Sod Install Job

[LawnsM]

Hi everyone!
Feels great to return to this awesome board for another great season. Someone is already calling in wanting a sod installation job done for March. I've never done this before, but I'm going to give it a shot. Some of my questions are: What is the going rate? What equipment do I use for gorund prep? How long does installation take? I read a post back in November and someone mentioned using sand instead of tilling??? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. THANKS GUYS!

[AceFinish]

Hi everyone!
Feels great to return to this awesome board for another great season. Someone is already calling in wanting a sod installation job done for March. I've never done this before, but I'm going to give it a shot. Some of my questions are: What is the going rate? What equipment do I use for gorund prep? How long does installation take? I read a post back in November and someone mentioned using sand instead of tilling??? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. THANKS GUYS!

Well what are the site conditions like? How much sod is it going to be? How close is your supplier? That is a little of the information that I need to know before I can help you. And no don't bring in sand.

[LawnsM]

Well what are the site conditions like? How much sod is it going to be? How close is your supplier? That is a little of the information that I need to know before I can help you. And no don't bring in sand.

The yard is a bare lot in a newly established neighborhood. The whole lot (including large house & pool) is under 22,000 sq. ft. Few weeds and some rocks in the lot. Sod for me is $100 per pallet. My supplier will give me free delivery.

[LawnsM]

And no don't bring in sand. Just Curious... Why is sand a bad idea? Thanks!:)

[AceFinish]

Just Curious... Why is sand a bad idea? Thanks!:)
Sand is a bad idea because it drains fast and when you put down new sod you want that area to stay fairly wet until the sod is established. I would use a harley rake on a skid steer or tractor. Or you could use a pulviser on a tractor to grade it out. Over here we get about 27 cents a square foot installed plus grading.

[LawnsM]

THe soil, just like all newly established neighborhoods, is very hard and clay-like. Should I add any kind of organic matter to the soil to aid rooting? This option involves more cost though. What is your opinion?

[LawnsM]

installed plus grading. Also, what is your grading charge? THanks a bunch Ace. You've been very helpful.

[AceFinish]

THe soil, just like all newly established neighborhoods, is very hard and clay-like. Should I add any kind of organic matter to the soil to aid rooting? This option involves more cost though. What is your opinion?
You don't have to if you are going to though just put down like a 1 inch layer of black dirt. I just would just put down a 13-13-13 fertilizer before you lay the sod but after the grading.

[LawnsM]

Thanks again AceFinish! Any one else care to share what they charge for sod installation?

[LawnsM]

Also, I was curious if anyone one here rolls the sod after is has been placed. Everything I have read says to roll the sod to prevent air pockets that might prevent sod from rooting. Is this a necessary step?

[ICT Bill]

Grade
Rock hound the site
Spread an inch or more of good finished compost
Rake
spread sod

[LawnsM]

Hmmm.........No rolling I guess?

[AceFinish]

Hmmm.........No rolling I guess?

nah you don't have to

[Tom B.]

Just like most things, money usually dictates the extent of ground prep for sod. Sure, you can just grade out the area and lay sod w/o tilling and adding compost, but you're not going to have a healthy stand of turf. I would suggest grading and tilling the area (at least 6") then adding 3-5yds of a good compost and tilling again. Then get your finish grade and roll the entire area. Touch up any low spots, roll again and you're ready to lay sod. Make sure to begin laying in a way that won't require much traffic over the sod you just laid and the least amount of cutting. Also, be sure to stagger your joints and keep them tight and straight. Now comes the watering. You'll want to give the sod a good 1/2" of water. If you pull a piece back and the soil on the bottom of the sod or on the ground isn't saturated, you need more water. Finally, I'd definitely roll the sod.

[LawnsM]

Very good input guys. I appreciate it all. So far, 1 ya & 1 nay to rolling out the sod. Anyone else?

[JB1]

Very good input guys. I appreciate it all. So far, 1 ya & 1 nay to rolling out the sod. Anyone else?


I think rolling the sod is the least of your worries.

[LawnsM]

I think rolling the sod is the least of your worries.

