Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Oct 12, 2009 10:31 am Got a few companies here in Canberra coming to quote me for preparing soil and laying turf over approx 100sqm. Being new to the game, can anyone give me a rough ballpark figure on what would be reasonable for that sort of job? Don't need anything exact, just need to know what's reasonable, and who's trying to rip me off (following my experience getting quoted $20k for a 15sqm pine deck and pergola). Basically the soil in my yard (I use the term loosely) is extremely clay, so I'm looking for someone to put down approx 100mm of topsoil and then lay a festicue-blend turf on top of it. Building Masterton Overture Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 2Oct 12, 2009 12:43 pm Banj Got a few companies here in Canberra coming to quote me for preparing soil and laying turf over approx 100sqm. Being new to the game, can anyone give me a rough ballpark figure on what would be reasonable for that sort of job? Don't need anything exact, just need to know what's reasonable, and who's trying to rip me off (following my experience getting quoted $20k for a 15sqm pine deck and pergola). Basically the soil in my yard (I use the term loosely) is extremely clay, so I'm looking for someone to put down approx 100mm of topsoil and then lay a festicue-blend turf on top of it. I cant comment of getting it professionally done (Turf that is) but to do it yourself is: 125 sqm of dirt (10cm plus deep) equallys to about 13m3 which cost me $560.00 Turf $10.00 per roll (Sapphire buffalo) $1300.00 (125sqm) Dingo $200.00 per day. Fert $50.00 Compactor $60.00 per day I would say about $1000.00 labour. But I dont really know. Thought ball parks might help Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 3Oct 12, 2009 2:52 pm Thanks... seems to be a good guide all up, but as you've alluded to, it seems to be much cheaper doing it yourself. The only problem for me is finding the time. With your experience, how long did it take for the whole process from dirt delivery through to the end result? Building Masterton Overture Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 4Oct 12, 2009 9:03 pm Two young men who work for a retic firm did my retic as an "extra" job on a weekend. As they did such a good job I asked them if they would lay my turf. They moved 4 cubic metres of soil improver, added zeolite and wetta lawn, cannot remember if anything else, whatever Fu recommended. Then they layed 295sqm of Palmetto, I could not get Empire Zoysia, the ground was to wet for the machine to cut it. The men had a friend with them whom they shouted some beer! It cost me $500 for labour, $20 for the lawn leveller, they borrowed a compactor and I made lunch for them. They started at 7.30pm and were finished by 3pm. I was extremely pleased with their work. I can give their tel. no. to anyone who lives in the south west of W.A. I got ripped of when my shed was erected so can understand you being cautious Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 5Oct 13, 2009 7:51 am Well, the guy measured it up and did a quote which came to quite a reasonable amount.... ended up with approx 112sqm, which includes removing the current clay crap, putting down good quality topsoil, leveling it etc, and supply and laying the grass. All up it came to $15sqm for Legend Couch, so it's going in next week Building Masterton Overture Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 6Oct 13, 2009 10:22 am Banj Well, the guy measured it up and did a quote which came to quite a reasonable amount.... ended up with approx 112sqm, which includes removing the current clay crap, putting down good quality topsoil, leveling it etc, and supply and laying the grass. All up it came to $15sqm for Legend Couch, so it's going in next week That's not bad at all mate. go for it Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 7Oct 13, 2009 10:42 am I sat down last night an calculated all the costs myself, including hiring the equipment. The cost came out about the same, so it's easier for this company to do it all for me Plus there's also the added benefit of them actually knowing what they're doing! Building Masterton Overture Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 8Oct 13, 2009 10:48 am Banj I sat down last night an calculated all the costs myself, including hiring the equipment. The cost came out about the same, so it's easier for this company to do it all for me Plus there's also the added benefit of them actually knowing what they're doing! Plus I did it over 3 days, 4 weeks ago and I am still sore Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 9Oct 14, 2009 8:18 pm I don't understand this business of layering the soil on top? Proper preparation will require the soil to be mixed through existing soils to at least 300mm. I only ever recommend and use certified organic soils which in the longer term help break the clay up and in sandy soils it helps bind it together. This means the soil holds nutrients and moisture in a way that is ideal for the roots of the turf. If you layer the soil, the roots of the turf will be heavily concentrated in a shallow layer close to the surface with a smaller amount venturing deeper into the unprepared clay. What happens is you have a weak lawn that will have a higher nutrient need (=$$) much higher water demand (=$$) and in the heat will not handle it so well. If that rich layer drys what then happens is the fine roots of the lawn that take up water and nutrients die or are damaged and even if you can get out there with a hose the lawn can't rehydrate effectively. This is spoken about here and I know who they got this info from http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/h ... A_HTML.htm John Colwill and the watercorporation.com.au Soil improvement The best soil improvers are those based on organic matter. They increase the water and nutrient holding capacity while providing the raw material that supports active soil micro-fauna. The healthy soil then promotes healthy plant growth. It is important to improve the top 15 - 20 cm of soil where the feeder roots of plants will develop. Animal manures, worm farm residue, bagged soil improvers and soil conditioners are all good sources of organic matter. Mix them in equal parts with the soil prior to planting out. Use these points as a guide: * Shrubs, groundcovers and climbers 30 cm in depth and up to half a metre across. * Trees 40cm deep and 1m across and bedding plants 25 cm deep for the whole bed. * Garden soils are just as prone to becoming non-wettable as are lawn areas. * A regular application of a soil wetting agent in Spring and Summer is recommended. You can also refer to our 'Soil improvement' brochure available from the 'Hints and Tips' page. Re: Quotes for soil preparation and turf laying 10Oct 16, 2009 2:21 pm That may very well be what they're doing Fu... not being very landscape orientated, I just took that was what the guy meant from what he told me. He's doing a 'full service' installing the lawn which involves bringing a variety of different equipment in through the side fence. Building Masterton Overture I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1932 Hey There. No problems re jumping in. My original question was "should I have waterproofed" the concrete slab before putting batons down. We have been told we should… 7 4327 Hi Building Expert, Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated, there is also a code of conduct for building surveyors which they need to follow as well. I am looking… 4 3671 |