Signs Your Old Artificial Turf Needs Replacing

Short answer: Old artificial turf usually tells you when it's done. Flat, matted blades that won't stand back up, seams pulling apart, an odor that stays after you rinse, and ground that sinks or ripples underneath are the most common signs. Some of these can be repaired. Others mean the turf, or the base under it, needs to be replaced.

Here's what to look for in your Sacramento yard, and how a replacement works from start to finish.

Signs your turf needs replacing

1. It's flat and matted

Turf blades are meant to stand up. After years of foot traffic, dogs and summer heat, they can lie down for good, especially in walkways and favorite dog paths. If brushing doesn't bring them back, the fibers are worn out.

2. Seams are opening up

Turf comes in rolls that are joined with seams. When a seam starts to separate, you'll see a visible line or gap, or an edge that lifts. A short seam can sometimes be repaired. Seams opening in several places usually point to a bigger problem with how the lawn was put together.

3. An odor that won't rinse out

In pet areas, an odor that comes right back after you hose it down often means waste has worked down into the infill and the base below it. Rinsing the surface can't reach it. If a professional cleaning doesn't take care of it, the infill or the base may need to come out.

4. Sinking, dips or rippling

Low spots, puddles, lumps and wrinkles almost always start underneath the turf. A base that was too thin, built with the wrong rock, or not compacted properly will move over time. Laying new turf over a failed base just repeats the problem. Our post on signs of a bad turf installation goes into more detail.

5. Faded or brittle fibers

Years of Sacramento sun can fade turf and make the blades stiff or brittle. If fibers break off when you run your hand across them, the turf has reached the end of its life.

6. Infill has washed out

Infill is the layer of granules brushed in between the blades. It helps the blades stand up and protects the backing. If you can see the backing, or the turf feels thin and hard underfoot, the infill may have washed out. Adding infill can help for a while, but turf that has gone without it for a long time often wears out faster.

Repair, clean or replace?

Not every tired lawn needs to be torn out. If your turf is sound and just looks tired, a professional cleaning may be all you need, and we'll tell you so. If the problem is a few seams or edges, a repair may make sense. When the fibers are worn out or the base has failed, replacement is the fix that lasts.

How turf replacement works

Before we quote a replacement, we find out how your lawn was built and why it's failing. Here's how that goes, step by step. You can read more on our turf replacement page.

1. We walk your turf with you. We look at flat or matted areas, seams, edges, drainage, odor, and any lumps or dips.
2. We ask a few questions. How old is the turf? How is the yard used: dogs, kids, putting, entertaining? Has infill ever been added? Your answers tell us what went wrong.
3. We look at samples together. We talk about the look and feel you want and show samples from each of our tiers, Essential, Premium / Pet and Elite, right next to your home.
4. We check how it was built. We lift a corner of the old turf and dig down about 6 inches to see the base depth, the type of rock, the fabric and the nails. This tells us what has to be rebuilt.
5. You get a written price. You receive a written price for the full scope before any work starts. Our installed prices are listed on the pricing page.
6. Tear-out and haul-away. Our crew removes the old turf, the infill and any failed base, and hauls it all away. Base and edging that are still sound can stay.
7. The new install. We follow our 10-step install process, skipping any steps your yard doesn't need. We do a walk-through with you before final payment.

Common questions

How do I know if my turf can be repaired instead of replaced?

Small problems, like one loose seam or a lifted edge, can often be repaired. Worn-out fibers, widespread seam failure or a sinking base usually mean replacement. We'll tell you which one your yard needs after we walk it and check how it was built.

Do you have to remove the base too?

Not always. We dig down to check it. If the base is sound, it can stay. If it's too thin, built with the wrong material, or has sunk, we rebuild it so the new turf doesn't develop the same problems.

Can you replace turf another company installed?

Yes. No matter who put it in, we start by finding out how it was built.

How much does turf replacement cost?

It depends on your yard's size and how much of the base needs rebuilding. See our pricing page for installed prices, then we'll give you a written price after the on-site assessment.

How long does replacement take?

It depends on the size of your yard and how much base work is needed. We'll go over timing with you when we give you your written price.

Ready to have your turf checked?

Call Total Turf at 916-671-0070 or request a free estimate. We'll walk your yard, show you what's going on underneath, and give you a written price.

Total Turf, Inc. is a California licensed C-27 contractor (#1125443) with our own insured crews.