Most artificial turf projects don't fail because a contractor made one dramatic error — they fail because small, cheap-looking decisions stack up.
These are the mistakes we see most often on Houston jobs, and the ones we vet every scope against before we start.
1. Thin or uncompacted base
Anything under 4" of properly compacted crushed base rots and ruts within a year.
2. No drainage plan
Standing water grows algae and makes the turf smell. Perforated pipe to daylight is the fix.
3. Wrong infill for pets
Standard sand traps ammonia. Antimicrobial zeolite or coated silica is required if you have dogs.
4. Cheap non-UV-rated fiber
Bargain turf fades and flattens in 2–3 Houston summers. Look for a warranted UV rating.
5. Loose perimeter edges
No buried nailer or bender board means edges lift and the whole install fails visually.
How to vet your contractor
Read your artificial turf bid line by line and ask which of these mistakes are being avoided — in writing. A contractor who welcomes the question is the one you want; a contractor who deflects is the one to walk away from.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on a scope of work or an existing bid, we're happy to walk through it with you.