What, in your opinion, is most important? I don't have a roller so I'm going to need to rent one. I'm thinking about cutting cost.

[AceFinish]

What, in your opinion, is most important? I don't have a roller so I'm going to need to rent one. I'm thinking about cutting cost.
unless the yard is bumpy after the sod is laid and watered don't worry about

[LawnsM]

I see...............

Here is my last question :laugh:! What do you guys think about putting a guarantee on your work? I know it is the homeowners job to water, but this guy has a sprinkler system. Should I guarantee my work and for how long? Being a firsttimer, this is the only part that makes me a little nervous. It would be a shame to have that sod die on me!:cry:

[AceFinish]

I see...............

Here is my last question :laugh:! What do you guys think about putting a guarantee on your work? I know it is the homeowners job to water, but this guy has a sprinkler system. Should I guarantee my work and for how long? Being a firsttimer, this is the only part that makes me a little nervous. It would be a shame to have that sod die on me!:cry:

Plants yes sod no lay it put a sprinkler on it and walk away homeowners problem after it is down most of the time sod dies it is lack water not your job to water.

[LawnsM]

That sure seems like the way it should be. Anyone else?

[Tom B.]

I meant to say 3-5 yds/1,000 sq. ft. in my post before.

A sod roller shouldn't cost more than $10 to rent for a day or much more than $100 to buy. It's never a bad idea to ensure you get uniform contact between the roots and soil.

[sicnj]

I have a roller bought it for a $100, but i never roll the sod. i charge .40 a sq for laying sod i pay .17 a sq. If I have to prep the soil the price goes up. my sod dealer always tells me to put pelletized lime and slow realize fert down under the sod.

[Lawnworks]

I would not guarantee it if I did not put the sprinkler system in... it seems about 50% of systems I see do not have adequate coverage.

[SiteSolutions]

Most of what has been said so far sounds right to me.

Recently, I paid about $1.75 per sq yd for the sod, delivered, and charged about $3 a sq yd for the sod and installation. This was for some good quality fescue grass sod. Custom homes, nice neighborhoods. I even got the builder to buy top soil when it was needed.

I have worked for a real cheap homebuilder doing starter homes, where the installed price was closer to $2 per sq yd for thin sliced bermuda grass with a few grubs and weeds in it... that was some ugly stuff, but it exceeded his specification and I made a profit so I did a few. Didn't put any of my signs out on those lawns, though.

I charge seperately for the prep work. Depends again on how nice it needs to look and how much the builder wants to spend. The cheap guy wanted the sod laid down right on top of the red dirt so I did.

I hope I can keep on doing good looking lawns where I can put down quality sod and the builder will even buy top soil. But, the cheap ones were good practice for me and like I said, they at least looked better than the houses around them. I learned something and made a few bucks. I would lay cheap sod for a cheap builder again before I would starve, but I hope it doesn't come to that!

[LawnsM]

Some great stuff guys... I owe BIG thank you to everyone! :clapping:

After thinking about what everyone said, I shared some of my thoughts with the my lawn care business partner. He brought up 2 pretty good points. I'm interested to see if someone has run into this before.

1)The guy we are sodding for has a sprinkler system. How do you grade the area without cracking all those sprinkler heads? A skid steer with a rock hound isn't the most precise machine

2) How much sodding can 1 guy do in a day? We have 11,500 sq. ft. to sod. We are going to need to buy 20-23 pallets of sod! That stuff literally weighs a ton!

Any thoughts???

[Dynamic]

I have read that you fertilize before you lay the sod but our sod supplier says that can burn the roots and to fertilize after allowing the water to take it through. Right or wrong?

[SiteSolutions]

I have read that you fertilize before you lay the sod but our sod supplier says that can burn the roots and to fertilize after allowing the water to take it through. Right or wrong?

That is the way I do it. Don't fertlize roots or seeds, fertlize grass.

[SiteSolutions]

Some great stuff guys... I owe BIG thank you to everyone! :clapping:

After thinking about what everyone said, I shared some of my thoughts with the my lawn care business partner. He brought up 2 pretty good points. I'm interested to see if someone has run into this before.

