Artificial grass for front and back yards
A turf yard is only as good as the ground under it. Here's what goes into a residential install in Washington County.
Most of what you pay for in a turf yard is prep. The visible part, the rolls of synthetic grass, goes down in a day or two on a typical yard. The days before that are spent removing what's there, shaping the ground and building a base that won't settle.
What does a yard install involve?
- Measure and plan. The installer maps the area, notes slopes, sprinkler heads, utilities, trees and where water drains, and lays out how the rolls will run so seams fall in sensible places.
- Remove existing material. Sod, roots, rock or old weed fabric comes out to a set depth.
- Deal with irrigation. Sprinkler heads in the turf area get capped or converted, and nearby beds usually go to drip.
- Grade and build the base. Aggregate base is spread, shaped so water runs away from the house, and compacted.
- Lay, seam and secure. Turf is rolled out, cut in, seamed and fastened along every edge.
- Infill and brush. Infill is spread and brushed in to hold the blades up and add weight.
Front yard or backyard?
Front yards are usually about looks and low upkeep, so pile height, color and how the turf meets driveways, walks and planters matter most. Backyards get used, so durability, heat and drainage come first. Many St. George homeowners do turf only where people walk or play and use rock and desert plants everywhere else, which keeps the hot surface area down.
Questions to ask
- How deep will you excavate, and what base material will you use?
- Where will water go in a heavy storm?
- How will edges be secured against curbs, rock beds and walls?
- What product and infill are you quoting, and what's the manufacturer's warranty versus your workmanship warranty?
The installer prices the job after measuring the area and seeing the site: how much grass or rock has to come out, how much base is needed, access for equipment, and the turf and infill you pick. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need weed barrier under artificial grass?
Many installers use one, but practices vary. Ask what they put under the base and why. If the area is part of a water-district conversion, the district only allows permeable weed barriers where roots may grow.
Can turf go right up to my house?
It can, but the grade under it should slope away from the foundation so water doesn't collect against the house.
Related services
More background: Washington County artificial turf guide.
Tired of watering a lawn nobody walks on?
Call and a local turf installer will talk through your yard, your water-district options and what the job involves.