Lawn-to-turf conversions
Swapping a living lawn for synthetic grass takes more than rolling turf over the top. Here's how a conversion works.
A conversion starts with an existing lawn, usually one that's become expensive to water and hard to keep green through the summer. The grass and roots come out, the sprinklers are capped or reworked, and a new base goes down before the turf is laid. The result should look like a lawn year-round without the irrigation schedule.
What's involved?
- Check for rebates and HOA rules first. Talk to Lake Havasu City about its rebate program and to your HOA about turf guidelines before anything is removed.
- Remove the grass and roots. Some lawn grasses spread by underground runners and can push back up through the edges if they aren't fully dealt with. Ask how the installer handles it.
- Rework the irrigation. Sprinkler heads in the turf area are capped. Nearby trees and shrubs may need drip lines so they don't lose water.
- Grade and build the base. The surface is shaped to drain away from the house and compacted.
- Lay, seam, edge and fill the turf.
Don't forget the trees
Trees and shrubs that relied on lawn irrigation can suffer once the sprinklers are capped. Before the conversion, figure out which plants need to keep getting water and how they'll get it. A drip line or bubbler is usually the answer.
Is there a rebate?
Lake Havasu City offers a Water Conservation Rebate Program to its water customers, but we couldn't confirm whether a turf conversion qualifies. Contact the city before you start. Programs like this often have pre-approval steps, and work done before approval may not count.
The installer prices the job after measuring the area and seeing what has to come out, what the ground is like and how the space drains. We don't quote prices, and a figure given over the phone before a site visit is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can turf be installed right over my existing grass?
It shouldn't be. The grass and roots need to come out and a compacted base needs to go in, or the surface will settle unevenly and the grass may grow through.
Will my trees die if I cap the sprinklers?
They may struggle if the lawn sprinklers were their main water source. Plan drip or bubbler irrigation for them as part of the conversion.
Related services
More background: Lake Havasu artificial turf guide.
Tired of watering a lawn that bakes every July?
Call now and a local turf installer will talk through your yard with you.