With increasing concerns over drought and water conservation, artificial turf is growing in popularity. If your first thought is “ew,” you’re probably visualizing the scratchy plastic carpet in Aunt Edna’s sunroom or a miniature golf course. You may want to reconsider. Over the past several years, technology has dramatically improved the look and feel of artificial turf making it a great lawn choice for those living in arid landscapes.
While the appeal of a “no water, no mow lawn” may have you itching to redo your landscape, make sure to go through this checklist before committing to turf.
- Double check your CC&Rs – It is only recently that turf quality has improved to the point where many people can’t easily tell the difference. For that reason, some associations may not have revised their CC&Rs and may still require homeowners to have a real lawn, at least in the front yard. If your CC&Rs permit turf lawns, make sure you carefully review the specifications. Not all turfs are created equal. It’s likely your association will expect a high quality, professionally installed turf to ensure curb appeal and home values are preserved.
- Check local laws – Although many cities now allow or even encourage artificial turf, some cities still have rules regulating its use. Check with your city’s ordinances, you don’t want to end up out of compliance!
- Check for local rebates – Some cities offer homeowners a rebate to encourage more families to convert to artificial turf to conserve water. Every penny saved during a project is a good thing, right?!
- Consider the cost – The cost of turf can run anywhere from $2 to $5 a square foot, but proper installation will likely increase the cost up to $6 to $7 per square foot. Depending on the size of your yard that price may be a bit hard to swallow. But, don’t forget to consider the money you’ll save on your water bill over the life of your turf lawn (about 10-15 years).
If your home or association would benefit from this kind of lawn, we hope this checklist helps you get your project underway. If you decide to move forward, your Spectrum Community Manager can help you plan and manage the project so you can soon be on your way to weekends free from mowing and sprinkler repair.
I’ve been thinking a lot about installing artificial turf on my property, but I have a lot of questions about whether I can do that while living in an HOA neighborhood. Checking local laws and rebates seems like a great tip. I’m pretty sure that the law allows artificial turf on my property, but you’re right about how I need to be aware of any regulations that I may not know already. I still need to find out about rebates that can make installing turf on my property more affordable, so I’ll find this information before doing any work on my lawn.
Good idea. Always find as much information about your situation before starting an expensive project. thanks for the response
Is Artificial grass considred lot coverage and does it need to be counted as lot coverage allowable percentage?