Scorched artificial lawn

A long shot perhaps, but I was wondering wether anyone has come across artificial lawn being melted by sunlight reflecting from a mirrored steel water feature?
I installed 3 mirrored steel water walls last year only to get a subsequent email, a month later, from the client stating that their artificial lawn had scorch marks through it and that some plants had been scorched too.
It was apparent that at a certain part of the day when the water walls were not running the light reflecting somehow magnified and melted the grass over a distance of about 2 metres away.
As the installer I was duty bound to rectify the problem and subsequently replaced the artificial lawn and installed a timer on the water features to run thorough the day, while the client was at work.
I contacted the supplier to sound them out about the problem and stated that I would be looking to recoup the cost from them, as it was caused by the water walls distorting in some fashion, i.e a manufacturing fault.
They advised me that it was not a manufacturing fault and that if I have any further problems I should contact the local fire brigade for advice on siting them. They also informed me that reflected sunlight damage in the garden is a well documented occurrence, however I am unable to find such information.
This issue has been dragging on now since last April with no resolution and I am now at the stage of considering legal action and so any information/advice would be gratefully received.

Replies

Matthew Spedding - Pile Height February 13, 2014 at 11:52am

Hi Noel,

This is fairly common with water features and mirrors when it comes to Artificial Grass. Unfortunately it is something as an installer you will be unaware of until it happens.

I doubt very much that the supplier will accept responsibility as it is not a product defect it is an installation issue.

You can attempt to repair the area but depending how the seaming falls etc this may be tricky?

If the above fails I am afraid it will need to be replaced.....

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
Thermo February 13, 2014 at 7:11pm

unfortunately cant see anyone coughing up for that as a manufacturing fault.
I had an incident last year were we finished a large garden which included artificial turf. On the day the client moved in the tree surgeons came in to deal with a high hedge as an afterthought at the clients request. Unfortunately when the tree surgeon took a rest as he worked along the hedge he unwittingly had his long pole pruner running and resting on the lawn, leaving 7 neat melted holes in the lawn. We managed to repair it by cutting out the isolated patches and popping new pieces in, from the original roll and it was completely invisible. Its a lot easier with longer pile turf.
Simon Smith February 14, 2014 at 4:12pm

Don't want to seem harsh but you put large reflective surfaces in and didn't consider the impact. How can them being reflective be a manufacturing fault thats exactly why you used them?

Right now on some other forum there is probably a thread with a water feature supplier fuming about this landscaper who is trying it on....
PRO

Busy Bee Garden Services Limited February 14, 2014 at 6:59pm

Sounds like the building in London which did some damage to cars and that was a multi million project!