Irrigation System Questions
 

My irrigation system in the front yard is shot, between the last owner and me, it is a mess.

I have two valves, can get proper water coverage, so I called someone out for a price.

Took 10 calls to get one person out.

They will move the valves to the other side of the yard, install four valves underground, put all new timer, sprinklers, pipes etc. The cost is about 2.75K.

Does that seem like a lot? I know I could save money and do it myself, but I want it done right.

Thanks

This is true genius at work...

Sprinkler systems are not hard...it takes time to dig the trenchs though and put it all together.

My house in Alta Loma had 13 valves and 360 sprinkler heads, which I mostly did myslef. When I sold the house 13 years later it was still working perfectly.

I had one put in for about $4.5K. My yard is full of rocks. If it were to break, I woul dig it up myself, now that I know where the lines are.

I put in a sprinkler system in a prior house. Not hard, kind of fun actually, like gluing together a plastic model - but the trench digging wasn't.

At this point (weaker back, fatter wallet) I think ideal is to hire guys to dig the trenches - get the guys who wait for work outside Home Depot, have trenches staked out, sticks to mark exactly how deep you want it. Then assemble the system yourself.

Get a good programmable controller. Do the water pressure calculations. Put in spare circuits. Have electrician hook up the controller, plumber hook up the manifold. Spend the $10 for a PVC pipe cutter, don't waste your time sawing. If you have to put pipe under sidewalk, connect length of PVC pipe to garden hose (glue pipe to screw fitting) and use water pressure to tunnel.

I also have my own sprinkler system. What is this digging of trenches you guys are referring to? F-that man, I rented a ditch with, and let that bad boy do all the work.

I used the RainBird Sprinkler design service. It worked great. Of course when we decided to build the deck, I had to move a couple of zones in the back yard, but what the heck. I also used the flexible poly pipe instead of pvc, just my preference. The pvc works just as well.

http://www.rainbird.com/diy/design/index.htm

Don't be intimidated by this project. You can do it yourself and save lots of $$, that can then, be spent on the Porsche.

Bill

Re: Irrigation System Questions
 

I had six valves, three in front and three in the back, plus one main valve and the electronic controller. The estimate was if I replaced it all would be around $6500.00. I did replace several valves, they were $250.00 each installed, with no changes except a new valve. Wiring and water lines cost a lot under ground. All in the SF Bay area, CA.

I may put in some irrigation here for a English Knot garden to keep the flowers and shrubs looking good, but I'll do it all myself and it will only require two valves and maybe 60 feet of water line to bury.

I knew Mary Lafattera...went to Hong Kong with the same group of people. Ohhh for those of U who don't know she was the Owner and Founder of the Rainbird Corp.

Let's see, 40 hours @ $50.00per (that's what I got paid doing what I used to do), plus the cost of the equipment, plus running the electrical wiring underground, under the house to the back yard from the front yard controller location, plus incidentals. Yeah, I'd save loads of money. About $1000.00 or so off what I was quoted, and that's with a chance of an accident creating lost time from my real job (back then).

Naw, I don't think so.

Now, I own a tractor equipped with a backhoe, and have the time, and my income isn't dependent on being someplace; now I'd do it and will do the simple system I need.