When artificial turf fails, homeowners usually blame the turf. Nine times out of ten the real problem is underneath it. Georgia red clay holds water, swells when wet, and shrinks in summer heat. Laying turf on top of it, or on a thin layer of sand, is how you end up with ripples and puddles within a year.
A proper base starts with excavation. We remove the existing grass and several inches of soil so there's room for a real base, not just a skim coat. Where weeds are a concern, a weed barrier goes down next.
Then comes crushed stone, laid and compacted in lifts rather than all at once. Compacting in layers is what makes the base firm all the way through. Each lift is graded so water runs away from the house and drains through instead of pooling on top.
The last layer is a finer screening that gives the turf a smooth, even surface. On a putting green, this is where we shape the breaks. On a pet area, we keep the base permeable so liquid drains straight through.
This is the slowest, least glamorous part of the job, and it's the part we're known for. If you're comparing quotes, ask each installer how deep they excavate and how they compact. The answer tells you how the lawn will look in five years.