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Lush artificial turf lawn bordered by stone pavers and river rock in a Lakeside backyard, with patio seating and wood fenc...

765 Square Feet of Turf, Four Days in Lakeside

Project Gallery

Curved artificial turf lawn edged with concrete pavers and river rock, with a citrus tree and AC unit visible in the backy...

Imperial Camo Fill brushed into the blades reduces surface temperature and keeps the pile upright in San Diego inland heat.

Lush artificial turf lawn bordered by curved stone pavers, a gravel bed, and a retaining wall with a hillside beyond.

765 square feet of Imperial Coronado Platinum — the curved border was sized to the existing paver edge so the patio reads as one continuous transition.

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Project Snapshot

Location Lakeside (92040)
Style Transitional
Timeline About 4 build days
Price Range $11k-$14k

– Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf: 765 sf installed
– Imperial Camo Fill infill: 20 x 50 lb bags
– Imperial Nails 5″ 40D: 1 x 50 lb box for perimeter and seam fastening
– Geotextile weed barrier fabric over full turf area
– Crushed aggregate base (included in base, sand, and dump fees line item)
– Base preparation follows ICPI sub-base compaction practices adapted for turf substrate

– 3-inch SDR35 PVC drain line: 22 linear feet installed
– 2 downspout connection adapters (3-inch or 4-inch square PVC, plastic)
– Drain line routed from downspout at patio edge to lowest yard grade point
– 3 existing sprinkler/irrigation lines capped at grade
– Surface graded to slope away from the foundation toward the new drain outlet

Project ran about 4 working days on site (Feb 25–28, 2025) from crew setup through final inspection. The Slack channel opened roughly 12 days before install started, reflecting the pre-sell and scheduling period. Final inspection and payment were completed on the last build day.

Project Story

Overview

Replaced a failing natural-grass lawn with 765 sf of Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf in this Lakeside 92040 backyard, capped three live irrigation lines, and added 22 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line uncovered during demo to route roof runoff away from the patio edge. Four build days from strip to permanently green lawn, with the irrigation system decommissioned.

The Challenge

  • The natural grass lawn was dormant and patchy, making the backyard unusable for most of the year without constant water and upkeep.
  • No drain line connected the downspout to a discharge point, so water from the roof sheeted across the yard toward the patio edge.
  • Active sprinkler heads remained in the ground from the old irrigation system, blocking proper base preparation for the turf installation.

What Changed

765 square feet of Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf replaced the dormant natural grass backyard, connected to a new 22-linear-foot drain line that routes roof runoff away from the patio. The lawn surface is now permanently green, the irrigation system is decommissioned, and water no longer pools near the patio edge after rain.
How Install It Direct Helped
The homeowner had a backyard that looked rough most of the year: dead grass, an active sprinkler system that cost money to run, and standing water near the patio whenever it rained. The old lawn came out, three irrigation lines were capped, and 22 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drain pipe with two downspout connections was installed to move roof runoff away from the foundation. Once drainage was in place, weed barrier was laid over the compacted base and 765 square feet of Imperial Coronado Platinum turf went down with camo infill brushed in to finish the surface. The backyard now holds a deep green lawn that needs no water, no mowing, and handles rain without pooling at the patio edge.

Market Context

Artificial turf installations in the San Diego inland area typically run $12 to $20 per square foot installed, depending on turf grade, drainage scope, and site access; this Lakeside project at roughly 765 sf fell in the lower-mid range for the region.

Neighborhood Context

The property sits in Lakeside's established residential core in the 92040 ZIP, where inland lots typically feature existing paver hardscape and natural grass backyards that require high water use through the dry season.

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Before & After

Dormant, patchy backyard lawn with tan grass, brick paver patio, potted palm, and a coiled garden hose.
BEFORE

Pair 1 (before) — the dormant August lawn before demo. Three irrigation lines still ran into this surface.

Lush artificial turf lawn bordered by curved stone pavers, a gravel bed, and a retaining wall with a hillside beyond.
AFTER

765 square feet of Imperial Coronado Platinum — the curved border was sized to the existing paver edge so the patio reads as one continuous transition.

