Costco and Home Depot Artificial Turf vs a Pro Install

Searches for artificial turf at Costco and Home Depot outnumber almost every other turf search in Canada. It makes sense: big-box stores sell turf in sizes you can put in a car, often at a price per square foot that looks low next to a specialty supplier's quote. Whether it's a good buy depends on what you're comparing it with and what you plan to do with it. This guide isn't about any one product, which changes from season to season; it's about how to judge them.

We aren't affiliated with either store, or with any turf brand.

What you're actually buying

A big-box turf product is turf only. Whatever the price on the shelf, the job still needs everything that makes turf last:

• Excavation of the old lawn and a few inches of soil.
• Crushed stone for the base, and a plate compactor to compact it.
• Weed barrier, edging, seam tape and adhesive, and perimeter nails.
• Infill, often 1 to 2 pounds per square foot for a lawn.
• Disposal of the soil you dig out.

That's why an installed lawn costs $10–$20 per sq ft in published Ontario prices while turf alone runs $3–$7 per sq ft: the difference is mostly base, labour and the bits that hold it together.

Fixed sizes and seams

Many store products come in fixed pre-cut sizes or narrower rolls. Specialty suppliers usually cut 15 ft wide rolls to any length. For a small balcony or a dog run that matches a pre-cut size, that's no problem. For a whole backyard, smaller pieces mean more seams, and every seam is a place to do careful work and a line that can show if it isn't done well. Run your yard through the roll calculator with the store product's width to see how many seams you'd have.

What to check on the box or listing

• Pile height and face weight, compared with specialty turfs of the same height. See how to choose turf.
• Fibre type. Polyethylene blades with a polypropylene thatch is typical; all-polypropylene is a budget sign.
• Backing and drainage. Perforated or fully permeable, and how far apart the holes are. Fully permeable is better for pets.
• UV rating and warranty. What it covers and for how long. Canadian sun is less harsh than the US southwest's, but a turf that fades in three summers is no bargain.
• Infill recommendation. Whether the maker expects infill, and how much.
• Returns. Big-box return policies can be generous for unopened product, which helps if you over-order.

When big-box turf makes sense

• Balconies, decks and patios where there's no excavation and a pre-cut size fits.
• Small dog runs, play corners and decorative strips.
• Temporary or event use.
• Cottages and rentals where good-enough beats perfect.

When a specialty supplier or installer makes more sense

• A whole backyard, where 15 ft rolls cut to length mean far fewer seams.
• Dogs, where a fully permeable pet turf and the right infill make the difference on smell.
• Putting greens, which need a putting-specific turf.
• Anywhere you want a workmanship warranty on seams, edges and the base.
• Anywhere you'd rather not move several cubic yards of soil and stone by hand.

Doing the install yourself

If you go the store route, the step-by-step installation guide covers the base, seams and infill. Book free utility locates through the Ontario Dig Authority before you dig, whatever turf you buy.

Getting a comparison quote

It's worth having one number to compare against. Send a request with the area and pick 'Turf rolls or supply' for a supplier's turf-only price, or the project type for an installed price. Then compare the same thing: turf against turf, or installed against your own DIY total with base, rentals and disposal added.

Running the numbers on a DIY job

To compare a store product fairly with an installed price, add up everything a DIY job needs, not just the turf:

• Turf, at the store price, plus extra for trimming and any extra seams.
• Base stone: several inches deep across the whole area, usually bought by the tonne and delivered.
• Weed barrier, edging, seam tape, adhesive and nails.
• Infill: often 1 to 2 pounds per square foot for a lawn.
• Rentals: sod cutter, plate compactor and possibly a power broom.
• Disposal of the old sod and soil, which can be the surprise cost.
• Your time: usually a weekend or two for two people on a small backyard.

Then compare that total with an installed quote that names the turf, the base depth and the infill. For small areas, DIY with store turf can save a lot. For a whole backyard, the gap is often smaller than it first looks once the base and disposal are counted, and an installed job comes with a workmanship warranty.

A checklist before you buy

• Measure the area and run it through the roll calculator with the product's actual width.
• Check the product's pile height, face weight, backing and warranty against a specialty turf of the same height.
• Confirm you can buy enough from one production lot so the colour matches.
• Check the return policy for unopened rolls.
• Book utility locates before you dig.

If you do buy store turf and hire someone to install it, ask the installer first: some won't warranty workmanship on turf they didn't supply, and others will want to see the product before agreeing.

Keep the receipt and the product label: you'll want the exact product name if you ever need matching turf for a patch.