Sod Installation in Encino, California
Natural grass sod laid on graded, prepared soil with sprinklers that reach every corner. Installed by a licensed Encino landscaper.
5.0 Google ratingFree on-site walkthroughLicensed & bonded · CA #1122918
What we install
Option 1 Builders does sod installation in Encino, CA. We are a licensed and bonded general building contractor (CSLB #1122918) based at 16400 Ventura Blvd, Suite 319, Encino, CA 91436. We remove the old lawn, grade and prepare the soil, check the sprinklers, and lay fresh sod in tight, staggered rows. You get a green natural lawn the same day the sod goes down. Call 818-297-2475 for a free on-site estimate.
Sod is real grass grown on a farm and delivered in rolls. It gives you a finished lawn right away, without waiting months for seed to fill in. In the Valley it needs the right soil prep and a watering plan, or it dries out in the first hot week.
We install and adjust irrigation systems with Rain Bird and Hunter parts, so the new lawn gets even water from day one.
Option 1 Builders is a licensed and bonded general building contractor, CSLB #1122918. The same crew that lays the sod also fixes the grade, the sprinklers, and the drainage under it. One written scope covers the whole lawn.
Homeowners call us when the lawn is more weeds and bare dirt than grass, when a new build has no yard yet, or when they want real grass back after a remodel.
A small front yard lawn and full front and back yards get the same process. The difference is square footage and how much soil work the yard needs. Each of those is its own line on the estimate.
New sod fails for two reasons: poor soil under it and uneven water on top of it. We fix both before the sod truck arrives.
Sod installation is part of our landscaping services as a landscaper in Encino. One project manager runs the job from the walkthrough to the first mow.
Why homeowners call
Sod Installation, Grass Seeding, and Lawn Landscaping
Soil prep first
We remove the old lawn, loosen and level the soil, and grade it so water runs away from the house before any sod is laid.
Sprinklers checked
We test the sprinklers for full coverage and fix dry spots, using Rain Bird and Hunter parts.
Written scope after the measure
We measure on site and send a written number tied to a specific spec, not a per-foot guess over the phone.
Licensed and bonded
Licensed and bonded under California contractor license #1122918. You can verify that number with the CSLB.
Get a written number
Request a Free Sod Installation Estimate
Tell us about the lawn. We follow up to schedule a walkthrough, measure on site, and send a written scope.
Sod installation
Fresh sod laid in staggered rows with tight seams, rolled flat, and watered in the same day.
Grass seeding
Seeding a new lawn or overseeding a thin one. It costs less than sod and takes longer to fill in.
Lawn landscaping
Lawn shape, edging, planting beds, and trees planned together, so the grass area is easy to water and mow.
Old lawn removal
We remove the old grass and roots and haul them away. Sod laid over an old lawn does not root well.
Not sure about natural grass? Read how much artificial turf costs in Los Angeles and compare the two.
How a free estimate works
How a Free Sod Installation Estimate Works in Encino
1
Walk the property
We schedule a walkthrough and talk through how you actually use the yard. The on-site walkthrough is free.
2
Measure on site
We measure the space. You are not charged to have us measure the yard or explain the base and drainage.
3
Written scope
We send a written number tied to a specific spec, not a per-foot guess over the phone.
Option 1 Builders is licensed and bonded under California contractor license #1122918. The Encino showroom is at 16400 Ventura Blvd, Suite 319. We measure on site and send a written scope. See about this Encino landscaping company, walk finished Encino projects, or request a written estimate.
Sod Installation in Encino: What the Job Really Involves
Option 1 Builders installs sod in Encino and across the San Fernando Valley. Laying the sod is the fast part. Most of the work comes before it: removing the old lawn, loosening the soil, adding soil amendment where the ground is hard clay, and grading the surface smooth.
Soil conditions matter. Valley soil is often heavy clay. Clay holds water on top and stays hard underneath, so roots stay shallow. Loosening the soil and mixing in amendment gives the new roots a place to go.
Sod has to be laid soon after it is cut at the farm. We schedule delivery for the day the soil is ready, lay it that day, roll it, and water it in.
