Artificial lawn - back to grass

I have a flat lawn of around 110sqm. Looking to have the astro lifted and then sand/grit taken out, replaced with top soil and laid to lawn. A couple of questions though:

1. Had one company quote £8k+ as they had to take out 6 inches (they worked out 46 tonnes) of sand and replace with 46 tonnes of topsoil. This was extreme and so I've put that quote to one side.

2. Have spoken to a couple of other turf providers who review well. They seem to think we'll need less than 6 inches taking out and will quote over the coming days.

3. Anyone know what one can do with 110sqm of reasonable quality artificial lawn? In good condition - is there a market for it?

Is 3 inches (with a mix of gritty sand / compost mixed in) going to be enough to lay a lawn on?

 

minimum at least 4 inch of good soil but 6 inch + is more ideal . it sounds a awful lot of soil 46 ton . You can get awa with poor soil with certain types of grass like fescue don't require rich soil but dwarf rye is quite a heavy feeder for example .

What under the 3 inch of gritty sand compost mix ?

 

Not sure if the image will work but just dug down with a standard trowel. It's sand and stones with soil (quite decent quality from the feel) after about 3-4 inches.

If image doesn't work you can see here... The dark layer is soil covered with a bit of sand from the quick hole i dug...

Edit: it won't let me post a picture yet!

 

Spoke to another chap who is coming to take a look tomorrow. He's suggesting taking about 3 inches out and mixing whatever is left with some compost. Then adding topsoil and then turf. He's saying around £1200 which is a bit more palatable than £8k!

 

As JWk has mentioned you could rotavate the top bits in if need be. Personally I am not a fan at all of using compost on making a base for lawns its can make the lawn uneven / spongy when it breaks down and doesn't compact like top soil , so I'd just use good quality top soil .

He may of under cut himself with that quote so expect it may raise . 2 skips / 8 yarders ( 8 yards hold 8 ton )£220 ish each = £440 . Turf £2.50 to £3 a roll if your luck = £330+ . Top soil £50 -60 ton and add on labour .

 

I know where you can get skips.



On the main road, outside our village, today.

 

Hi you can always advertise if any one wonts used artificial grass there are many who take it off your hands either give it away or offer it reasonable price
www.ilovefreegle.orgFreegle - Don't throw it away, give it away!
Give and get stuff for free in your local community. Don't just recycle - reuse, freecycle and freegle
Otherwise i dont know who buys artificial used grass sorry

 

If it's a sand and grit mix down to 3 inches then soil, I'd just seed it. Yeah I know the 'official' advice, but I've seen it work well. As long as you can keep it moist and fed, grass will thrive in that environment. It's free draining so it won't fill up with moss and it won't form a 'pan' (an impermeable crust like you get on clay) and it won't sink.

It may need a bit of additional care for a few years, with the occasional top dressing with a decent compost to boost its moisture retention, but really that's part of looking after any lawn anyway.

That company that quoted 8k, well I'll do it for half the price, and I'll make nearly 4k profit :-D