Menu
Back
Fill out this form for a FREE in-home estimate and we’ll get right back to you.
"*" indicates required fields
The Practical Guide to Combining Artificial Turf and Pavers in South Florida
TL;DR: Artificial turf and pavers in Palm Beach work when both surfaces share a graded, compacted base that drains away from the house, meet flush at the joint, and use turf rated for Florida sun and humidity. Exotic Pavers installs the hardscape side—brick, clay, porcelain, travertine, marble, and concrete pavers—from Wellington across Palm Beach County. Call 561-200-5397 for a free on-site estimate.
For driveways, pool decks, patios, and retaining walls in the same outdoor plan, start with the complete guide to outdoor paver projects in Palm Beach County.
Why Homeowners Pair Turf With Pavers Here
Palm Beach County yards fight heat, summer squalls, sandy soils that shift when wet, and HOA boards that police color and lawn look. Natural grass between paver walks often dies in shade, burns out in full sun, or turns into mud after a storm. Artificial turf fills the green gaps without irrigation; pavers carry furniture, carts, and foot traffic that would crush soft grass.
The combination shows up on modern patios with turf inserts, pool-side walks with soft strips between concrete or porcelain fields, and side yards where a narrow lawn strip used to brown every August. Exotic Pavers (Marc and Marsha McKinnon, Florida CGC #1523876) builds the paver fields, borders, and edges from Wellington (13646 Barberry Drive) for Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Highland Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and nearby cities. Turf products are typically supplied and installed by a turf specialist; the hardscape contractor and turf crew need the same finished elevations on the plan before either crew starts digging.
Design Patterns That Work in South Florida
| Pattern | Where it fits | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Turf inserts in a paver patio | Dining zones with soft green panels between modular fields | Continuous base under both; flush joints so chairs do not catch |
| Paver walk with turf shoulders | Side yards, dog runs, paths to a lanai | Edge restraint on the paver; turf stapled to a firm base, not loose soil |
| Large-format slabs with turf joints | Contemporary pool courts and outdoor rooms | Joint width must match turf pile and drainage; keep drains clear |
| Turf strips between soldier courses | Borders that soften a heavy herringbone field | Do not trap water against the house or pool coping |
Light-colored concrete pavers, travertine, and outdoor porcelain stay cooler underfoot near pools. Dark fields absorb more heat next to dark turf backing, so plan shade or lighter materials where kids and pets sit. For pool-adjacent hardscape details—coping, slope to drains, wet-foot traction—see how to choose and install a pool deck in Palm Beach County.
Step-by-Step: Build the Shared Base First
- Walk the lot for water. Mark low spots, downspouts, and where runoff currently goes after a summer storm. Both surfaces must slope away from the house—many Florida pedestrian installs target about a 2% fall where grade allows.
- Excavate to one continuous profile. Soft organic soil comes out. A geotextile separator helps keep sand from pumping into the aggregate on silty fill.
- Compact aggregate in lifts. Pedestrian patio and walk areas often use about 4–6 inches of compactable limestone or granite aggregate, compacted in 2–3 inch lifts. Driveways need a deeper, heavier stack—see how to plan driveway paver installation in Palm Beach County when tires are in the mix.
- Set finished elevations together. Paver thickness plus bedding must meet the turf pile height at the joint. A lip of even half an inch becomes a trip and a water trap.
- Install pavers with edge restraint. Bedding sand or manufacturer-approved bedding stays thin and even. Polymeric joint sand belongs in paver joints, not under turf.
- Prep the turf panels on the same grade. Turf systems usually sit on drainage aggregate and a firm, level surface; follow the turf manufacturer’s base and infill specs. Secure edges so wind and foot traffic cannot peel the turf at the paver joint.
- Keep drains and weep paths open. Do not bury channel drains, pool deck drains, or inspection points under turf. Concentrated roof or pool water should not dump onto the joint.
A shared base under both materials beats a concrete footing for pavers next to a thin turf pad. Separate bases often pond where the two meet, then the turf edge lifts.
Heat, Drainage, and Storm Reality
South Florida rain is short and hard. Turf backing that drains quickly still needs an open base below it. Water that sits at the paver-turf joint softens the edge, washes bedding, and stains light stone. Grade the whole pad as one system, then confirm with a hose test before furniture goes out.
Heat loads the other side of the problem. Midday sun on open Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens lots cooks dark surfaces. Choose UV-stable turf rated for Florida exposure, and pick paver colors that match HOA packets without turning the yard into a frying pan. Light travertine and textured concrete pavers often feel better barefoot than dark stamped looks next to turf.
