Cost Considerations for Installing Sod in Lake in the Hills
The price range depends on your location, the type of sod, accessibility, the shape of the lawn, and the amount of preparation work.
Sod Type
The type of sod you require depends on the local climate, the amount of foot traffic it must withstand, the conditions of your soil, and whether the new sod must be resistant to a specific disease, fungus, or pest.
Delivery Fees
Your Landscaper may already have included this cost in the total project price. However, some landscaping companies may charge it as a separate fee.
Similarly, if you plan to perform the work yourself, you must pay the delivery fee unless you have a large vehicle capable of transporting a significant amount of weight, as sod is extremely heavy.
Shape of the Area
Differently shaped lawns with slopes, hills, and other challenging features can increase material and labor.
If you have an irregularly-shaped lawn, the installer should measure the area before giving you an estimate. Curves, small hills, and other terrain characteristics can affect the area measurements. Contact our team today for a free estimate.
New vs. Replacement
New construction lawns are the most budget-friendly and straightforward. With a new construction lawn, prep work is minimal, there’s no old lawn to rip out, and there’s no need for regrading. Adding a layer of nutrient-rich topsoil and lightly compacting it is typically the extent of the preparation required.
For both new construction and resodding, price will be higher.
Sod Installation Extra Expenses
A sprinkler system could be necessary to maintain a healthy lawn so that you do not have to resod every few years. And you may need to seed it to achieve a lush, green lawn or to repair brown patches in your sod. These types of extras can significantly increase the total cost of sodding your backyard.
Sprinkler System
If you have the sprinkler system installed at the same time as the sod, you will pay closer to the budget’s low end, as this is the least labor-intensive and therefore most cost-effective option. A sprinkler system installation, depending on the size of your yard and the type of sprinkler system you select.
Seeding
You may need to overseed or seed areas of the existing lawn that have not been resodded. And if the sod has brown patches or develops dead areas that do not root properly, you can seed the area to repair the damage with minimal expense and effort.
Do-It-Yourself versus Hiring a Sod Installer
You can lay sod yourself with minimal do-it-yourself skills, but it requires a tremendous amount of time and labor. Hiring a local sod installer allows you to avoid all of this laborious physical labor. In addition, hiring a pro ensures that you obtain the correct type of sod. And they will handle all the heavy lifting, both physically and logistically, including arranging for sod delivery, regrading, sprinkler system installation, and the rest.
It may appear that you will save a significant amount of money if you learn how to sod your own lawn; however, once you’ve hired all the equipment, performed soil tests, and purchased all the materials, you’re looking at an average cost of $2,000, which is comparable to hiring a professional.