Artificial Turf Rolls and Supply

Buying turf to install yourself

Plenty of people searching turf rolls or artificial turf for sale plan to install it themselves: a small backyard, a balcony, a dog run, a play area at the cottage. It is a doable project if you're ready for the groundwork. The part people underestimate is not the turf, it's the base underneath it: see how to install artificial turf before you order.

Roll sizes

Most residential artificial grass is made on 15 ft wide rolls, and some products come 12 ft wide. Suppliers cut to the length you order, so the width decides how many strips you need and where the seams fall. Use the turf roll calculator to work out the layout that wastes the least, then order a little extra for trimming.

Rolls are heavy and awkward. A full-width roll long enough for a backyard can take two or three people to move, so plan delivery to where it'll be laid, not just to the curb.

What to check on a spec sheet

• Pile height: blade length. Taller looks lusher; shorter is tougher and easier to keep upright.
• Face weight: fibre per square yard. Higher usually means denser and more durable.
• Fibre: polyethylene (soft, the common landscape fibre), nylon (tough, used for putting and high-wear areas) or polypropylene (cheap, used for thatch or budget turf).
• Backing and drainage: perforated or fully permeable. Fully permeable drains better, especially for pets.
• Warranty: what it covers (UV fading, fibre loss, backing) and for how long.
• Infill: what the maker recommends and how much per square foot.

The guide to choosing artificial turf explains each of these in more detail.

What else you need

• Crushed stone for the base, and access to a plate compactor.
• Weed barrier fabric.
• Seam tape and turf adhesive, or a self-adhesive seam tape.
• Landscape nails or staples for the perimeter, and edging where the turf meets beds.
• Infill, enough for the area at the recommended rate. The infill calculator works it out.
• A sharp utility knife with plenty of blades, a stiff broom or power broom, and a drop spreader for infill.

Ordering and delivery

Order all the turf for one area from the same production run, so the colour matches. Ask for samples first and check them outdoors. Rolls usually arrive on a truck with a liftgate or on a pallet; ask whether delivery includes moving rolls to the backyard or only to the curb. Store rolls flat and unrolled if you can for a day before installing, to let creases relax. Measure twice: cut lengths usually can't be returned.

Samples first

Ask for full-size samples of two or three turfs and look at them outside, in daylight, from standing height. Step on them, check how quickly the fibres spring back, and compare the backing. Colour on a screen is never quite what arrives on the truck.

Returns and leftovers

Cut turf usually can't be returned, so check measurements before ordering and use the roll calculator. Keep a decent offcut after the job: a patch from the same roll matches a repair far better than new turf. Unopened accessories like seam tape, adhesive and nails may be returnable; ask the supplier.

What it costs

Ontario suppliers publish $3–$7 per sq ft for turf, material only. HomeStars puts infill at $0.50–$2.50 per sq ft and weed barrier at $0.50–$1 per sq ft. The table below lists the figures. Big-box stores sell rolls and tiles too; the Costco and Home Depot turf guide compares what you get.

Contractors and wholesale

Landscapers and contractors buying for jobs can ask suppliers about trade pricing, full-roll pricing and delivery to site. Say so on the request and we'll pass it to a supplier who sells to the trade.

Getting turf supplied

Pick 'Turf rolls or supply' on the request form, give the area or the roll lengths you need, and say whether you want samples first. One supplier who serves your area gets back to you.