ExecutiveChronicles | How Much Does Commercial Turf Installation Cost? | It’s well-documented that opting for artificial turf over a natural lawn can save your business thousands of dollars over time. Artificial turf does not require any of the upkeep or maintenance that natural grass does and will never need to be mowed, watered, or fertilized. It can be installed anywhere, and unlike a grass lawn, it will not turn brown if it doesn’t get enough sun or if it gets too much sun. For a business, where curb appeal means a great deal, using artificial turf can be an important financial decision.
So, there are plenty of monetary benefits to installing an artificial lawn at your place of business, but the question remains: is it worth the upfront cost? Businesses must always weigh the pros and cons of any financial decision they make, and opting to have artificial turf installed is certainly a major decision. This article will be your guide to navigating the financial particulars of commercial turf installation.
Who Can Benefit From Commercial Turf?
There are financial benefits to installing commercial turf, but which industries can benefit? The first and most obvious industry is sports. Using commercial turf for soccer fields, football fields, golf greens, and other playing surfaces seems like the most logical choice.
It’s not just sports companies that can take advantage of the benefits of artificial grass. In fact, any business that wants a decorative area in front of its headquarters can benefit, as can more unexpected clients.
For example, an unusual and trendy option for decor in local bars or restaurants may be to have indoor artificial turf installed as a wall decoration or even on the floor.
The First Cost: Materials
There are several factors that affect the cost of artificial turf installation. The first, of course, is the material itself. Commercial turf is often made of recycled materials. The infill on which the turf sits is usually made from the same material as rubber car tires and can be recycled from that source. Infill could also be made from sand or silica.
The next critical factor is water drainage. Since an artificial lawn doesn’t have any soil to absorb rainwater, it has to be designed in such a way that it can drain on its own. To remedy this, the blades are attached to a mesh material that allows water to get through, where it is absorbed by the base underneath.
The blades of the artificial turf are made from nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene, depending on the need and where it will be installed. Of course, the material chosen will affect the cost, with nylon being the most expensive. Regardless of what it’s made of, artificial turf must be resistant to ultraviolet radiation, and strong enough to stand up to repetitive, heavy foot traffic.
If you purchase turf made from nylon, you can expect to pay around $5 or $6 per square foot. If you opt for polypropylene, the average cost tends to be around $2 per foot, although the cost can increase depending on other factors. For polyethylene, the average cost for a square foot is $3 to $4.
Cost of Installation
Proper installation is key to having your commercial turf last a long time and is one of the primary factors affecting the overall cost.
It’s crucial that you hire a contractor with excellent attention to detail and proper training. Far too often, contractors can cut corners in order to save money, using under-trained workers or a cheaper install method, ultimately leading to a lower-quality product that doesn’t last as long as it should. It’s better to pay a bit more up front and avoid having to shell out for costly repairs later. To ensure an excellent installation job, look for a company with years of experience and plenty of references like Sportech Construction.
The first step of an installation is the removal of any currently existing soil. Your contractor will most likely have to dig in the spot where the artificial turf will be installed. They will then place some type of border all around where the turf will be. This border can be made from any number of materials, from concrete to plastic. As to be expected, the material you choose will also affect the cost.
Installers will then place a layer of sand or gravel to absorb any water that drains through the mesh. They’ll level it out using landscaping tools and tamp it into place.
After a layer of infill is spread out all across the boundaries of the area where the artificial turf will be, the turf itself is then stretched from corner to corner. The turf material usually comes in sheets or rolls and will need to be cut down to size. Once it has been cut, it is secured into place with nails designed especially for that purpose.
The average cost you can expect to pay for a professional commercial turf installation is around $12 to $13 per square foot. This can go up depending on the materials used and the size of the area where you are having the installation done.
Other Factors Affecting the Cost
There are plenty of other factors at play when looking for commercial turf installation costs. Commercial turf isn’t just used as a replacement for natural lawns, after all. It is far more versatile than that and can be installed in many creative ways depending on the needs of the client.
For example, if you are having your artificial turf installed on a golf course, you’ll also need to install golf holes and other related fixtures directly into the artificial turf, which could add to the cost considerably. Similarly, sports fields will need to be marked with a standardized set of lines in order to match whatever game is being played.
Certain areas may be more expensive than others when it comes to installation. For example, some clients request that their vertical walls be outfitted with artificial grass. The unusual methods required for installation may cause the price to go up.
If you are in the Portland, Beaverton, or Salem, OR, areas, Sportech Construction and Excavation would love to help you with your artificial turf installation. Reach out for a quote today.