Jobs run from a small front lawn or parkway strip to a full front-and-back yard with new sprinklers.
Grass Seeding and Overseeding
Grass seeding is the lower-cost way to start a lawn. It takes longer, and the area has to stay damp and free of foot traffic while the seed comes up.
Overseeding thickens a lawn that is thin but still alive. We loosen the surface, spread seed, and cover it lightly so it stays moist.
We will tell you at the walkthrough whether your lawn can be saved with seed or needs new sod.
Lawn Landscaping Around the New Grass
A lawn works best when it is a simple shape with clean edges. In a landscape installation, we lay out the grass area, the planting beds, and the paths together.
Many Encino yards keep a smaller natural lawn and use pavers, gravel, mulch, or low-maintenance, drought-tolerant garden beds for the rest of the outdoor space. That cuts the water bill and the mowing.
For a full yard plan, see landscape design in Encino.
From Walkthrough to First Mow
The free consultation is the walkthrough. We measure the lawn, check the soil and the sprinklers, look at sun and shade, and ask how you use the yard.
After the sod is down, it needs water every day for the first couple of weeks while the roots take hold. Keep foot traffic light until then. We leave you with a watering schedule, and your written proposal includes the expected timeline.
Sod Installation in Encino and Across the San Fernando Valley
Option 1 Builders is based on Ventura Blvd in Encino and installs sod across the San Fernando Valley, including Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Lake Balboa, and Van Nuys.
Shady hillside lots and sunny flat lots need different grass. Our guide to Encino lots and neighborhoods explains how yards change across Encino. Call 818-297-2475 and we will confirm your address by phone.
Lawn stays soggy after rain? See yard drainage before you plant. Want a lawn with no watering? See artificial turf installation in Encino. Or request a free estimate.
Sod Installation Cost in Encino
Sod installation cost depends on the square footage, how much old lawn has to come out, how much soil work the yard needs, the type of grass, and whether the sprinklers need repair. We do not quote sod by phone. We measure on site and give you a written number.
If you are comparing sod bids, ask each contractor the same questions: is the old lawn removed, is the soil loosened and amended, are the sprinklers tested, and what grass is being laid. The answers explain the price gap.
Sod or Artificial Turf: Which Fits Your Yard?
Sod costs less to install and feels like a real lawn because it is one. It needs water, mowing, and feeding for as long as you have it.
Artificial turf costs more up front and needs no watering or mowing. We install both, so we can price both for the same yard and let you compare. See artificial grass installation for the turf side.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ: Sod Installation Questions Encino Homeowners Ask
Yes. We remove the old lawn, prepare and grade the soil, check the sprinklers, and lay fresh sod. We also do grass seeding and overseeding.
It depends on the size of the lawn, old lawn removal, soil work, the grass type, and any sprinkler repair. We measure on site and send a written scope.
Fall and spring are the easiest, because the weather is mild and the sod needs less water to root. Sod can be laid in summer, but it needs more water in the first weeks.
Every day for the first couple of weeks, enough to keep the sod and the soil under it damp. After the roots take hold, you water less often and more deeply. We leave you with a schedule.
Keep foot traffic light for the first two to three weeks. Once the sod has rooted and you cannot lift a corner, it is ready for normal use and its first mow.
Sod gives you a finished lawn the same day and has fewer weeds at the start. Seed costs less and takes longer to fill in. We install both.
Yes. Old grass and roots are removed and hauled away before the soil is prepared. It shows up as its own line on the estimate.
Yes. We install and modify sprinkler and drip systems, and we test coverage before the sod goes down so there are no dry corners.
Sod costs less up front and needs water and mowing. Artificial turf costs more up front and needs neither. We install both and can price both for the same yard.
Yes. We walk the property, measure on site, and send a written scope. Call 818-297-2475.
Related services
Encino Services Quoted Beside Sod Installation
Ready for New Sod in Encino?
Tell us about the lawn. We will walk the property and send a written scope for sod installation in Encino. Call 818-297-2475 or request a free estimate.