Artificial Turf Installation in Charleston, SC
Artificial Turf Where Turf Earns Its Money
Artificial turf is not a replacement for every lawn. It is the answer for the specific places grass refuses to grow or refuses to survive: deep shade under live oaks, the strip of yard the dogs run every day, tight courtyards, poolside, and putting greens.
Done properly it is a construction job, not a carpet job. Almost everything that goes wrong with turf — ripples, low spots that hold water, edges that lift — traces back to what is underneath it, which is why we build the base the same way we build one for pavers.
Backyard Putting Greens
A putting green is one of the best jobs turf does. A real grass green needs mowing at a fraction of an inch and daily care to putt true. A synthetic green gives you the same roll in the backyard with none of that, and it stays playable through August.
This waterfront green in Charleston has three cups on the putting surface, a band of taller turf around it as a collar, and a slate border that keeps the edge crisp against the lawn. Our Summerville green, further down this page, sits beside a pergola outdoor kitchen with a TV wall.
How green speed works
Green speed is measured with a Stimpmeter: a ball is rolled off a standard ramp and the distance it travels, in feet, is the speed. Most golf courses keep their greens around 9 to 10 feet. On a synthetic green, speed is set mostly by the sand infill. More infill makes a firmer, faster surface, less makes it softer and slower. A new green usually plays a little slow and speeds up over its first few months as the fibers settle.
The turf is different from lawn turf
Putting surfaces use a short, dense turf made for ball roll, usually nylon or polypropylene. Nylon gives the firmest, most consistent roll and stands up best to wear and sun. Polypropylene costs less and suits casual putting. The collar and fringe around the green use a longer turf, so you can chip onto the putting surface from off the green.
It starts with the base
The breaks you putt over are shaped into the base before any turf goes down, because the turf simply follows what is underneath. We build it the same way as every turf job: crush and run compacted solid, with granite fines screeded on top for a true surface that drains.
What Artificial Turf Costs
| Artificial turf, installed | from $13 per sq ft |
|---|
That price covers everything: base preparation and installation. Size, shape, the specific turf you choose and how much prep the yard needs are what move it.
Shape matters more than people expect. A simple rectangle cuts and seams efficiently; a curved yard with tree wells and bed lines takes more cutting, more edge work and more waste.
What Goes Underneath
We build the base from crush and run with granite fines on top. Crush and run compacts to a solid, stable platform; the fines screed to a true, smooth surface so the turf lies flat and drains instead of pooling.
Infill
Infill is what keeps the blades standing up and the turf sitting flat. We use sand, or antimicrobial sand where there are pets. If you have dogs, that is the version to get — it is the difference between turf you are happy with in year three and one you are not.
Living With It
- It lasts 15 to 25 years, and longer depending on use and maintenance.
- Yes, it gets hot. We will not pretend otherwise. On one project we installed a sprinkler system to spray the turf and cool it off, which works and is worth planning for if the area is in full sun and gets used barefoot.
- Cleaning is a hose. That is the easiest way, and it is most of the job.
- The real maintenance concern is dirt and leaf build-up in the turf. Washing and power brooming clears it out, and then you top up with some new sand if it needs it. Under oaks, that is an annual job rather than a never job.
How We Install It
- Consultation and measurement, including how the area is actually used.
- Excavation and base. Crush and run compacted, granite fines screeded on top.
- Turf laid, cut and seamed to the shape of the space.
- Infill — sand, or antimicrobial sand for pets — then power broomed.
- Edges finished against beds, patios and pool decks.
Turf pairs with sod elsewhere in the same yard, with drainage where water is the underlying problem, and with planting around it.
Worth Reading Before You Start
Projects We’ve Built
Real jobs, with the story of how each one came together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does artificial turf cost in Charleston?
From $13 per square foot installed, and that covers everything from base preparation through installation. Size, shape, the specific turf and how much prep the yard needs are what move the price.
How long does artificial turf last?
15 to 25 years, and longer than that depending on how hard it is used and how it is maintained.
Does artificial turf get hot?
It does. On one project we installed a sprinkler system to spray it and cool it off, which is worth planning for if the area is in full sun and will be used barefoot.
How do you clean artificial turf?
A hose is the easiest way and handles most of it. The main maintenance concern is dirt and leaf build-up in the turf, which washing and power brooming clears out. After that you can add some new sand if needed.
What goes under artificial turf?
Crush and run compacted as the base, with granite fines screeded on top so the surface is true and drains properly. Infill is sand, or antimicrobial sand where there are pets.
Is artificial turf good for dogs?
Yes, and it is one of the best uses for it. Use the antimicrobial sand infill rather than plain sand, and hose it down as part of normal cleaning.
Request an Artificial Turf Consultation
Tell us where the turf would go and how it gets used. We’ll look at the space, say whether turf is the right answer there, recommend a type and put a plan together for it.
The consultation at your home is free around Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. For Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw and Awendaw, or anywhere else more than an hour from Charleston or Summerville, there’s a charge for the proposal trip. It comes off the price if you go ahead with the build, and it is not refundable if you do not.
Whether you’re located in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, West Ashley, Folly Beach, or anywhere in Charleston County, we install artificial turf.
Call us today or request a consultation online - Cramers Landscaping.