Replacement
For owners with an 8 to 12 year old field.
Synthetic fields wear. Even ours. Around year ten, a Sprinturf rep walks the field, drops a Gmax tester, and gives you a clear picture of what's left. If the carpet is done, we replace it on the existing base. If it just needs infill and seam work, we say so. The most expensive replacement is the one that should have been a refurbishment.
By the numbers
Replacement program proof points
Replacement process
Five steps. Ninety days, weather permitting.
From the inspection request to the first whistle of fall practice. Every step runs through the same regional rep who walks the field on day one.
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Step 01
Inspect
A Sprinturf rep walks the field, photographs the perimeter, pulls drainage and base condition, and notes seam integrity, infill depth, and pile compaction.
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Step 02
Test
A Gmax tester per ASTM F355 produces a quantified hardness reading at a standardized grid of points. Anything trending above 165 informs the recommendation.
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Step 03
Quote
Within one business day, you receive a project-specific quote with line items for removal, base re-use or repair, system selection, infill, and install.
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Step 04
Schedule
Most replacements are scheduled around the season. Removal in late spring, manufacturing through summer, install before fall practice begins.
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Step 05
Install
The same Sprinturf install crew handles removal, base verification, seam welding, infill, paint, and punch list. New 8-year warranty signed before they leave.
Replace vs refurbish
Pick the right scope.
A full replacement runs four to six times the cost of a refurbishment. Most decisions are clear by the time the Gmax test wraps up. Here is the matrix we use on a site walk.
Schedule the inspection 14 months out.
The smart move is to walk the field 14 months before you think you need to replace it. That gives the business office a full bond cycle and lets us hold a manufacturing slot for the offseason after the season you'd rather not play on the old field.
Replacement FAQ
Questions ADs and facility directors actually ask.
If your question is not here, ask the regional rep on the inspection visit.
Ask a Sprinturf repWhen should we replace versus refurbish a synthetic field?
Replace when fiber wear, infill loss, or Gmax drift cannot be corrected by a refresh. Refurbish when the carpet is structurally sound but needs new infill, seam repair, or a deep clean. A free Gmax test and visual walkthrough by a Sprinturf rep produces a replace-or-refurbish recommendation in writing within one business day. If we say refurbish, we are not selling you a $900,000 replacement just because we sell turf.
What happens to the old turf when you replace a field?
Sprinturf removes the existing turf with a turf muncher and routes it to recycling partners where the fiber is reprocessed into pellets and the backing is broken down for industrial reuse. We provide chain-of-custody documentation for ESG and sustainability reporting on request. No Sprinturf-removed turf goes to landfill.
Can we re-use the existing base when we replace the turf?
In most cases, yes. The aggregate base under a typical Sprinturf field is engineered to outlast the carpet by decades. During inspection we perform laser grade verification and drainage tests. If the base passes, we re-use it and pass the savings through. If it does not, we recommend targeted repair of specific sections rather than ripping out a full field.
How do you schedule a replacement around our season?
About 60% of Sprinturf replacements close in offseason. For football, soccer, and lacrosse programs, we typically remove old turf in late spring or early summer and have the new field ready before fall practice begins. For year-round programs (parks, indoor, multi-use), we coordinate with your athletic director on a phased schedule that protects the priority sport.
How long does a replacement project take from contract to play?
Average field-ready timeline for a replacement is 90 days from contract signature, weather permitting. Manufacturing takes 4 to 6 weeks in our Alabama and Georgia plants. Removal and install on-site runs 3 to 5 weeks. We hold a manufacturing slot the moment the contract is signed, so factory lead time is rarely the bottleneck.
What does a Sprinturf replacement field cost?
Replacement cost depends on field size, base condition, infill choice, and perimeter work. A typical high school football replacement, turf only, runs from $500,000 to $900,000 because the base is usually re-used. New builds and full base rework cost more. Most districts piggyback an existing cooperative purchasing contract on the replacement to skip a full RFP. Sprinturf provides a project-specific quote within one business day of an inspection.
Start with a free Gmax test
Walk the field. Run the numbers.
A regional Sprinturf rep visits your campus, drops a Gmax tester at standardized grid points, and returns a replace-or-refurbish recommendation in writing within one business day. No commitment. No standardized site-visit fee. Just real data on what's left in your field.