Sorry to see you go!

One local turf installer gets your details — one, not five. They usually call the same day to hear what you have in mind, then come out, measure the area and leave you with a written price. It costs nothing and you are not committing to anything.

Turf is priced mostly by the square foot, so the size of the area moves the number most. Installed turf commonly runs roughly $8 to $20 per square foot, including tearing out the old grass and building the base. A small front yard can land in the low thousands, and a large backyard or a putting green goes up from there.

After that, it is the turf you pick, how much digging and grading the yard needs, and how easy it is to get equipment in. Ask your installer to price two or three turf options and pick.

Most residential installs take one to three days: a day to dig out the old lawn and build the base, then a day to lay, seam and finish the turf. A big yard, a putting green or a lot of grading can add time. Your installer gives you the schedule before anyone starts.

Good turf has blades in more than one shade of green, a brown thatch layer underneath and a matte finish, so it reads as a lawn rather than a carpet. Ask to see and feel samples in your own yard, in the sun, before you choose.

Any turf gets warmer than real grass in direct summer sun. Lighter colors, heat-reducing turf and a quick spray of water before playing all help. If the yard gets full afternoon sun, ask your installer which of their turf runs coolest.

Yes. Pet turf drains straight through its backing, and an antimicrobial infill helps keep odors down. Rinse the dog's spot now and then and pick up after them as you would on grass. Tell your installer you have pets so they quote a pet-rated turf and base.

Quality turf commonly lasts 10 to 20 years, depending on how much sun and traffic it gets. The base underneath matters as much as the turf: a well-compacted, well-draining base is what stops ripples, dips and puddles over the years.

Turf has drainage holes or a fully permeable backing, and the base underneath is built from compacted rock so water runs through rather than sitting on top. Ask how they grade the base and where the water goes.

Many HOAs allow artificial turf, some with rules on the look or where it can go. Get their sign-off before work is scheduled. Underground utilities and sprinkler lines are marked (call 811) before anyone digs.

Yes. They measure the area, check the ground, the slope and the drainage, talk through turf options and the edges, and put a price in writing. No charge, and no obligation to go ahead with it.

Turf only the area you will actually use, keep the shape simple, and choose a mid-range turf rather than the thickest one. Ask which months are quiet for them and get more than one price.

One. You are matched with a single turf installer who covers your area. We do not sell your details on to everyone in the county — that is the part most people are dreading, and it is the part we do not do.