Design & Build

The Plan

Project plan

  • Imperial Coronado Platinum selected for its natural blade color, durability underfoot, and performance in Lakeside’s warm inland climate

  • Turf field sized to follow the existing curved paver border, preserving the patio edge and river rock planting beds

  • Weed barrier fabric installed over compacted base per manufacturer spec to block growth and maintain surface drainage

  • 22 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line routed from downspout position to lowest-grade discharge point, connected via 2 square PVC downspout adapters

  • 3 existing sprinkler heads capped before base prep to eliminate irrigation conflicts under the new turf

  • Camo infill (20 x 50 lb bags) applied to weight blades upright and reduce surface temperature

The Build

Excavated backyard area next to a paver patio edge, with loose dirt and a shallow trench running along the border.
Excavation underway to install drain line and prep the sub-base before artificial turf installation in this Lakeside backyard.
Build phases

On Day 1, turf rolls and aggregate base materials were staged curbside. The crew stripped the natural grass and sod, loading debris into a dump trailer. Three sprinkler heads were capped once the irrigation lines were exposed.

After demolition revealed that no drain connection existed from the downspout to the yard's low point, the crew excavated a trench and ran 22 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 pipe with two downspout adapters. Drain placement started at the downspout and tied into the lowest-grade area along the patio edge.

With drainage complete, the crew graded and compacted the subbase, brought in crushed aggregate, and screeded to the correct elevation. Weed barrier fabric was laid over the full area before turf staging began.

Turf panels were cut and positioned to follow the curved paver border. Seams were joined and secured with 5-inch 40D nails. Camo infill was applied across the surface and brushed in. The crew confirmed the irrigation was off before base prep so the capped lines stayed dry under the new turf.

Investment

Investment breakdown

What would a similar project cost in Lakeside?

Toggle components on/off to estimate your project

Artificial Turf (765 sf installed) $7,500 – $9,000
Drainage (22 lf pipe, 2 connections, 3 cap-offs) $1,000 – $1,500
Demo, Base, Hauling $2,000 – $2,500
Site Logistics (delivery, porta potty) $500 – $600
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does artificial turf installation cost in Lakeside, CA?

A 765-square-foot artificial turf installation in Lakeside like this one runs roughly $11,000 to $14,000 installed. Price depends on turf grade, how much base prep the yard needs, and whether drainage work is required. This project added a 22-linear-foot drain line after demo revealed no existing connection between the downspout and the yard's low point.

Can an HOA in California prohibit artificial turf?

No. California Civil Code Section 4735 makes HOA provisions that prohibit artificial turf void and unenforceable. An HOA may set quality or appearance standards, such as pile height or color requirements, but it cannot effectively ban synthetic turf. This Lakeside project was a repeat-client job with no documented HOA restriction.

Does artificial turf need drainage underneath it?

Yes. Turf itself drains through its backing, but any roof runoff from downspouts still needs a piped outlet. On this Lakeside project, demolition revealed no drain connection between the downspout and the yard's low point. The crew installed 22 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 pipe with two downspout adapters before turf went down.

How long does a backyard turf installation take in Lakeside?

This project took about 4 working days on site (Feb 25–28, 2025) from demolition through final inspection. That included stripping the old lawn, grading and compacting the base, running new drain pipe, and installing 765 sf of turf. Scheduling and material staging happened in the week before crew arrived on site.

Do I need to cap my sprinklers before installing artificial turf?

Yes. Active sprinkler heads under turf will eventually fail the fabric and create wet spots. On this project, the crew capped 3 existing irrigation lines during demo and confirmed the system was off before base prep started.

What artificial turf product was used in this Lakeside project?

The turf is Imperial Coronado Platinum, installed at 765 square feet. Camo Fill infill (20 x 50 lb bags) was brushed in to keep blades upright and reduce surface heat. The product was chosen for its blade color and performance in Lakeside's warm inland climate.

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1

Design

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2

Build

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3

Enjoy

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Your Project Manager

Patrick Diehl

Patrick Diehl

Project Manager: Patrick Diehl · Materials: Imperial Coronado Platinum, 3-inch SDR35, Imperial Camo Fill · Built: February 25–28, 2025 · Lakeside, 92040

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