Builder just installed new sod on my house. I've never had sod, is it normal to have gaps this large? Will they just fill in eventually?

by Sly_Ty

45 Comments

  1. doctor_trades

    It’s poor work. I’d ask them to come back and fill the seams with sand.

    What kind of grass is it?

  2. Choice_Additional

    Those edges are going to dry out. I would tell them they need to come back and starting on side butt them up better.

  3. Puzzleheaded_Ad3430

    It’s not optimal but eventually it’ll look nice pending on where you live you may want to add dirt or sand. Mine looks like that and I added dirt and it was fine after a few months

  4. glitchvdub

    The edges need to be tight with each other, and each row needs to be offset by at least third of a roll.

  5. Herps_Plants_1987

    Builders constantly show they are inferior landscapers.

  6. OkBody2811

    This is why builders are builders and landscapers are landscapers. It’s going to be a neat pattern of yellows browns and green, like a square cheetah pattern.

  7. I want to go back in time and kick my old boss in the nuts…. he made us seam together all sod, at all times, no matter what. This is not butt-up against eachother. It’s pathetic. I was 15 when I did sod for a year and my boss would have fired us over that.

  8. rideboards13

    Where are you located. It’s pretty hard to get sod to take in the middle of the summer

  9. Necessary-Ad-1353

    I’m should’ve been top soiled then raked even then lightly hosed.

  10. letsdothisagain52

    Only weeds will grow in the gaps. Get some topsoil or builders sand and fill in the gaps.

  11. Sufficient_Yak_9522

    I’ve never seen that much of a gap between the pieces of sod. Personally I’d ask for them to redo it.

  12. Different_Ad7655

    Carelessly thrown down, better installation would have fit it absolutely tight like a carpet and watering as you go. Any gaps allow it to dry out on the edge and you’ll get the distinctive Browning of the individual pieces. Depends where you are this is a horrible time to put down turf but it will work as long as it gets water and more water. Now it’s 100% on you

  13. Psych_nature_dude

    They didn’t give af while they were doing that. Which, grass will probably be fine, but I’d be wondering what other things they treated the same

  14. THEBUS1NESS

    It was either laid poorly or you have not watered it enough. Both will cause this. You can buy a bag or 2 of dirt and seed and fill the cracks in.

    Usually when I lay sod I do a 1/2 length offset for the seams in order to avoid the grand canyon you’ve got running through your yard.

    Water new sod until water pools on top, in the morning if you have time. Watering it is the most important thing for new sod.

  15. JackeryDaniels

    It’s not ideal, but with some water and a few months to grow in, it should be okay. Might need to add sand or dirt if it doesn’t improve quickly.

  16. SubterraneanAlien

    Shit job, but also shit cut sod. Poorly staggered and poorly fit. Hopefully it was graded better than this looks, because in the end that’s far more important.

  17. Lazy work. You’ll probably have to topdress a little to make it right. But it’ll fill-in eventually.

  18. Nope that’s a garbage install. How often are you watering it

  19. ImpressiveCap6891

    This is fucking awful. Have fun. 😵‍💫

  20. cam152339

    It’s backwards. There is a ~45 degree bevel on the cuts of the short ends of each piece that is supposed to line up with the next piece so that 1 piece goes slightly under, 1 slightly over and the result is a perfectly flat and tight seam on top. Go and turn one piece around and I bet it looks perfect and you can barely see the seam. If you paid someone to do this, you should get your money back. They also didn’t stagger the seams enough between rows. The work to save this is more than re-doing it the right way.

  21. jetpack324

    The sod looks good and healthy but it needs to be pushed together, especially before it starts rooting. That likely means that a few more slabs are needed on the sides. An hour or so of work and a few slabs of sod and you’ll be golden.

  22. Netflixandmeal

    It’s slightly excessive but in a couple of weeks you won’t see them

    Filling the gaps is not necessary

  23. Cold-Acanthaceae8941

    Screw getting fired for that. My clients wouldn’t even pay me for that.

  24. Wetterunderwater

    At least they got the ” Green Side Up “ 👍. Poorly done

  25. TAD1989PSC1982

    No it’s not. Former landscape contractor here. It looks like a shoddy job to me. That’s a big back yard for you have to go to every seam and fill it up with topsoil or sand. You shouldn’t have to do that. The sod pieces should fit together tightly with no visible gaps. It’s a risk for you and your spouse to sprain your ankles while mowing, for children to sprain their ankles while playing, etc. I’d tell him in no uncertain terms that you’re not going to accept this inferior work and you want it repaired. It’s not a huge job to fix – laborers just kick the sod pieces together so there are no gaps and throw in a few more pieces where needed. I’d insist on it.

  26. No, that is poorly installed, after a day or two those will be massive as sod shrinks. You tuck the ends together to minimize this effect.

  27. Pale_Sympathy_2255

    This is half assed work. The pieces are supposed to button up next to each other. Lazy

  28. dktaylor987

    I just sodded 1k sq ft, not much, but all my joints were pinched together, staggered with full pcs on the outside. That’s very lazy work.

  29. MaybeNotTooDay

    Isn’t sod suppose to be laid down in a pattern like bricks? I’ve never seen the spacing (from the row above and below) so close.

  30. if you paid for this and it was a landscaper. I’d say it’s unacceptable. but if they’re just the ppl that build the home then well..

  31. There’s the problem…builder. Builders aren’t landscapers, they don’t know the proper way to lay sod, they know how to build the house. It is supposed to be staggered, they just threw it down walked away and didn’t give 2 shits.

  32. curai-exo

    If I had to guess your landscaper was cutting corners and tried to save a little square footage of sod so he can pocket the money. Boy he’s guna be upset that he has to come back and do it over again.

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