Diy Artificial Grass Installation Vs Hiring A Pro
If youre looking for a more complex installation , we recommend using a professional team US Turf Avoid common mistakes that can come with a DIY installation from the get-go, and get your turf installed right the first time.
For a better idea of what your turf project will cost, get a free estimate from US Turf, San Diegos artificial turf experts. If youre coming in with a budget in mind, we can work with you on a plan that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Materials For Installing Synthetic Turf
Your project costs will include more than just the synthetic lawn itself. There are a variety of materials needed for installing artificial grass the right way. Keep in mind that these are only examples of associated costs. For complete cost breakdowns of artificial grass materials for your project, contact US Turf for a free estimate.
Labor Cost To Install Artificial Grass
The average cost of labor to install artificial turf or grass is around $4 to $13 per square foot. Most homeowners pay approximately $7.50 per square foot in labor, on average. A 1,000 square foot lawn should take about two to three days for a crew of four or five workers to complete. Most professionals won’t charge by the hour – they tend to charge by the square foot instead. Make sure you get several estimates so you can see the full breakdown of your costs including the labor so you have an accurate snapshot of your total price before you commit.
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Is Artificial Grass Worth It
Artificial grass comes with a big upfront cost R70 to R310 per square metre, installed. Once its down, its free for the next 8 to 15 years.
Professionally laid natural grass, on the other hand, costs only R40 to R60 per square metre. But thats where expenditures begin. Youve got to water, mow, fertilize all of which cost money and take time.
Lets crunch some numbers on a hypothetical 30 sqm yard.
| Artificial grass price list for 30sqm | Cost |
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Getting Quotes For Artificial Grass
Get quotes from a variety of synthetic grass installers and compare their products as you would compare carpets. Also compare their product and installation guarantees. A high quality synthetic grass should be able to last up to 15 years, but you want any claims to be backed up with a guarantee and warranty.
Factors That Impact Installation Costs
- Landscaping: Additional landscaping to make your area suitable for artificial turf runs about $50$100 per hour, not including materials.
- Debris Cleanup: The area will need to be free of debris, including tree branches, shrubbery, weeds, and more. Expect an average of $50 per hour, or whatever your local Home Depot charges for labor.
- Hard-toAccess Areas: If the area to be covered has limited access, it will take workers longer to do the same work. Fees vary widely, so be sure to ask about any additional charges like this one.
- DrainageSystems: Artificial grass needs a special drainage system, which is usually but not always included in installation. Ask Home Depot if theyll be taking care of that so you dont have any surprises.
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Is Artificial Grass Bad For The Environment
In the modern day, personal environmental impact will often play on the minds of a lot of people. How does your life impact the earth and nature around you? Well a common misconception is that artificial grass is bad for the environment.
In fact, artificial turf is extremely friendly to the environment. With the recent increase in safety standards and global safeguards the production of artificial grass is now heavily regulated to make sure there are no harmful plasticisers or heavy metals in the construction.
Most importantly a natural grass lawn will use a lot of fertilisers and pesticides to keep it lush and beautiful looking, whereas an artificial lawn does not require these chemicals. This in turn keeps the local environment free from such harmful products.
An artificial lawn also does not require the use of electric or high polluting petrol lawnmowers in order to maintain it. This means they have zero energy costs and zero emissions. During droughts and hose pipe bans, an artificial lawn will stay green and well kept, unlike its natural counterpart.
Finally, there are various varieties of artificial lawn which are constructed from recycled materials . These “eco-lawns” are therefore helping to remove waste from the environment and repurpose plastic materials before they are sent to landfills.
What Are The Benefits Of Artificial Grass
Green, lush, and uniform lawns are often the first image which comes to mind when dreaming of how you wish your garden to look. The perfect garden grass is so desirable that neighbours commonly compare other lawns to see who has the best-looking gardens.
From mowing, trimming and weeding, to aerating, fertilising, and cleaning, having a beautiful lawn will more often than not create the homeowner a lot of work.
To reduce this workload and increase the time available to enjoy their lawns in is become increasing common for homeowners to turn to artificial lawns. So, what makes an artificial lawn so appealing? Why is it worth the initial high price?
