Two quotes for the same yard rarely describe the same job. Comparing them line by line is the only way to see what the cheaper one left out.
Start with the measured area
Ask for the square footage each installer measured on site. A difference of ten percent between two quotes is a measurement difference, not a price difference.
Compare the base, not the grass
The base is where quotes diverge. Get the excavation depth, the aggregate by name, the compacted depth and the compaction check. Open-graded washed stone and dense road base are not interchangeable, and the published gap is about 10 per ton.
Compare the drainage answer
Ask each installer where the water leaves the yard and what the fall away from the house is. An answer that names a swale, a channel drain or a tie-in to lot drainage is a designed answer. An answer that says the ground will take it is not.
Compare the wind detail
Miami sits inside the hurricane wind zone, with the season running June 1 to November 30. Ask how the perimeter is anchored and what the seam adhesive is rated for. Two quotes at the same price can differ entirely here.
Compare what is inside the price
- Removal, hauling and disposal.
- Sprinkler capping.
- Edge restraint.
- Infill type and rate.
- Permit allowance, if any.
- Tax.
Read the warranty in two parts
The manufacturer warranty covers material, typically 8 to 15 years against fade and fibre breakdown. The installer warranty covers workmanship, typically 1 to 5 years, and it is the one that pays for a lifting seam or a ponding base. Exclusions for pet damage, poor drainage and seam failure are common on the material side, so the workmanship term is the one to negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
Why are quotes so different for the same yard?
Usually the base: different aggregate, different depth, or removal left out. Sometimes it is the drainage detail, and sometimes it is simply a measurement taken from a satellite image.
Should I take the lowest quote?
Only after the eight comparison lines match. The cheapest itemised quote is often the best; the cheapest lump sum that will not itemise is a risk.
What is a reasonable deposit?
Ask what the deposit pays for and when the balance falls due. A schedule tied to milestones (material delivered, base compacted, surface finished) is easier to hold an installer to than a single up-front payment.
Does a longer material warranty mean better grass?
Not on its own. Read what the warranty excludes and what the face weight and UV stabilisation are. A long term on a thin, unstabilised product is a marketing number.
Related
Sources
- InstallArtificial - artificial grass prices in Miami
- Monster Grass South Florida - cost to install turf in Miami
- Synthetic Grass Warehouse Florida - Miami artificial grass cost page
- National Weather Service Miami-South Florida - wet season and hurricane season
- Florida Statutes s. 373.185 - Florida-friendly landscaping and association rules