates out of the installation more quickly under foot traffic.
Artificial turf fibers are designed to stand upright, but they need infill at their base to maintain that posture under load. Without adequate infill, fibers mat flat after limited use and the surface begins to look worn. The infill layer also acts as the primary cushion layer in the turf system, absorbing impact from foot traffic, play, and in athletic applications, falls.
Infill settles after installation, particularly during the first few weeks as foot traffic and rain compact the material down into the fiber base. WB Rubber accounts for settling in the initial infill application rate. We also advise clients on the normal appearance and feel changes that occur during the settling period so there is no confusion about whether the installation is performing correctly.
Infill spreading is one phase of a complete turf installation, not a standalone task. WB Rubber handles every phase from base preparation through infill application and final brushing. The result is a turf system where every layer was applied by the same crew using the same specifications, with one point of accountability for how the finished surface performs.
Infill is the material that fills the space between artificial turf fibers from the backing surface up to approximately two-thirds of the fiber height. It serves three distinct functions in a turf system: it holds the fibers upright so the surface looks and feels like natural grass, it provides the primary cushioning layer for foot traffic and impact absorption, and it adds ballast weight to the turf system so the material stays in place under heavy use and wind.
Without infill, artificial turf fibers lay flat under any significant load and do not recover. The surface compacts, the turf begins to look worn, and the performance characteristics the material was designed to deliver disappear. A sports field without adequate infill is harder on knees and ankles than the same surface with proper infill. A residential backyard turf installation without adequate infill loses its fresh appearance quickly and begins to feel more like a dense mat than a grass surface.
Infill type matters as much as infill quantity. WB Rubber works with crumb rubber infill, silica sand infill, and blended infill products depending on the application. Crumb rubber, produced from recycled tire material, provides excellent energy return and cushion. It is the standard infill for athletic applications where impact absorption is a performance requirement. Silica sand provides more compressive stability and is better suited to applications where firm footing is the priority over cushion. Blended products combine both materials to balance the performance benefits of each.
For sports turf applications specifically, infill specifications are more demanding. The correct infill rate, depth, and material for a practice field differs from a backyard putting green or a commercial landscape installation. WB Rubber determines the correct specifications for each project. See our sports turf installation page for more on athletic field installation standards.
Infill spreading begins after the turf is positioned, secured at the perimeter, and seams have been completed. At this stage the turf surface is flat but the fibers are fully extended and the backing is fully visible between fiber rows. The surface does not yet have the density or cushion that defines the finished product.
We load infill into a drop spreader calibrated to the target application rate in pounds per square foot. The spreader moves across the surface in parallel passes, depositing infill evenly across the entire area. After the first application, we use a power broom to work the infill material down into the fiber pile. The broom's rotating brushes push the infill below the fiber tips and toward the backing surface where it actually supports the fibers and provides ballast.
This process is typically repeated in two to three passes to achieve the target infill depth. Each pass works additional material deeper into the pile. Rushing this phase by applying all the infill in a single heavy pass and relying on foot traffic to settle it produces uneven infill depth and inconsistent surface performance.
After the final infill pass, the surface gets a final brooming pass to lift the fiber tips above the settled infill level. This is what gives freshly installed turf its characteristic upright, dense appearance. The fibers are supported from below, their tips are free, and the surface has the texture and resilience of a new installation.
New turf installations will undergo visible settling during the first several weeks, particularly in high-traffic areas. The infill compacts downward as foot traffic presses it toward the backing. This is normal and expected. It does not indicate a problem with the installation. WB Rubber accounts for settling in the initial application rate. For information on the base preparation that precedes infill spreading, visit our turf base preparation page or our ground leveling services page. For the complete artificial turf installation process, including seaming and securing, see our installation service page.
Common questions about infill spreading from WB Rubber customers.
