How Much Does Sod Installation Cost?
What is Sod?
Sod is commonly called turf grass. It is grass that was growing in a field and cut in slabs or rolls and delivered to your house. Once it is installed, it looks like you have an established lawn immediately. Instead of waiting for seed to grow in and looking at a bare yard, once sod is put down, you have grass.
How Much Does It Cost?
The two single biggest factors that play into the cost of sod installation is the square feet of the area to be covered and the type of sod purchased. There are many varieties of sod and most are usually categorized into 3 types: economical, mid-grade, and top-of-the-line. Other factors that will play into the cost is the shape of your yard and the access to the area being covered with sod. A few examples of things that are considered when installing sod:
- how far from the road sod is being installed
- if there is a fence and gate, how wide is the gate
- is the property on a hill or downhill
- availability of water for watering during installation
- type of sod being installed
- are there any obstacles such as tree roots, large rocks, etc.
- how many edges need to be cut
Price
The five main types of sod are Tall Fescue, Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia. The cost of each variety depends on where you live in our service area. We have access to sod grown all over North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Not all farms grow each variety. Our price for installation is by the square foot. It includes all the prep work, the labor, the sod, cleaning up, and showing our customers how to water.
Average cost of basic installation with no excess prep work, no hills, and easy access above 2000 square feet:
- Tall Fescue: $1 to $1.10 per square foot
- Centipede Sod: $1 to $1.10 per square foot
- Bermuda Sod: depending upon the variety anywhere from $1.05 to $1.35 per square foot
- St. Augustine Sod: $1.25 to $1.40 per square foot
- Zoysia Sod: $1.25 to $2.00 per square foot depending on the variety
FAQ
Why is St. Augustine so expensive? St. Augustine is a grass that is tailored for super hot, dry, salty conditions. It is a good fit for coastal towns Only two farms in North Carolina grow it and the demand isn’t high for it unless you are near the ocean.
Why are there so many varieties of Bermuda and Zoysia? There are hundreds of varieties of Bermuda and Zoysia grass available. We offer what is grown on the farms in the South Atlantic states. Certain varieties have patents on the seed. For those varieties, royalties must be payed which makes the cost go up. Certain Zoysia and Bermuda grasses have no patents which make them more cost effective for the discerning home owner on a budget.
Can I buy my own sod and have you install it? At least a couple times a year we get asked that question. We typically don’t do that. Here is why. We are extremely picky about when our sod is cut and delivered. This ensures that our homeowners get the absolute best. We have no control over when the sod will be cut or delivered when our homeowners purchase the sod themselves. This voids our warranty because we have no idea where the grass is coming from and when it was cut. That being said, we are open to any discussions with our customers about their pending projects.
What you get when our crews install your sod:
- Labor: We will do all the hard work for you. A roll of sod typically weighs 35 lbs on the light side and if it comes in wet (which it usually does from April to September), it can weigh up to 60 lbs. Our crew handles every aspect of the job for you.
- Experience: We have over 15 years of experience in the sod installation business. Along with our experience you gain access to our relationships with all the farms in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. We always go for the best, most cost effective grass at the time of your installation. For example, one farm might be between fields or just starting a new field. This means that your sod would be slightly juvenile. Having relationships with all the farms makes sure that our customers get top of the line grass every single time.
- Responsibility: We take the responsibility of matching seams, smoothing the yard, and even setting up your sprinklers for you. It is our job to make sure that you have a successfull installation, even after we are done. If needed, we will even shop for your irrigation supplies for you at no additional cost aside from the supplies. Once installation is complete, we will walk your yard with you and point out areas that need special attention (usually corners) that the sprinklers may not be able to reach. We watch the weather and make recommendations on your watering schedule. We take complete responsibility for your sod and if any sod has died due to our fault or the farm’s fault, we will replace that sod.
- Liability: Sit back with ease knowing that our liability insurance has you covered in case of an unforeseen accident. Our general liability policy is in place and we provide our customers with proof of insurance before installation starts.
- Time: Sod is heavy and prep work is time consuming. For a typical homeowner, putting in a new lawn could take a couple weeks of time and hard labor. Our crews on average can transform your yard in two days. The first day for prep, the second day for laying the sod. We are experienced and strong to keep moving even in the hottest of conditions. We work in the rain, mud, and drought.
Look no further than us for your sod installation needs. We have you covered! Text us or call (919) 802-6100 for a free estimate today.
