Artificial turf?

[tallguy]

Has anybody here replaced their lawn with artificial turf?  I am debating which way to go with mine, sod or turf.  I have a front area of about 1200 sf which needs to be done and a rear area that I could also do if I choose.  Depending on how much I do there, it would be between 600-1200 sf in that area.  I have been seeing estimates mostly around $10-12/sf installed so the expense is considerable, but the upkeep will be minimal.  That is important if I am going to be away from home as much as I anticipate. 

If there are any turf owners here, do you like it?  Does it look natural?  What kind of maintenance do you do?  How much did you pay, and would you do it again?  Thanks.

[Sharon]

If you do like some people in my parents neighborhood you can cut the cost down significantly.  They picked up some artificial turf that was being replaced at a football field and now have the 60yd line running across their front yard.  

[tallguy]

Don't think that would go over well in my neighborhood.  Still, a 60-yard line would be an attention-getter.  Most fields don't even have one.  

[Apple]

I seriously considered doing it this year, but the cost was more than I could come up with right now (for a decent looking turf), and I still have my son around to mow the yard, so I'm putting it off.  My parents had an in-home daycare when I was growing up, and the kids destroyed the yard with little ride on tractors and things, so my mom got cheap astroturf to go over everything. It could pour for half a day, and within half an hour of the rain stopping, the kids could go back outside to play. It actually worked great-- maintenance was just hosing it off every so often, and it lasted for years.  

[weltschmerz]

Sept 13, 2019 22:57:37 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Has anybody here replaced their lawn with artificial turf?  I am debating which way to go with mine, sod or turf.  I have a front area of about 1200 sf which needs to be done and a rear area that I could also do if I choose.  Depending on how much I do there, it would be between 600-1200 sf in that area.  I have been seeing estimates mostly around $10-12/sf installed so the expense is considerable, but the upkeep will be minimal.  That is important if I am going to be away from home as much as I anticipate. 

If there are any turf owners here, do you like it?  Does it look natural?  What kind of maintenance do you do?  How much did you pay, and would you do it again?  Thanks.

I don't know where you live, but check your zoning by-laws. This is happening in more and more cities. Turf creates heat islands in cities and inhibits rainwater drainage.

globalnews.ca/news/4376811/quebec-city-synthetic-lawn-dispute/


toronto.ctvnews.ca/homeowner-in-turf-battle-with-city-of-toronto-to-keep-her-pristine-lawn-1.4475919

[weltschmerz]

It may not be a law now, but it could be in the future. Just something to think about.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Have you considered ground cover? There are ground cover plants that apparently don’t require the maintenance that grass does. Find something that is more native to where you live. I imagine it would be less expensive than artificial turf and better for the environment. 

[billisonboard]

Rock garden? 

[phil5185]

""front area of about 1200 sf""

Welts makes a good point, a 3 inch rain on 1200 sf is almost 2000 gallons of water that has to run-off on your down-hill side/end.  In Seattle that happens fairly often.

[Apple]

Sept 14, 2019 1:34:54 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Have you considered ground cover? There are ground cover plants that apparently don’t require the maintenance that grass does. Find something that is more native to where you live. I imagine it would be less expensive than artificial turf and better for the environment. 

If my front yard didn't meet with the neighbor's front yard (no fence or barrier of any kind), I'd let my peppermint completely take over the front yard.  Smells good, bees love it, gets pretty purple flowers.  It would be perfect.  But...  it spreads, and I don't want the neighbor to hate me.  

[tallguy]

Sept 14, 2019 8:48:28 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

""front area of about 1200 sf""

Welts makes a good point, a 3 inch rain on 1200 sf is almost 2000 gallons of water that has to run-off on your down-hill side/end.  In Seattle that happens fairly often.

Three inches of rain at one time?  Why would you think that happens fairly often?  Our highest average monthly precipitation is 6 inches in December.  Also, most good turf products drain better than real grass.  The backing is perforated so that water drains through rather than runs off.  Drainage would not be an issue.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sept 13, 2019 22:57:37 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Has anybody here replaced their lawn with artificial turf?  I am debating which way to go with mine, sod or turf.  I have a front area of about 1200 sf which needs to be done and a rear area that I could also do if I choose.  Depending on how much I do there, it would be between 600-1200 sf in that area.  I have been seeing estimates mostly around $10-12/sf installed so the expense is considerable, but the upkeep will be minimal.  That is important if I am going to be away from home as much as I anticipate. 

