Artificial Grass, Playground Rubber and Epoxy Floors in San Bernardino County

The Census Bureau's 2024 five year estimates count about 2.20 million residents in roughly 675,000 households. Owners occupy 62.1 percent of those households, and the median home was built in 1983.

A 1983 midpoint means plenty of homes and buildings are now in their fourth decade, with slabs and patios that have seen many hot summers. It also means a large share of the county's housing is newer than in Los Angeles or Orange counties, which shows up in the number of community associations managing shared lawns and play lots.

The 19 larger communities we list differ a great deal. The median build year runs from 1969 in Montclair to 1994 in Victorville. Owner occupancy runs from about 38 percent in Loma Linda to about 73 percent in Yucaipa. A university oriented city such as Loma Linda has a different customer mix than a family oriented suburb such as Yucaipa, and we shape proposals accordingly.

NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, using the nearest reporting station, show how far apart the county's two halves are. Average July highs run from about 90 degrees in Montclair to about 104 degrees in Twentynine Palms. Days at or above 90 degrees run from about 71 a year in Montclair to about 154 in Twentynine Palms. Annual rainfall runs from under 5 inches at Twentynine Palms to about 21 inches in Upland, which sits at the foot of the mountains.

All 19 larger communities are inland. That changes the checklist for each service:

• Artificial grass. Valley yards need a base built for storm drainage, because foothill communities such as Upland and Rancho Cucamonga see real rain. High desert yards need attention to heat and wind.
• Poured in place rubber. Intense sun is the main enemy of playground surfaces here, so color choice, shade over equipment and a regular inspection plan matter.
• Epoxy and concrete floors. Heat affects working time and curing, so we schedule installs for the cooler parts of the day and test slabs before coating.

The wide rainfall range also means a drainage plan that works in Upland may be overkill in Barstow. We size the design to the site.

Water service in the county is split among many agencies. Inland Empire Utilities Agency members, including Chino, Chino Hills, Cucamonga Valley Water District, Fontana, Montclair, Monte Vista Water District, Ontario and Upland, partner with the Metropolitan Water District on the SoCalWaterSmart turf replacement program, whose terms say no synthetic turf is allowed. San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District filed a notice in February 2026 for a turf rebate program for commercial and multifamily properties in its service area, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino and Yucaipa. That program converts grass to drought tolerant landscape, so confirm with the district whether artificial turf is allowed before you plan. The Chino Basin Water Conservation District offers free outdoor water evaluations within the Inland Empire Utilities Agency boundaries.

If you plan to remove lawn for a rebate, wait for written approval from your water provider before you begin. If the lawn is a play area or a space plants cannot handle, artificial grass may be the better choice, and it falls outside most rebate rules.

State law adds a clock. AB 1572 prohibits potable irrigation of nonfunctional turf starting January 1, 2028 for commercial, industrial and institutional properties and January 1, 2029 for HOA common areas.

Because the county's climates are so far apart, we usually start by sorting a request into one of two types.

Valley and foothill projects in places like Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Redlands and Chino Hills tend to involve associations, schools, churches and family homes. Rain is real here, especially near the mountains, so we pay attention to base depth, compaction and drainage paths. Many of these properties are covered by community rules, so the association's approval process is part of the schedule. For public work, we ask for the bid documents early.

High desert and desert projects in places like Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Barstow and Twentynine Palms are shaped by heat, wind and low rainfall. Shade and surface temperature matter, and installs are timed for cooler hours. Slabs here can move with big temperature swings, so we check for cracks and decide whether a floor coating or a repair comes first.

In both cases you will get a written scope that lists the area, the surface, the base work and the schedule. If your project spans several sites across the county, such as a congregation with a main campus and a satellite building, tell us and we will plan it as one coordinated job.

Associations. Boards should keep common area surfaces on the reserve schedule. Civil Code section 5550 requires a reserve study at least every three years. Civil Code section 4735 limits how far governing documents can go in banning artificial turf, though reasonable design rules apply.

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

Child care and preschool programs. Title 22, section 101238.2 requires licensed centers to cushion the area under and around climbing equipment, swings and slides.

Churches and property owners. We handle parking areas, entrances, courtyards, halls and play areas, scheduled around services and events.

Homeowners. Backyards, front yards, garage floors, patios and pool decks are the common requests.

Artificial grass for lawns, play areas, pet runs and putting greens, with a drained base.

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

Epoxy and polished concrete for garages, shops and commercial floors, plus 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. Look through our cost guides for planning ranges.

The larger communities with their own pages are: San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, Rialto, Hesperia, Chino, Upland, Chino Hills, Apple Valley, Redlands, Highland, Yucaipa, Colton, Montclair, Twentynine Palms, Loma Linda, Barstow.

Mountain, desert and smaller communities are listed at the bottom of this page. If you are unsure whether we cover your address, send a request.

• Photos of the area, plus any slopes, drains or large trees nearby.
• Rough measurements, or the total square feet.
• The name of your water provider if you are weighing a rebate.
• Your association's approval process, if any.
• Preferred work hours, since heat often pushes us toward early starts.
• For a playground, the list of equipment and its tallest platform height.

Send these with a free estimate request and we respond within 24 hours.