1)The guy we are sodding for has a sprinkler system. How do you grade the area without cracking all those sprinkler heads? A skid steer with a rock hound isn't the most precise machine

2) How much sodding can 1 guy do in a day? We have 11,500 sq. ft. to sod. We are going to need to buy 20-23 pallets of sod! That stuff literally weighs a ton!

Any thoughts???


1) Be careful. I have seen it done. Also allow for one or two damaged heads in your price and bring some parts with you to fix what you break. Defnitely a pain in the butt tho.

2) 1 guy would have a tough time laying that much sod. Three or four amigos might do it in a day. 1 man with a half useful helper could do it in two long days. For 1300 sq yds, I would try to have three guys come help me and try to finish in one day.

[AGLA]

If the heads are already in, you should not need equipment to grade as it should already be graded. All you should have left is to fine grade with rakes.

[Tom B.]

If your buying the sod from a reputable grower and prepping the ground correctly, I'd give it a few weeks and then apply a starter fertlizer.
For the sprinkler system, I'd definitely have it spelled out in your contract that you're not liable for damage to the heads or any of the lines. Who knows how deep they are? You didn't install the system. You won't necessarily know you damaged a line until the system is turned on and water is bubbling up from the ground. Maybe a line gets crushed and certain heads or an entire zone won't operate correctly. Fixing any of the this is never any fun unless you're getting paid for it! Flagging all of the heads and using a hand operated tiller around them will definitely reduce the potential for damage.

[LawnsM]

Fixing any of the this is never any fun unless you're getting paid for it!

I would agree!!! I do not have any experience replacing sprinkler systems or heads. Learning on the job would NOT be cool.:hammerhead:

[LawnsM]

I have read that you fertilize before you lay the sod but our sod supplier says that can burn the roots and to fertilize after allowing the water to take it through. Right or wrong?

By the way, that was a great question to raise. Up untill now, I always thought that a nice application of fertilizer before laying the sod was beneficial. hmmmm.... Thanks for your input. :)

[Dynamic]

"Probally the only bad advice you can use, is the competition in your area as I am sure they would like to see you fail"

[AceFinish]

Some great stuff guys... I owe BIG thank you to everyone! :clapping:

After thinking about what everyone said, I shared some of my thoughts with the my lawn care business partner. He brought up 2 pretty good points. I'm interested to see if someone has run into this before.

1)The guy we are sodding for has a sprinkler system. How do you grade the area without cracking all those sprinkler heads? A skid steer with a rock hound isn't the most precise machine

2) How much sodding can 1 guy do in a day? We have 11,500 sq. ft. to sod. We are going to need to buy 20-23 pallets of sod! That stuff literally weighs a ton!

Any thoughts???

1. Hand rake around the heads if you have a operator who is worth a @#&$ he won't take out the heads.
2. It takes 1 guy one hour to lay a pallet of sod which 700sqft. in our area.

[LawnsM]

[QUOTE=AceFinish;2093997]if you have a operator who is worth a @#&$ he won't take out the heads.
[QUOTE]

You gotta love all that big "IF" word! Seems like that is always the case!! :laugh::laugh:

[LawnsM]

Soil is harder than a rock around here- clay mostly. This makes any soil prep a tough proposal. I'm just going to have to do my best. He has a sloped back yard so I'll probably use a few stakes to keep the sod in place.

[AceFinish]

[QUOTE=AceFinish;2093997]if you have a operator who is worth a @#&$ he won't take out the heads.
[QUOTE]

You gotta love all that big "IF" word! Seems like that is always the case!! :laugh::laugh:
Operate like a pro or get the hell out

[LawnsM]

I must say.... This is best response I've gotten on forums. I'm ready to install. Thanks to all who helped make this 4 pages long! :weightlifter:

[SiteSolutions]

Take some pics and let us know how it went

[LawnsM]

Sure thing. The job should be completed by April. :waving:

[Focal Point Landscapes]

I would run the irrigation system prior to starting the work to insure that it is operational and properly adjusted , would not fertilize , and would never leave a sod job without rolling .......