Why professional artificial grass installation beats DIY – everytime (for most homeowners)
By Gavin Hall
Published: 15th October, 2025
Autumn to Winter: Why Now’s the Perfect Time to Replace Your Muddy Lawn with Artificial Grass — and Why a Pro Team Should Do It
Autumn in Sidcup means soggy Sundays, muddy shoes tracked into the house, and a lawn that looks like it’s been through a washing machine. If you’re fed up with mud, patchy grass and hours of weekend upkeep, artificial grass can give you a neat, usable garden all year round.
You might be asking yourself the question should I try laying the artificial grass myself or should I use an artificial grass company to do it? Here is some guidance on why I think you should most likely leave it to the professionals. Perfect Grass has over 20 years experience fitting artificial grass so you will be in good hands.
Things to consider when installing artificial grass
Artificial grass looks and performs best when the groundworks are done right. Common DIY pitfalls include uneven base, poor drainage, visible seams, wrinkles, and premature wear. A professional installation from a family-run team like Perfect Grass Ltd brings:
1. Correct base and drainage — Professionals excavate, lay compacted sub-base and ensure fall and drainage so the lawn doesn’t pool or shift. That prevents muddy edges and helps longevity.
2. Neat seams & finish — Pros use specialist adhesives, join techniques and joint tape so seams are invisible and the whole area looks natural. They can also cut to shape the artificial grass to match the existing lawn.
3. Tools & compaction equipment — Achieving a stable, flat surface usually requires a combination of large pieces of equipment like compactors and mini diggers and smaller items like levels, wheelbarrows etc — not the kind of kit most homeowners own or want to hire for a long weekend.
4. Right product for the job — Experienced fitters advise on pile height, drainage solutions, and grass choices for pet or play areas. They balance looks, performance and safety.
5. Warranties & aftercare — Professional companies offer workmanship guarantees and maintenance advice so your investment is protected and performs well over years. A pro will also show you how to clean pet mess, remove leaves and brush the pile to keep the grass upright.
In short: a pro installation costs more up front but helps avoid re-doing work, patch repairs and early replacement — in other words, it’s the economical choice for a job done once and done well.
Cost comparison: Professional install vs DIY for a typical front lawn
Let’s take an example to illustrate real costs. Suppose the lawn is 50 m² (≈ 538 ft²), a fairly typical front-garden size. The comparisons below are based on current UK market rates (2025) and local Kent / South East England labour/materials where possible. Prices will vary with quality of turf, shape of garden, ease of access, and how much groundwork you need.
Artificial Grass (Supply Only)
Average price of Artificial Grass: ~ £23–£26/m² → £1150-£1,300
Same cost for turf: £1150-£1,300 (you’re buying the same material)
Sub-base / Groundwork
Labour + material (excavation, MOT Type 1, compaction, grading), weed membrane, granite dust: typically (excavation) + (sub-base) + (levelling) + weed membrane etc.
If DIY, you’ll supply the same materials but often omit or skimp on some labour-heavy tasks. So materials for sub-base + membrane etc might cost you ~ £600-£1,200, depending on whether you can get good deals, rent tools, haul materials, etc. Labour is your own time or help from friends. Tools/equipment hire may add cost.
Labour / Fitting / Join & Fixing
Professional labour for cutting, joining seams, fixing to edges, securing, finishing touch (brushing) usually runs as part of the full “groundworks and fit” package. In Kent / South East, this tends to add up to ~ £37-£59/m² all-in depending on complexity. For 50 m², labour + groundworks + fitting, might be £1,850-£2,950
DIY: if you do the fitting yourself, you save this labour cost, but you may lose out on a neat finish, and you may spend far more time. You’ll still need adhesives, fixing pins, joint tape, etc. Those materials might cost in the region of £50-£150 or more, depending on what’s required. Tool-hire (compactor, saws, power cutters, etc.) might cost £150-£300+.
Waste Removal / Skips / Access Complications
Pro installers will include or factor in disposal of old turf / soil / waste, skip hire, access issues (narrow paths, steps), edging where needed. For 50 m² this might add £200-£400 or more depending on terrain & waste volume.
DIY: you pay for skip hire / transport of waste yourself; possibly lower if you can reuse or dispose cheaply, but typically still £150-£300+.
Total Cost Estimate
For 50 m², a professional, good quality install in Kent / South East might cost between £3,000-£4200 (some quotes may be lower with simpler groundwork, or higher with premium turf or tricky access)
DIY might cost you £2,100-£3,250 all-in if you buy materials, rent tools, remove waste, but doing all work yourself saves a significant % of the labour component.
Summary: Why the extra cost is often worth it
You might pay significantly more upfront with a professional installer, especially for labour and groundwork. But because that work is done properly, you’ll avoid issues such as sinking, weed invasion, poor drainage, or uneven/fading seams that many DIYers end up fixing (sometimes at extra cost).
Over a lifespan of 10-20 years, the per-year cost difference between a good pro job and a poor DIY job tends to shrink, especially when you factor in repair/re-do costs.
For many homeowners, the peace of mind of a guaranteed job, neat final finish, and less of their own labour makes the professional choice more economical in real life (not just on paper).
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