Long Run Incremental cost of grass vs field turf

 

About The Author

Jeff Bresee, President of Sports Engineering Technologies, is a Licensed Professional Engineer who has dedicated himself to becoming the foremost design expert in the Synthetic Turf and Track Industry.   Now in his fourth year of catering exclusively to schools and other entities on synthetic turf and track projects, Mr. Bresee appreciates the opportunity to be of service to you and hopes that you find the information contained in this report valuable. 

  The following analysis has been conducted for the review of School Districts and other entities who are considering the replacement of existing natural grass surfaces with Granular-Infill Synthetic Turf (GIS Turf).  This report will attempt to establish the degree to which the benefits offered by GIS Turf offset the cost of constructing the new synthetic field by considering four points of comparison: maintenance savings vs. construction costs; field usage; player safety; and economic impact as a result of increased stadium usage. 

ITEM 1 - upkeep SAVINGS VS. GIS TURF CONSTRUCTION COSTS:

 In order to determine the extent to which maintenance savings will offset the cost of constructing a GIS Turf field, key economic values must first be established.  These values are (1) average annual natural grass maintenance costs; (2) natural grass field construction cost; (3) synthetic turf field construction cost; (4) natural grass field replacement cost; and (5) synthetic turf field replacement cost.  For this report, annual natural grass maintenance costs were estimated using averages taken from the records of schools for whom SET has worked for.  Recent pricing (received through the Competitive Sealed Proposal process on other fields that SET has designed during 2005) was used to estimate the cost of construction of synthetic turf fields.  Finally, natural grass field construction costs were estimated using values obtained from schools who have constructed such field in the past two years as well as quotes received from contractors who perform this type of work.   

 

ESTIMATION CONSTRUCTION charges - GIS TURF

 Initial construction cost for a usual stadium athletic field:

 

INITIAL CONSTRUCTION OF FIELD

 

 

 

 

 

Construction

 

 

 $          585,330.00

 

 

 

 

Engineering, task Management & Inspection

 $            49,750.00

 

 

 

 

Total Cost: primary buying into on Field

 $          635,080.00

 

It should be noted that the above construction cost does not include soil stabilization as the necessity for such is unknown at this time.

 

Construction cost of replacing the turf system with new turf after the initial turf system has reached the end of its useful life:

 REPLACEMENT OF TURF @ END OF YEAR 12

 

 

 

 

 

Construction

 

 

 $          360,000.00

 

 

 

 

Engineering, Project Management & Inspection

 $            15,000.00

 

 

 

 

Total Cost: added Investment on Field

 $          375,000.00

 

ESTIMATION OF MAINTENANCE COSTS- NATURAL GRASS

 Construction cost of restoring vintage natural lawn with new natural lawn and new irrigation system:

 

Construction

 

 $                     112,550.00

 

 

 

Engineering, Project Management & Inspection

 $                       12,000.00

 

 

 

Total Cost: Initial Investment on Field

 $                     124,550.00

 

Construction cost of replacing old natural lawn with new natural lawn without irrigation system:

 

Construction

 

 $                       85,050.00

 

 

 

Engineering, Project Management & Inspection

 $                         8,000.00

 

 

 

Total Cost: Initial Investment on Field

 $                       93,050.00

 

ESTIMATION OF ANNUAL upkeep COSTS - NATURAL GRASS

 

Item

 Cost

 

 

Fertilizer, Pesticide, Herbicide, etc

 $       1,350.00

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