Turf removal in the Humble and Lake Houston corridor comes in a few flavors, and the reason for removal usually determines what we find when we get there. Harvey-damaged installations in Atascocita Forest and Forest Cove are one category — turf systems that survived the flood but were never properly assessed post-flood, and that have been developing base problems silently ever since. End-of-life product is another — older installations that have reached the point where surface performance cannot be restored with maintenance, and where replacement is the more cost-effective path. And failed installations from inadequate original workmanship are a third — turf that was placed on an unprepped subgrade, without proper drainage, and that has been creating problems since installation.
I have seen all three categories, and the honest assessment is that the root cause of failed turf in almost every case comes back to the subgrade and drainage. A turf system placed on a properly prepared, correctly drained base in the Lake Houston watershed will perform well for ten to fifteen years. A turf system placed on an unprepped subgrade with no drainage plan will develop visible problems within two to three years regardless of the quality of the turf product itself.
When we remove turf, we assess the reason for removal and document what we find at the subgrade level. That documentation informs the replacement specification — or, if the homeowner is not ready for immediate replacement, gives them an honest picture of what the subgrade condition actually is so they can make a realistic plan. We have done enough removal projects in Harvey-affected sections of Humble and Atascocita to know that post-flood subgrade conditions are not uniform even within a single neighborhood. Some properties absorbed the flood water and retained their original compaction; others have sediment deposits at depth that will cause any replacement installation to develop the same problems as the one we're removing.
We pair removal projects with replacement planning unless the client specifically wants removal only. In most cases, the same crew that removes the old system can begin the subgrade preparation for the replacement immediately, which reduces total project time and avoids leaving an exposed subgrade unprotected during an interim period.
