SoCal Artificial Turfs Team
Artificial turf, pavers, and landscaping specialists serving the Inland Empire.
Last updated: 2026-05-09
The Boise Story and Why Homeowners Keep Asking Us About It
A Boise State superfan spent $25,000 installing the school's signature blue turf in his backyard. We have installed colored turf on six San Jacinto and Hemet jobs over the last three years, and the cost-to-look ratio rarely lands the way homeowners expect. Specialty colors run 40 to 60 percent over standard green per square foot.
Last updated: May 2026
The USA Today story hit our inbox three times last week. Same question every time. "Can you do that here?"
Yes. We do it. Not often.
What That $25K Actually Buys
Our crew priced out a similar 600 square foot blue turf install for a homeowner near Diamond Valley Lake last summer. The product cost alone came to $9,200 before any base prep, edging, or labor. By the time we finished the takeoff, the all-in number was $14,800. Boise's number is plausible if his yard is closer to 1,000 square feet or if he ordered the licensed Boise State pattern, which carries a separate brand fee on top of the raw goods.
How Does Specialty Turf Hold Up in 110-Degree Heat?
This is the part nobody talks about in the news stories. Colored turf uses different pigment processes than the green polyethylene we install on most jobs. Some of the bright dyes fade faster under direct San Jacinto sun. We pulled up a red putting green in Hemet two years after install. The fibers had gone pink across the south-facing third of the run. Not the manufacturer's fault. Just the desert.
| Turf type | Installed cost per sq ft | UV fade timeline in IE sun |
|---|---|---|
| Standard green polyethylene | $12 to $15 | 10 to 15 years |
| Specialty color (blue, red, yellow) | $18 to $25 | 5 to 8 years before noticeable fade |
| Licensed sports team pattern | $25 to $35 | Matches standard if solution-dyed yarn |
What We Tell People Who Want a Custom Color Yard
Three things, every time.
- Pick solution-dyed yarn, not surface-dyed. The pigment goes through the fiber instead of sitting on top. It costs more up front and saves the replacement bill in year seven.
- Install north-facing if you can. The west exposure on most San Jacinto lots is brutal between 1pm and 5pm in July.
- Order ten percent extra material. Specialty colors come in single dye lots. If you need a repair section in 2030 and that lot is gone, you will see the seam.
The HOA Question
Most of our service area sits outside HOA jurisdiction, but the planned communities on the west side of San Jacinto and parts of Menifee have rules. We have had two specialty color requests get rejected by Soboba Springs and one go through with conditions in Quail Valley. Always check the CC and Rs before you sign a deposit.
If you saw the Boise story and you are thinking about something similar, give us a call. We will tell you honestly whether the color you want will hold up, what your real install cost looks like for your square footage, and whether your soil and slope add anything to the prep number. We have installed turf throughout San Jacinto and the rest of the Inland Empire for over a decade. If we put turf on your yard, we would love to hear about it on Google with your neighborhood named in the review.