Artificial Turf Advice Needed

LMrHouseMD on 04/09/2024 - 19:48
Last edited 05/09/2024 - 12:39 by 1 other user

Hi all, I need some help from people who had prior experience with artificial turf / grass installation.

I have a small backyard with relatively flat surface. Size is around 29 sqm surrounding the pergola. Requested couple of quotes and was amazed with prices $4k-5k for 35mm Australian made realistic looking product with installation - SynLawn brand for example. Location Melbourne South East.

Some questions I have:

  1. Is this normal price or is this too much?
  2. Without prior experience, would that be hard job to DIY to have long lasting lawn and something that does not get dislocated in 1 year. Would I save much if DIY?
  3. On Facebook market there are so many cheap lawns, not sure why so much I got quoted.
  4. AU vs China made, is that really big diff on quality and longevity of the lawn for say 5-8 years?

Thanks in advance for responses.

Home & Garden Artificial Grass

Comments

  • jv on 04/09/2024 - 19:59
    +17

    Artificial Turf is rubbish…

    • MrHouseMD on 04/09/2024 - 20:21

      Can you elaborate on your experience?

      • Aureus on 04/09/2024 - 20:46
        +15
        • Looks bad (subjective)
        • Gets super hot in summer
        • Feels bad
        • Terrible for the environment (microplastics, more landfill at end of life)
        • Expensive
        • jjjaar on 04/09/2024 - 22:05
          +5
          • Smells bad
      • jv on 04/09/2024 - 21:13
        +4

        ↑↑↑↑↑

      • Hirolol on 05/09/2024 - 08:18
        +2

        They had one in our rental and we love it
        No need to mow anything and feels nice so lay on.
        We don’t even have a lawn mower so has saved us time and money.
        It’s not that much hotter in summer so the difference is negligible.
        We really love it and if we ever bought our own place would definitely look at getting it installed.

        Sorry can’t assist with pricing but just thought I would share from someone that actually has artificial turf.

  • AngoraFish on 04/09/2024 - 20:04
    +7

    I'd normally estimate $120/sq.m+GST, so that's pretty close, plus a margin for hassle factor on a small job. This assumes a proper 50mm crushed rock base, compacted and properly leveled, with sand raked through the pile to make it stand upright.

    You can do DIY, it's just laying carpet, but I can guarantee that the finish will look a lot better and last longer if it's done by a professional. Doing the joining tape is a pain, and cutting and pinning the edges for a neat finish is a pain as well. In your favour, 35mm pile covers a lot of mistakes, and is one of the advantages of the product.

    The cheap art turf is normally just low-pile single-colour putting green that looks crap. They may not be quoting on a proper base either. 35mm pile is a premium product.

    There is no difference in Aus vs Chinese made. There is nothing wrong with Chinese made product, it's just woven carpet made out of the exact same stuff (polyethylene).

    • MrHouseMD on 04/09/2024 - 20:23

      Thanks mate, very helpful response. From your experience, the looks of it, if professionally installed, would last long? Thinking of 8 year'ish horizon.

      • AngoraFish on 04/09/2024 - 21:26

        Reasonable quality artificial turf, professionally installed in a high-wear commercial or public environment such as a sports ground, childcare centre or school, should give you at least 10 years minimum.

        In a typical residential situation there's no reason that you should ever need to rip it up unless you no longer like the look or you get some kind of deterioration in the crushed rock base, such as washout, excessive ground movement or sometimes ants.

        Over time the artificial turf will fade a touch and lose a bit of its shine, but this shouldn't effect the quality of the material. Nowadays the stuff is virtually indestructible.

  • Dollar General on 04/09/2024 - 20:41
    +3

    It may be a relatively flat surface but it needs to be level. you need to hire equipment and purchase the products required

    The savings may not be as big as you think

  • p1 ama on 04/09/2024 - 20:47
    +8
    1. Without prior experience, would that be hard job to DIY to have long lasting lawn and something that does not get dislocated in 1 year. Would I save much if DIY?

    Why are you looking to get artificial turf?

    If you're installing yourself, there's a lot you need to be aware of, particularly around managing the runoffs and risks of flooding - since artificial turf does not absorb water the way that real grass would, you need to manage where the water is going to and making sure it's not just going to collect at the lowest point.

    Also lots of issues around heat. Have you actually used artificial turf before? They get blisteringly hot in summer, so if you're imagining standing around on your artificial turf drinking a beer with your mates over the summer, forget it. The radiant heat makes it feel hotter than concrete. If you have kids, it can even cause burns.

    It's also expensive, if it's just a maintenance issue, it's probably cheaper to just install real grass and have someone come round to give it a mow every so often.

