Artificial Grass Installation in Bakersfield, CA

Artificial grass installation is the full replacement of a natural lawn with synthetic turf: the old grass comes out, the ground is graded and compacted, and the turf is laid, seamed and filled. In Bakersfield, most homeowners call us after another summer of brown patches, high water bills and mowing in triple-digit heat. The finished lawn looks the same in August as it does in March.

Why prep is most of the job

Turf is only as flat as what is under it. Laying synthetic grass over dirt, or over a lawn that has simply been sprayed dead, leads to dips, ridges and puddles within a season or two. We dig out the sod and root zone, usually three to four inches, then haul it away. Removal alone runs about $1 to $2.75 per square foot on Angi's cost data, and it is the step cheap bids skip.

The base we build

After excavation we grade the soil so water moves away from the foundation and toward a spot where it can soak in or leave the yard. Then we spread crushed rock, usually a road-base or crushed miscellaneous base, and compact it in lifts with a plate compactor. Angi lists base material at about $1.20 to $2.25 per square foot. On the slower-draining valley-floor soils found in parts of Bakersfield, we may add a more open, drainable rock under the base in low spots.

Choosing the turf

Most residential lawns use polyethylene blades for a soft feel, sometimes with a nylon thatch layer for durability. Pile height, face weight and color all change the look and the price. In full sun, lighter and multi-tone products and certain coated infills help with surface heat, though no product makes turf as cool as live grass. We bring samples to the estimate so you can see them in your own light.

Sprinklers and planters

The sprinkler zone under the new turf gets capped, or converted to drip if it also feeds trees and beds along the edge. A leaking head under turf softens the base and leaves a soft spot, so this step matters. Trees in or near the lawn keep their water: we leave a ring or set drip lines so the shade you have does not die off after the grass is gone.

Edges and seams

Turf comes in rolls about 15 feet wide, so most lawns have at least one seam. We line up the grain, glue the seam on seaming tape and nail it down so it disappears from a few feet away. Along curbs, walks and walls we trim tight and fasten every edge, since heat makes turf expand and contract through the day.