If there are any turf owners here, do you like it?  Does it look natural?  What kind of maintenance do you do?  How much did you pay, and would you do it again?  Thanks.

I only have experience with this within the school district, not personal property. Yes, you can get some that looks more natural than the cheapest versions. You will have to replace it every seven to ten years. You'll also have to determine how often you'll need to refill the rubber pieces. 

You can also get faux mulch. That looks natural also. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Regarding the water flow, we have one building that we installed french drains first then the artificial turf over that. Keeping the natural grass would have made a mud pit, and kids wouldn't have been able to play outside very often as we live on the coast in the PNW. So, there are ways to alleviate puddling. 

[tallguy]

Sept 15, 2019 11:02:18 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Sept 13, 2019 22:57:37 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Has anybody here replaced their lawn with artificial turf?  I am debating which way to go with mine, sod or turf.  I have a front area of about 1200 sf which needs to be done and a rear area that I could also do if I choose.  Depending on how much I do there, it would be between 600-1200 sf in that area.  I have been seeing estimates mostly around $10-12/sf installed so the expense is considerable, but the upkeep will be minimal.  That is important if I am going to be away from home as much as I anticipate. 

If there are any turf owners here, do you like it?  Does it look natural?  What kind of maintenance do you do?  How much did you pay, and would you do it again?  Thanks.

I only have experience with this within the school district, not personal property. Yes, you can get some that looks more natural than the cheapest versions. You will have to replace it every seven to ten years. You'll also have to determine how often you'll need to refill the rubber pieces. 

You can also get faux mulch. That looks natural also. 

I'm guessing that is on an athletic field?  Yes, stadiums replace their turf fairly regularly.  Residential applications should last a lot longer since they do not take the same level of abuse.  Mine would take very little use, so 20 years or more would be expected.  The other consideration is that replacement if necessary should be much cheaper than initial installation, since the sod removal, grading, and gravel base is already done, though disposal cost would likely be high.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sept 15, 2019 11:27:42 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Sept 15, 2019 11:02:18 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I only have experience with this within the school district, not personal property. Yes, you can get some that looks more natural than the cheapest versions. You will have to replace it every seven to ten years. You'll also have to determine how often you'll need to refill the rubber pieces. 

You can also get faux mulch. That looks natural also. 

I'm guessing that is on an athletic field?  Yes, stadiums replace their turf fairly regularly.  Residential applications should last a lot longer since they do not take the same level of abuse.  Mine would take very little use, so 20 years or more would be expected.  The other consideration is that replacement if necessary should be much cheaper than initial installation, since the sod removal, grading, and gravel base is already done, though disposal cost would likely be high.

No, this portion is in the yard for the day care building. We actually keep our high school fields with real grass. There are 15 - 55 kids on it throughout the day though, so you're right that yours might not have that level of trampling. Of course, I'm sure I can send some kids your way. 

[gambler]

I did a area around pool. Looks really good wish I could do the rest 

[formerroomate99]

Sept 14, 2019 1:34:54 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Have you considered ground cover? There are ground cover plants that apparently don’t require the maintenance that grass does. Find something that is more native to where you live. I imagine it would be less expensive than artificial turf and better for the environment. 

That’s not as easy as you think. I live in a high desert, where lawns don’t survive without daily watering. But when I tried to dig up the grass on my tree belt and replace it with water wise plants, I still end up with grass and other weeds poking through there.Bear in mind, we had to shut off our irrigation system the first year we were there, so I picked the plants that thrived under those circumstances.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

So, as the parent of 2 kids who played multiple sports on artificial turf, I can tell you that it will be a nightmare. Little black balls of rubber get tracked into the house. The little balls stick to clothing and then melt in your dryer. Complete and total PITA.

Not to mention the environmental concerns from having all that plastic and rubber in your yard...