After tropical storms, walk the joints and note any settled pavers or lifted turf edges. Retrofitting turf between existing pavers only works when the current field is flat, drained, and structurally sound; otherwise lift the units, rebuild the base across the whole area, and reinstall.
HOA, Permits, and Who Does What
Many gated and golf communities in Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, and Jupiter review hardscape color, pattern, and sometimes synthetic lawn. Bring turf samples and paver boards to ARC review together so the board does not approve one surface and reject the other. Setbacks, easements, and screen-enclosure clearances still apply to the paver footprint.
Exotic Pavers handles the paver design, base, pattern, and installation under Florida CGC #1523876. Coordinate turf brand, pile height, and infill with a turf installer before the hardscape crew locks elevations. A single site plan with shared grades avoids rework. For patio surface tradeoffs when you are still choosing stone versus poured concrete, see concrete vs. pavers for patio installation in Palm Beach Gardens.
Maintenance After the Crews Leave
Rinse light-colored pavers after fertilizer overspray so turf dye and rust stains do not set. Brush polymeric sand back into paver joints if a storm washes them open, and keep the turf pile upright with the infill the manufacturer specified—pool decks often need an infill that does not stick to wet feet. Trim any turf edge that starts to fray at the paver joint before wind peels a larger section. Once a year, walk the pad after a heavy rain and note any ponding so it can be addressed early, before a soft turf strip starts to tear.
Budget is job-specific and depends on material grade, excavation depth, and access; turf is priced separately by the turf contractor. Ask both crews to price the shared base once so you do not pay twice for the same excavation.
For a side-by-side look at the pros and cons of each surface, see our earlier article on pavers vs. artificial turf in Palm Beach County.
Common Mistakes
- Different finished heights at the joint. Chairs catch, ankles twist, and water pools on the low side.
- Turf on soft soil next to a proper paver base. The green strip settles; the pavers stay high; the seam fails.
- Blocking drainage paths. Covering a deck drain or redirecting downspouts into the turf panel creates odor and soft spots.
- Skipping edge restraint on the paver field. Without a locked edge, units creep into the turf strip after a few storm seasons.
- Dark turf plus dark pavers in full western sun. The yard looks sharp in photos and feels harsh at 3 p.m. in August.
FAQs
Can you put artificial turf between existing pavers?
Sometimes, if the field is stable, joints are not washed out, and slope already moves water away from the house. Many Palm Beach County yards need pavers lifted and a continuous base rebuilt first so the turf edge does not sit on a drainage cliff.
Does Exotic Pavers install the turf too?
Exotic Pavers focuses on paver hardscape—patios, driveways, pool decks, retaining walls, and fire pits in brick, clay, porcelain, travertine, marble, and concrete (marble is used for patios, walkways, and pool decks, not driveways). Plan turf with a turf specialist on the same elevation drawings so both crews finish flush.
Will turf and pavers drain in Florida storms?
They can when the base is continuous, graded away from structures, and drains stay open. Fast-draining turf backing does not fix a flat or reverse-sloped pad.
What materials pair best with turf near a pool?
Light travertine, outdoor porcelain, and textured concrete pavers are common next to wet feet. Keep coping details and deck slope in the pool-deck plan, not as an afterthought.
How do I get a local estimate?
Call Exotic Pavers at 561-200-5397 or request a free on-site estimate. The visit should cover layout, drainage, material boards, and how the paver edges will meet any planned turf panels. Quotes are typically ready within 24 hours after the site walk.
Next Step
If your Palm Beach County yard needs a durable paver field that can frame turf inserts or soft walks, start with the hardscape plan and shared grades—then bring the turf crew in on the same numbers. The broader cluster overview lives in the complete guide to outdoor paver projects in Palm Beach County. Call 561-200-5397 when you want Exotic Pavers on site for the paver side.
Marc McKinnon
Marc McKinnon is the owner and co-founder of Exotic Pavers, a family-run paver and hardscaping company based in Palm Beach County, FL. Marc and his team help homeowners transform their outside spaces into spectacular, high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and functional areas that families and friends can enjoy for years to come.
A United States Marine Corps veteran, Marc has over 25 years of experience in the pavers industry. Certified by the ICPI and also Retaining Wall certified, Marc and his team make every effort to ensure that Exotic Pavers’ service is prompt while providing quality products and competitive pricing.