Like any home project, installing artificial turf in the yard of your new home requires a reality check on costs. Your first step is considering the different factors that may affect the overall cost of your project. In the case of artificial turf installation, you’ll want to consider the cost of different turf blends, the many steps of installation and the infill that is spread over the turf.
Selected Blend Cost
Artificial turf options are available at price points ranging from $1–$4 per square foot. As we know in the home improvement game, great quality isn’t cheap. Cheaper blends often have a shiny finish that looks like plastic and will be on the low end of usage which is around 5 years. The top-quality blends – made with nylon or polyethylene – will look and feel much closer to real grass. In addition, they will have much better longevity than cheaper blends, lasting up to 10 years or more with proper care and maintenance.
Installation Difficulty
The regularity of your lawn in shape and level may impact the cost of artificial turf installation. There are several, necessary steps that must be taken to make sure your yard is completely flat and prepared for laying turf:
- Remove and properly dispose of your current lawn. There may be extra steps such as rock removal in order to get the soil nice and flat.
- Add a layer of weed-control membrane so that weeds don’t pop up through your turf
- Add a smooth layer of sand
- Cut and fit a layer of shock-absorbent material to fit your lawn
- Cut and fit the artificial turf
This is a lot of labor, which makes installation the most expensive part of this project, but professional installation is your most cost-effective option, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that this tough task was done right.
Infill
Infill may seem like an afterthought, but with costs ranging from $0.50–$1.00 per square foot of turf, that’s a few extra hundred dollars to tack on to your project. Just like the blend of turf you choose, the quality of your infill is important. Infill acts as the “soil” of artificial turf, helping to weigh it down and hold up the individual blades of grass for a natural look. Cheaper infill is made of rubber, which can absorb a lot of heat in the summer months making it uncomfortable to walk on. However, there are organic infill options that are not only better for the environment than its rubber counterpart, but also feel more comfortable under bare feet.
Now that you have an idea of what the costs of turf installation entails, you can set a budget that affords all of your needs. Even if it seems expensive upfront, the low costs for maintenance will pay for it in no time.
If you’re moving to a new home, we’ve got your back! Contact us today for a free moving quote!
