Artificial Turf Installation in Orlando, FL

Artificial turf installation replaces a living lawn with synthetic grass that stays green without mowing, fertilizer or sprinklers. Most Orlando homeowners who call us are tired of St. Augustine that thins out in shade, browns out under watering limits, or gets chewed up by chinch bugs and dogs. The turf you see is only part of the job. The rest is removal, grading and base work, and that is what decides whether the lawn still looks flat in five years.

Step one: removing the old lawn

We cut out the existing sod and roots rather than laying turf over them. Grass and weeds left in place rot, settle and push up through seams. The depth we remove depends on how much base we need to add and on the finished height against your patio, driveway and walkways. Debris is hauled away unless you want it kept on site.

Step two: grading for Orlando rain

Orlando's summer storms can drop heavy rain in a single afternoon. Turf drains through its backing, but the water then has to go somewhere. We grade the soil so it slopes away from the house and toward areas where water can soak into the sand or leave the yard, and we look for low spots that already collect water. In older neighborhoods with big oaks, we grade around root zones rather than through them.

Step three: the base

A compacted, porous crushed-stone base, usually around 3 to 4 inches deep, gives the turf a firm, even surface and lets water pass straight down. Florida's DEP rulemaking for synthetic turf on single-family lots calls for a porous, evenly graded base at least 3 inches thick, which is in line with how we build. On deep, well-drained sand the base mainly provides stability; on low lots with a high water table it also helps keep the surface firm after storms.

Step four: laying and seaming

Turf rolls are laid with the grain running the same direction so the color looks even. Seams are glued on seam tape and edges are fastened along every border with nails or staples set into the base. We cut cleanly around beds, pavers and curves. Infill is then brushed in, which weighs the turf down, supports the blades and protects the backing from UV.

Choosing a turf product

Turf products differ in blade material, pile height, density, color and backing. Polyethylene blades feel soft and are common for lawns; nylon is tougher and often used for greens and high-traffic areas. Angi lists material costs of about $2 to $7 per square foot for polyethylene and $5 to $8 for nylon. For Orlando we steer most customers toward a fully permeable backing and a UV-stabilized blade, and we bring samples so you can see them in your own light.

Sprinklers and water

Sprinkler heads inside the turf area are capped or removed so they do not leak under the base. Zones that still water beds and trees can be adjusted. Under the St. Johns River Water Management District's normal schedule, residential watering is limited to set days and banned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; turf removes most of that concern for the lawn area.