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K9 Artificial Grass Cost
Also made by ForeverLawn, K9 Grass artificial turf is $4.50 to $9.50 per square foot. K9 turf is a non-toxic, antimicrobial turf designed specifically for cats and dogs. It offers complete edge to edge drainage. It has a dense short blade structure and is cleaner and better smelling than many other artificial grasses options. It is easy to maintain and has a realistic look. A 10-year warranty is provided with K9 Grass artificial turf.
What Are The Benefits Of Diy Vs Professional Installation
DIY installation can be a cost- saver, as youre cutting out operation, overhead and fueling costs. Additionally, you may be able to go the cheaper route on some materials like subbase. However, professional installation with experience is guaranteed to give you top results and a better return on your investment because you know its being done correctly. Additionally, most professional installation companies factor in repairs as part of their overhead costs, so if you end up needing repairs on your lawn, this is often included in what you pay for in the installation.
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Total Cost Of Artificial Grass Installation
In this guide, we have been assuming the middle to least expensive scenarios for all components involved in determining your turf installation price, with the exception of the crew. We went with a more experienced crew and we know a more experienced crew is always going to cost you more. We believe this is not the area to skimp on and you should always consider using the most experienced crew possible. This will be money well spent, guaranteed! Here is the breakdown of the total cost of a 1,000 square foot artificial turf installation:
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Artificial Grass Diy Installation Vs Pro
Should you hire a pro or DIY faux grass installation? Potential drainage problems and the mold and bacteria that can follow are your biggest concern when opting to DIY artificial grass.
For this reason, this isnt an ideal DIY project unless you have experience working with artificial turf. You’re already investing in the look of your new yard. Hiring a synthetic grass professional to install it means fewer worries and headaches.
Pros have the necessary skills to ensure precise measurements, stellar installation, and proper drainage. Pros can also suggest the best type of turf for your needs, provide landscaping design plans, and clean up after themselves once the project is complete.
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Here Are 10 Things That Might Make You Think Twice About Artificial Turf:
Price. I’m not going to bury the lede… there is a significant investment involved. A properly installed artificial lawn is more like your paver patio than your traditional lawn. Expect to pay $25-$35 a square foot. Yes, a 1000 square foot lawn will be over $25K. Note that this assumes your turf is installed properly. Most is not.
Low maintenance, not NO maintenance. Yes, your required mowings will go from 40 per year to 0. However, it will need to be cleared of leaves and debris if you have trees nearby. And even if you don’t, fake grass wants to be raked occasionally to look its best. There is no app for that, but we do provide a special rake with every installation. Get one here.
Infill scares you. One of the final steps when installing a synthetic lawn is to apply “infill”. This product filters down into the turf, weighing it down, making it look better and feel softer on your feet. But you don’t live in a cave so you heard about the dangers of infill. The good news is that the “crumb rubber” infill that caused problems is no longer in use. We use a ceramic coated sand product that is totally safe.
You have south facing windows…. that get full sun in the summer. This is a tough one. The sun may reflect off the windows and melt some of the turf! This situation is common enough that it is not covered by turf manufacturer’s warranties. It is also common enough that we can usually design a way around it.
Overview Of Synthetic Or Artificial Grass Lawns
Artificial turf has a higher upfront cost than sodding a lawn, which has an average price of around $2.00 per square foot installed. Thats about one-sixth the cost of synthetic grass, which averages $12.50/square foot. The maintenance fees for artificial turf are essentially $0.
Since natural grass comes with maintenance fees of $300 to $1,500 or more per year based on climate and lawn size, the cost of artificial grass considered over 20 years can be less than natural grass. The break-even point is usually around 10 years.
Your artificial turf cost will depend on the quality of the synthetic grass you choose plus the type and amount of materials that are needed to complete the work. These include how much base material is needed, whether you install padding beneath the turf and the type of border selected. Site factors affect installation labor cost.
All cost factors, a list of material prices and labor rates are found below. But taking average costs, here are prices for common yard sizes. Cost per square foot drops a little as the size of the landscape increases.
