Is Costco Artificial Grass Worth Buying For A Full Yard?

Ideally, it'd be easy to have a lush, natural grass lawn. Unfortunately, that's not always the case— you have to water, mow, fertilize, and weed to keep it healthy. But if you want to reduce the maintenance requirements, it might be time to think about the pros and cons of installing artificial grass on your property.

If cost is one of the cons that's keeping you from considering artificial turf installation, one of the ways you can save some money is to buy the product from a discount retailer. Costco, for example, has plenty of deals on home and garden items, including artificial turf. Bear in mind, though, that you'll have to install the turf yourself or hire a professional company to do the installation. On the plus side, Costco does offer curbside delivery service of the product for free (although you might have to pay an extra fee in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico). You also receive a 100% satisfaction guarantee with your purchase of artificial grass, which is a potential benefit compared to other sellers.

Ultimately, though, the most important aspects of Costco artificial grass are the quality of the material and the ability to successfully install it. If it's not going to last as long as a more expensive synthetic turf, the money you save at the beginning will disappear when you need an earlier replacement of the material. Let's take a look at how Costco's artificial grass stacks up to competitors when you're considering a whole-yard installation.

Costco artificial grass doesn't fade as much as normal grass, but it's difficult to install

One advantage of buying a Costco artificial turf product is that it includes ultraviolet and color-fade protection. When going over an entire yard, shade and sun exposure can vary across the layout of the turf. Other types of artificial turf might show fading in certain areas because they don't contain UV resistance, making the Costco product a better investment.

One of the downsides to using artificial turf in your yard is that it's difficult to cover a large area. Creating a good base for the layout requires a lot of time and physical effort, and connecting seams to reduce trip hazards makes the installation process over a larger area even more challenging. A roll of synthetic grass can weigh about ½ pound per square foot of coverage, meaning large rolls can weigh a few hundred pounds or more. 

These problems occur with Costco's turf, too. The PreGra 50-Ounce Artificial Turf ($123) is available in 6-by-8-foot segments, meaning you'll need to connect the seams on dozens of pieces to cover an average-sized yard. Costco sells the PreGra 80-Ounce Artificial Turf ($60) by the linear foot with a set width of 15 feet. If you order a length of 50 or 100 feet, you'd have fewer seams, but the rolls will weigh hundreds of pounds and may be difficult to move. You might need a forklift or a truck or tractor with tow straps to move these heavy rolls.

Reviews are mixed on the quality of Costco's turf

Costco currently only sells PreGra-branded artificial turf. The company offers a 10-year limited warranty on its turf for the original owner, which includes protection against a fade of more than 15% from the original color. If you self-install the PreGra turf from Costco, though, you may only receive a percentage of the turf replacement cost between 4 and 10 years after installation. You can receive the full cost of the replacement for up to 10 years if you use a certified PreGra installer. Other similarly priced turfs have warranty periods shorter and longer than what PreGra offers. UltimatePet has an 8-year limited manufacturer warranty on its roll of turf, while Natures Cut artificial grass has a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty.

Some online reviewers call the PreGra artificial grass product from Costco a low-quality product that you'll have to replace more often, while others on the Costco website say that it's a high-quality choice. "This is the second time my family has purchased and installed this product," one Costco reviewer said, noting that "the product quality is as good as before." One of the Costco synthetic turf products has an 80-ounce face weight, which is durable enough for high-traffic areas and sports fields, making it a high-quality option. The cost for the PreGra 80-Ounce Roll of turf is about $4 per square foot. This compares favorably with the cost for the UltimatePet product ($5.07 per square foot) and the Natures Cut product ($4.81 per square foot).

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