    • MrHouseMD on 05/09/2024 - 17:54

      Wanted something that looks nice but without allergy impacts.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 04/09/2024 - 21:03
    +2

    Yuck what trash.

  • onetwothreefour on 04/09/2024 - 21:11
    +8

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/sir-walter-dna-certified-buffalo…

    Cheaper
    Looks better
    Feels better
    Is better

  • sumyungguy on 04/09/2024 - 21:46
    -1

    My landscaper laid 16sqm Urban Windsor synthetic and 70sqm Empire Zoysia in 2021. Should have taken his advice and done the lot in synthetic.

    • Iwantthebestprice on 04/09/2024 - 22:36

      What’s wrong with Empire Zoysia he laid? Not good grass to have or just the maintenance?

      • sumyungguy on 04/09/2024 - 22:46

        Wonderful in year one, but now has some dead patches perhaps due to shade and leaf drop; other parts I believe need dethatching. I've applied Zoystar fertiliser but also need to do some top dressing. In year three I'm totally not liking it but it could be that there's just too much organic matter impacting the soil.

        • Iwantthebestprice on 05/09/2024 - 13:57

          Ah thanks for letting me know. Im having the same issue with my grass where the shade is it’s dying and I was recommended Empire Zoysia. Having a real hard time finding a grass that is shade proof as half my backyard is in shade most the day, most annoying thing to deal with.

  • Benoffie on 04/09/2024 - 22:04
    +2

    Parents recently got the cheaper Enduroturf Summer installed (one piece) for $1800. Size, roughly 2.5m by maybe 4m?

    Cheaper with joins but they didnt want that.

    For a full front garden, it was $3200.

    Obviously it fluctuates based on the work required to get it level.

    The better the product and the better the preparation of the dolomite base, the less maintenance and weed issues.

    • Adelaide prices

    You should know that maintenance isn't necessarily reduced. Dogs can still tear it, their outputs reek and as a result, requires frequent watering and disinfection.

  • soan papdi on 04/09/2024 - 22:07
    -1

    Is it lupus?

  • m1108 on 05/09/2024 - 08:38
    +2

    I got front and backyard done over 10 years ago, still holding up very well. Not sure if the product is Aus made or not (but we choose a higher end product). Can’t remember how much and would be irrelevant today anyway, but it was done by Tuff Turf (located in Heatheron, Vic). I’d recommend them, very friendly and helpful staff.

    My place was a new build so was bare dirt, It seemed quite labour intensive (but I’m not a very handy person!), levelling off, road base with a compactor, grass laid and nailed down then topped off with sand spread over the top (apparently helps the grass stand up but I found it a bit clumpy in the corners where the spreader machine couldn’t get) it now gets a bit of moss and weeds growing in those spots, guessing it’s due to the moisture that the sand holds, so if you’re doing it yourself, go easy on the sand topping. Was a 2-3 day job with 2 tradies but a bigger area than what you have

  • AustriaBargain on 05/09/2024 - 08:55
    +1

    My parents didn't want a lawn so they covered where the lawn was in these quartz stones. They also tried bark chips. The astro turf probably would have looked better.

  • jugsy on 05/09/2024 - 11:31
    +2

    Looks bad, gets insanely hot, allows weeds through over time anyways, pain to maintain. Don't get anything made outside Australia as it won't handle our sun/heat. It's surprisingly easy to grow a new lawn, anyone can do it for $seeds

  • 82norm on 05/09/2024 - 14:06
    +1

    100mm concrete the only way to go.

    • MrHouseMD on 05/09/2024 - 17:59

      Thanks, may consider, although drainage need to manage

  • MrHouseMD on 05/09/2024 - 17:52

    Thanks to all. Can see that opinion on artificial turf is overwhelmingly negative in here.

    Concrete is an option, but looks of it on backyard is depressing. Pebble / small stones might be an option, but again people had bad experiences with it. Real grass I can't do due to allergies.

    Block tiles maybe, or combination of pebble and tile slabs? Would that be cost effective? Friend mentioned that after 9 months they removed pebbles as weed started growing

    • sumyungguy on 05/09/2024 - 18:19
      -1

      The way I read it those of us who actually have synthetic turf have a positive view. My landscaper has it at his home and all of his crew members gave it positive reviews.

      • Tee Rex Arms on 05/09/2024 - 19:42

        Keep telling yourself it doesn’t look and feel like absolute shit

        • sumyungguy on 05/09/2024 - 19:52
          -1

          What sort do you have? Oh right, you don't have any first hand knowledge, just a hater.

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