Artificial Grass, Playground Rubber and Epoxy Floors in Imperial County

The Census Bureau's 2024 five year estimates count about 180,000 residents in roughly 49,600 households. Owners occupy 56.8 percent of those households, and the median home was built in 1988.

That is a small, close knit county with a fairly new housing stock compared with Los Angeles or Orange counties. Garages and patios are younger, which means more of our work here is new coatings, shade structures and play areas rather than repair of very old slabs, although heat takes its toll on any concrete.

The three larger communities we list show a narrow spread. The median build year runs from 1982 in El Centro to 1993 in Calexico, and owner occupancy runs from about 50 percent in El Centro to about 52 percent in Brawley. Because the county is small, a single recommendation often applies across all three cities, and we can usually visit several sites in one trip.

NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, using the nearest reporting station, describe a different climate from anywhere else we serve. Average July highs run between about 107 degrees in Calexico and about 108 degrees in Brawley. The number of days at or above 90 degrees is roughly 180 a year in both cities, which is about half the year. Annual rainfall is only about 2.4 to 2.5 inches. All three larger communities are inland.

Heat should drive the plan:

• Playground rubber and play areas. Dark surfaces absorb heat, so shade over equipment and color selection matter as much as thickness. Ask for the manufacturer's surface temperature information.
• Artificial grass. Turf can get hot in direct sun. Shade, infill choices and a plan for rinsing the surface can make a difference to how usable it is in summer.
• Epoxy and concrete floors. Heat affects working time and curing, so we schedule installs for the cooler hours and test slabs before coating.

Low rainfall means drainage is a smaller design problem than in the coastal counties, but sudden desert storms still happen, so we do not skip base preparation.

In most of California the question is which month to install. In Imperial County it is which hours. Summer afternoons are not a good time to work with adhesives, binders or coatings, and they are not a comfortable time for crews or clients. We plan installs for early mornings and, when the project allows, for the cooler months. Tell us your deadline and we will say plainly what the season allows.

A few questions are worth asking about any surface you consider here:

• How hot does the surface get in direct sun, and does the manufacturer publish temperature information?
• Can shade be added over the area, and does the plan include it?
• How will the surface be cleaned, rinsed and inspected after dust events and summer storms?
• If the surface sits on concrete, has the slab been tested for moisture, and how will cracks be handled?
• What happens at edges and transitions where the surface meets pavement that can become very hot?

We also look at what is practical for your budget and your use. A school yard, a church courtyard and a home backyard each need a different answer, and sometimes the right call is shade first and surface second. Because the county is small, one visit can cover several locations in El Centro, Calexico and Brawley, and we follow up with a written scope you can share with a board, a principal or a family member before anything is signed.

The Imperial Valley depends on Colorado River water delivered through the Imperial Irrigation District, according to comments filed by the district and by local farm organizations with the State Water Resources Control Board. The cities of Brawley, Calexico, El Centro and Imperial act as urban water suppliers inside that system. Because local programs are different from the coastal rebate programs, check with your own water provider before you plan any lawn project.

We could not confirm that the Imperial Irrigation District currently offers a turf removal rebate, so do not assume one exists. The Coachella Valley Water District's service area also reaches portions of Imperial County. If your address is served by that district, its lawn conversion rules apply, and those rules have been renewed each July 1.

Artificial grass is often a practical choice in this climate, since a natural lawn needs steady irrigation in extreme heat. If you are comparing options, ask your water provider about any rebate before removing a lawn, and get approval in writing first.

State law applies here too. AB 1572 prohibits potable irrigation of nonfunctional turf from January 1, 2028 for commercial, industrial and institutional properties and January 1, 2029 for HOA common areas.

Homeowners. Backyards, shaded patios, garage floors and driveways are the common requests. We schedule early and plan shade.

Schools and public agencies. Prevailing wage rules apply to public works contracts above a low dollar threshold, with contractor registration and payroll reporting. Send your bid documents and we will tell you what documentation we can provide.

Child care programs. Title 22, section 101238.2 requires licensed child care centers to cushion the area under and around climbing equipment, swings and slides. In this climate we also look closely at shade over play areas.

Churches and property owners. Entrances, parking areas, halls and courtyards are typical projects. We plan work around services and community events.

Associations. A reserve study is required at least every three years under Civil Code section 5550. Civil Code section 4735 limits how far governing documents can go in banning artificial turf.

Artificial grass for yards, play areas, pet runs and common areas, installed over a prepared base.

Poured in place rubber for playgrounds and paths, with thickness set by equipment fall height.

Epoxy and polished concrete for garages, shops and commercial floors, including concrete grinding.

We are licensed, bonded and insured, and Turbo Surfacing has completed projects in all seven Southern California counties and many cities in each. See our cost guides for planning ranges.

The larger communities with their own pages are: El Centro, Calexico, Brawley.

Other communities in the Imperial Valley and the desert are listed at the bottom of the page. If you are unsure whether we serve your address, send us a request.

• Photos of the area, including where the sun hits at different times of day.
• Rough dimensions or total square feet.
• The name of your water provider if you are weighing a lawn conversion.
• Any approval needed from a school board, church council or association.
• Your preferred schedule. In summer we usually start early.
• For playgrounds, the equipment list and tallest platform height.

Use the free estimate form and we respond within 24 hours.