Cen-Tex Blend
The value-engineered pick when square footage is big and the budget is doing the talking. Same cooling blade technology and drainage backing as our premium grades, with a lighter face weight.
Cen-Tex Blend is our entry-grade landscape turf at $9 to $11 per square foot installed, with a 45 oz face weight, a 1 3/8 in pile and a 5-year warranty. It is the right pick where square footage is large and traffic is light. It is the wrong pick for a dog run.
Installed across the Austin metro. Most often specified for deep front lawns and curb-appeal areas where the budget has to cover a lot of ground. Compare against Hill Country Blend and Texas Supreme.
The Volume Product in Our Lineup
Cen-Tex Blend comes from a contractor-line grade built for jobs where a realistic look has to work at a lower price per foot. It carries the same yarn technology and polyurethane backing as Hill Country Blend and Texas Supreme, with less material in the face. That is the trade the price reflects.
This is the product to spec on front yards, side yards, parkways, and large square footages where the alternative is a client doing nothing at all.
Inspect the Sample
Four supplier reference shots of Cen-Tex Blend. Same reel we cut from on install day.
Cen-Tex Blend Specs
| Pile height | 1 3/8 in |
|---|---|
| Face weight | 45 oz / sq yd |
| Total weight | 72 oz / sq yd |
| Blade shape | Mini Wave |
| Yarn color | Field green / olive green |
| Thatch color | Brown / green |
| Face composition | Polyethylene (PE) monofilament |
| Thatch material | Texturized polypropylene (PP) |
| Primary backing | 27 oz, two-layer polyurethane |
| Stitch gauge | 3/8 in |
| Drain rate | 30+ inches per hour |
| Roll width | 15 ft |
| Warranty | 5 years |
What the Blade Technology Does
Mini Wave Blade
The blade is tri-folded, which gives each fiber more structural support and helps it stand back up after footfall. The manufacturer scores this blade at 93% softness, 95% durability, 95% rigidity on their internal comparison. Rounder blades feel silkier underfoot. This one recovers better.
Cooler Surface Through Blade Geometry
The folded shape deflects light and moves air through the canopy so heat dissipates instead of radiating. The manufacturer’s third-party testing reports temperatures roughly 15 degrees cooler than average turf under controlled conditions. Frame that as a manufacturer claim, not a promise for any specific July afternoon.
UV Stabilized, Non-Flammable, Chemical Resistant
The yarn resists fading in Central Texas sun, does not support flame, and stands up to routine cleaners and pool chemistry. Not a claim of chemical-proof; a claim of chemical-tolerant.
Drainage
30+ inches of water per hour through a punch-hole backing. Central Texas has never produced rainfall at that rate, including flash floods. Drainage problems on artificial turf jobs are almost always base preparation, not the turf itself.
Backing Above the Industry Quality Threshold
Industry buying guides mark 26 oz as the cutoff for quality polyurethane backing. Cen-Tex Blend uses a 27 oz two-layer backing, same as the higher grades in our lineup.
Honest Application Guide
The specs tell you where this product wins and where it does not. We would rather steer you to the right blend than sell you the wrong one.
Good Fits
- Large square footages where budget drives the decision
- Front yards and curb-appeal areas with light foot traffic
- Side yards, parkways, and strips between hardscape
- Rental properties and flips
- Commercial ground cover in areas that do not see daily traffic
- Anywhere the alternative is a client doing nothing at all
Not the Right Blend For
- Dog runs and pet zones. A 45 oz face at 1 3/8 in will mat under daily traffic, and matting is not covered by the warranty. Choose Hill Country Blend.
- Kids’ play areas. The pile is not built for daily tumbling. Choose Texas Supreme.
- A household’s primary backyard entertaining space if traffic is heavy
- Any job where the client’s first word about turf is “premium”
The Five-Year Coverage, in Plain Terms
What is covered
Substantial change to the turf area or pile height loss of 50% or more, within the warranty term, caused by ultraviolet degradation. Replacement material only.
What is not covered
Labor to remove and reinstall the failed turf. Matting, regardless of cause. Pile crushing. Damage from improper cleaning, chemical spills, reflected light from window glare, or invasive growth like nutgrass. Slight color change over the life of the product, which is expected. Any install not performed by a professional installer.
How to claim
Claims must be submitted in writing to the manufacturer. Delivery defects and shortages have to be reported within 30 days of delivery. The warranty is not automatically transferable on a home sale.
Why this is a five-year and not a fifteen-year
Cen-Tex Blend comes from the manufacturer’s value-engineered contractor line. The two heavier grades in our lineup carry 15-year warranties because their face weight and construction earn it. If a longer warranty is a priority, Hill Country Blend is the right step up.
Compare Blends
Hill Country Blend
Mid-tier with a full 15-year warranty and a 55 oz face weight. The default recommendation for a typical Austin backyard, and endorsed by an Austin-market installer as the best pick for hot climates.
$11 to $13 per sq ft →Texas Supreme
Premium with 5 mm of integrated padding, a 90 oz face weight, and a softer C-shape blade. Best pick for barefoot spaces, high-traffic backyards, and families with young kids.
$14 to $15 per sq ft →What People Ask About Cen-Tex Blend
What is Cen-Tex Blend best for?
Large front yards, curb-appeal areas and low-traffic zones. At 45 oz it carries less material in the face than our heavier grades, which is exactly the trade that brings the price down.
Why is it not recommended for dog runs?
A 45 oz face at 1 3/8 in pile mats down under daily dog traffic, and matting is normal wear rather than a warranty item. For a dog area we steer to Hill Country Blend at 55 oz or heavier. See pet turf.
What warranty does it carry?
Five years, covering ultraviolet degradation causing 50 percent or more pile-height loss within the term, replacement material only. Our two heavier grades carry 15 years because their construction earns it.
Does it use the same backing as the premium grades?
Yes. All three blends use the same 27 oz two-layer polyurethane backing draining at 30 or more inches per hour. The difference between grades is in the face, not the drainage.
How much does it cost installed?
$9 to $11 per square foot, turnkey, covering demolition, base, turf, infill, edging and labor. Full cost breakdown by area size is in the cost guide.
Get a Fixed Quote for Cen-Tex Blend
Walk-through takes 15 to 20 minutes on-site. Written estimate in your inbox within 48 hours. If a different blend fits your yard better, we will tell you before the quote goes out.