Last updated October 2026
Play and Sport Surfaces maintains 3G, sand-filled and sand-dressed artificial pitches for clubs, schools, colleges and councils across the UK. Council budgets show what it costs: one town council sets aside £12,000 a year to replace its 3G surface after about 10 years, and budgets £2,245 to £5,955 for a rubber infill top-up, excluding VAT. A specialist visit can be booked around your fixtures, and your own staff keep up the weekly brushing in between.
The biggest maintenance cost on a 3G pitch is not the yearly work but the replacement carpet at the end of it, so the reserve matters most.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Item | Yearly or one-off | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer to a reserve for replacing the surface | yearly | £12,000 | Woodley Town Council plan, 2024 |
| Expected life before replacement | planning figure | 10 years | Same plan |
| Estimated replacement cost | one-off | £120,000 | Same plan |
| 3G repairs and maintenance budget | yearly | £2,600 | Same plan |
| 3G equipment budget | yearly | £2,950 | Same plan |
| Rubber infill top-up, 1 to 2 mm | one-off | £2,245 (budget) | Same plan, condition report |
| Rubber infill top-up, 4 to 5 mm | one-off | £5,955 (budget) | Same plan, condition report |
The plan does not state the pitch’s size, so treat the figures as one real example, not a rate per m2.
How much does it cost to maintain a 3G pitch?
Budget for three things: routine work, specialist visits and a replacement reserve. Woodley Town Council’s 2024 to 2025 plan carries £2,600 for repairs and maintenance and £2,950 for equipment, with top-ups of rubber infill costed at £2,245 to £5,955 depending on depth. On top of that it puts £12,000 a year into a reserve for a new surface.
A full-size pitch costs more to look after than a small one, so your quote is based on the pitch’s size, age and condition after a survey.
What is the lifespan of a 3G pitch?
About 10 years for the carpet, if it is looked after. Bolsover District Council’s report says the carpet on its full-size floodlit 3G pitch will need replacing approximately every 10 years, and Woodley plans its pitch on the same 10-year life. The base and drainage beneath usually outlast the carpet, which is why replacement is cheaper than the original build.
How it works
- 01Send a plan and photosThe site, the surface and the date it must reopen.
- 02We check the groundLevels and where the water drains.
- 03Written quoteBuilt around your reopening date.
What does routine maintenance involve?
Brushing, infill levels and keeping the surface clean. The condition report in Woodley’s plan recommends brushing at least twice a week, which spreads the infill evenly and keeps the pile standing up. Specialist visits add deeper work: topping up rubber infill where it has thinned, cleaning out debris and checking seams and lines.
Your own staff can usually handle the twice-weekly brushing with the right machinery. The specialist visits need heavier equipment.
Can the Football Foundation fund maintenance machinery?
Yes, through its 3G maintenance machinery and equipment grant. To apply, the pitch needs a 3G Pitch Test Certificate or must be added to The FA 3G Pitch Register, and the Foundation asks for two like-for-like quotes for each item and evidence of partnership funding. It normally gives a decision within ten working days and expects no more than one application per season.
The Foundation does not fund routine maintenance itself, so the yearly visits come from your running budget. The guide to funding sports and play surfaces covers the other routes.
What happens if a funded pitch is not maintained?
You risk breaking the grant terms. One council’s Football Foundation conditions run for 21 years and include keeping the facilities and equipment in good repair, operating to the agreed management plan and keeping the pitch on the FA 3G register. A written maintenance record is the simplest proof that you are meeting them.
Rejuvenation or replacement: how do we choose?
Rejuvenate while the carpet still has life; replace when it does not. A pitch with flattened pile, compacted or contaminated infill and patchy performance can often be brought back with deep cleaning and fresh infill. A carpet near the end of its 10-year life, with worn-out pile or failing seams, needs replacing. The survey gives you a price for each option so you can compare them.
For the cost of a new pitch, see 3G pitch cost.
Do sand-filled and hockey pitches need the same care?
Similar care, different detail. Sand-filled and sand-dressed pitches still need regular brushing and specialist cleaning, but no rubber infill. Tell us the surface type and the sports it hosts, and the programme is written for that surface.
What’s included
- A condition survey of the carpet, infill depth, seams, lines and drainage
- A written yearly programme with the visits, tasks and prices
- Specialist cleaning, infill top-ups and seam repairs as quoted
- A visit report you can keep for funders and insurers
What’s not included
- VAT, shown separately
- Your own staff’s routine brushing, unless you ask us to take it on
- Maintenance machinery, unless listed
- Carpet replacement, quoted on its own
Illustrative example
From Woodley’s figures only; not our job. A club with a pitch like Woodley’s budgets £2,600 a year for repairs and maintenance, sets aside £12,000 a year for replacement and carries out one 1 to 2 mm infill top-up at £2,245 in the year it is needed. That year’s total is about £16,800 excluding VAT, and the reserve reaches £120,000 at the end of the 10-year life.
Who does the work
Play and Sport Surfaces is a WeDo Property Services service. Alex Winser runs your pitch programme and keeps the records, and the installers carry out the specialist visits with the right machinery.
Often needed alongside
Pitches built with 3G football pitch construction need a maintenance plan from day one, and every running cost is gathered on the maintenance page.
FAQs
Can you maintain a pitch someone else built?
Yes. We survey it first and quote what it needs.
How often should a specialist visit?
It depends on use; your programme sets the number of visits after the survey.
Do you supply maintenance machinery?
We can quote for it. A Football Foundation grant may help pay for it.
Do you repair seams and lines?
Yes, priced after the survey.
Is VAT included in pitch maintenance prices?
No. VAT is a separate line.