Published by LuxTurfscape on . Reviewed .
Before you ask for bids
Write down the areas you want converted and why: water cost, mowing, bare patches, dog use, or a slope that is hard to maintain. Walk them with each contractor. A bid written from an aerial photo can miss drainage, access, and irrigation problems that only show up on site.
Decide whether you want the whole property priced or a few areas first. Asking for area-by-area pricing lets you do either.
What a complete bid includes
Every bid should list these as separate lines. If one is missing, ask for it in writing before comparing totals.
- Measured square footage of each area
- Removal and haul-away of existing grass, soil, or rock
- Irrigation changes: capped, removed, or converted to drip
- Base material and compacted depth
- Drainage approach, including where water goes
- Turf product name, face weight, pile height, and infill type
- Edge restraint and transitions to walks, curbs, and planting
- Schedule, phasing, work hours, and staging
- Cleanup and haul-away at the end
- Manufacturer product warranty and the contractor’s workmanship warranty, both in writing
Questions to ask each contractor
The answers tell you more than the price does.
- What is your CSLB license number and classification? (Look it up on the CSLB website.)
- Can you provide certificates of insurance naming the association or owner?
- Who will be on site, and who is my one point of contact?
- How deep is the base, and how is it compacted?
- How will each area drain?
- How are seams placed and secured in high-traffic areas?
- What does the maintenance crew need to do after handover?
- Have you done a job like this before, and can I see it or speak to the manager?
Red flags
Any one of these is worth a follow-up question before the bid goes to the board.
- One total price with no breakdown by area or line item
- No base depth, or "standard base" with no number
- No mention of drainage or irrigation
- A turf product named only by color or a house brand, with no specs
- A warranty that is described but not written
- No license number on the bid or website. California Business and Professions Code section 7030.5 requires licensed contractors to show their license number in advertising.
- Pressure to sign before the board meets
Comparing the bids
Put the bids side by side, one row per line item. Where one contractor priced an item and another left it out, ask the second contractor to add it. Then compare totals. The lowest number on an incomplete bid is rarely the lowest price at the end of the job.