- 500 square feet : $4,200 $9,000
- 1,000 square feet : $8,000 $17,000
- 5,000 square feet : $40,000 $80,000
- 10,900 square feet : $81,750 $165,000
- 21,750 square feet : $152,000 $320,000
- 43,500 square feet : $310,000 $580,000
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How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost
What does artificial grass cost? Without a doubt, this is the first thing that comes to mind when considering synthetic turf, and, unfortunately, there is not just one right answer. The national average for a full turn key installation is anywhere between $8 to $14 per square foot. Of course this can be more or less depending on your market and your project. In fact, there are a variety of different factors that can affect the overall price, which is why we encourage you to get a complimentary estimate from an installer.
Typically speaking, artificial grass cost is broken down by a per square foot dollar figure. Firstly, youll need to to determine the overall size of the area where youre going to install artificial grass. The cost of artificial grass is to determine the square footage of your project. Secondly, youll need to decide whether or not you want turn key installation of your new turf. Havent yet determined which is right for you? Here are some of the key factors that will make a great DIY turf installation project:
What Is Astro Turf Laid On
AstroTurf is typically laid on a gravel compacted drainage layer with a sand-based infill system. The same permeable backing that lets water drain through can also let weeds grow through. You can also install a weed control landscape fabric underneath the AstroTurf to prevent weeds from coming through.
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Artificial Turf Ideas For Residential Landscaping
One excellent reason to use residential artificial turf for backyard landscaping is to add greenery and save water in homes located in extremely arid climates where natural grass wont grow. It also looks good in areas where little sunlight is received during the day. Here are additional ideas for your new synthetic lawn.
Artificial Grass Vs Sod
If you currently have a bare yard, you have two choices for how to instantly cover it and get a lawn. One is artificial turf, and the other is sod.
Sod is naturally growing grass that is laid over a coating of loam, which eventually takes root in your lawn. It is more costly than grass seed but produces an instant lawn, much like artificial turf.
It is much less expensive than artificial turf, costing only $1,740 to $3,520 for a 2,000-square-foot lawn as opposed to $10,000 to $25,000. Sod is treated like other grasses, which means that it requires more maintenance than artificial grass. It must be watered, mowed, and cared for like other grasses, but it also gives the cooling properties and softness of real grass.
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Turf Football Field Cost
A turf football field costs about $850,000 and up to $1,000,000, with replacement costs of $500,000 every 8 to 10 years. Artificial football turf is constructed a little differently than residential artificial grass due to the rough use it gets, and it has extra padding to protect players during hard falls.
Total Cost After 6 Years
Real grass will continue to incur costs, so after six years, your tab should be about $6,290 while the running cost for turf remains the same at approximately $6,250. That means that your artificial grass lawn will pay for itself after around six years. You’ll recoup your investment while real grass will continue to cost you money.
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Permits And Inspection Cost
- $0 $200 | You probably wont need a permit and inspection for installing artificial turf. But if a sprinkler system is being disconnected and removed, or if your local codes are picky about drainage and water run-off, one might be required. Your installer will know or you can contact your local codes office.
Find Out Exactly How Much A Lawn And Turf Supplier Could Cost You
The total cost to install artificial grass ranges from $400 to $6500 or more. Expect to pay from $50 to $75 per square metre for low to mid-priced synthetic grass or $75 to $100 per square metre to supply and install more expensive grass or a more complex installation.
Have you ever admired a neighbour’s lawn from a distance and wondered how it stayed so lush and green with seemingly no maintenance or even watering?
Odds are, that natural looking grass is actually synthetic grass, which is also sold as artificial grass or turf. If that possibility comes as a surprise to you, it’s probably because you’re remembering the synthetic grass of the past, which looked nothing like its natural counterpart. Times have changed. Today’s synthetic grass can be so realistic looking, it can even hold up to close scrutiny.
This article will help you work out what options there are, what to think about when installing artificial grass and how much your project could cost.
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What Is The Cheapest Way To Install Artificial Grass
The cheapest way to install artificial grass is to DIY the project and install it yourself. However, we dont recommend this, as theres a lot that can go wrong during an installation process that can end up costing you more money in the long run. We recommend using a professional installation company with solid experience.
Is Artificial Grass Expensive
Initially, it is very easy to think that fake grass is expensive as it costs more than just normal turf. However, LazyLawn found that 56% of garden owners could save up to £200 a year if they did not have to maintain their garden. An artificial lawn significantly reduces the cost of maintenance and overall spend on a garden, making it more cost-effective than a real lawn.
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