Building new home, comes with centipede

[jacob.lundeen]

So we are building a new home, and the builder automatically puts down Centipede sod (not negotiable). The only grass I've ever had is Bermuda, and I want to continue to use that. Any suggestions on how best to switch my yard over to Bermuda?

[mitten]

Everything is negotiable in life. Okay I realize that isn't helpful but if you tell him to just grade the yard and you will provide the sod (realizing you will be paying him for Centipede you won't be using)... why would he argue with you?

[jacob.lundeen]

I believe he is contractually obligated by the HOA.

[micvog]

I would suggest talking to the builder, and HOA if necessary, as Mitten suggested to understand the real requirement. Perhaps Centipede is required but my experience indicates it may not be.

We built a home 3 years ago and were told that using the builder's vendor to seed Northern Mix was "required". After talking to the right person with the builder (the 3rd or 4th person) we found out that the city was requiring either seed or sod to issue an occupancy permit and the builder's vendor was just using the cheapest NoMix they could find. I slipped the foreman a six pack and my own KBG seed and... voila... I have a KBG lawn.

A caution though... I also asked that they seed at 2#/K but they ended up seeding at 7.5#/K. Sometimes asking a vendor to do something outside the norm doesn't work well.