Who doesn’t love coming home to a well-maintained and eye-catching yard? Beautiful landscaping, lush lawns and healthy plants and trees give your house curb appeal. Creating and maintaining a yard takes time and thought, and all landscaping needs regular watering.
Doing this by hand takes time and is not very efficient. Lawn irrigation installation is what you need to maintain your yard and maximize water use. But where do you start? Here are a few tips to help you take the first few steps.
Think About What You Want
The first thing to do when preparing for lawn irrigation installation is think about your landscaping. How do you want your landscaping laid out, where will you need your irrigation system? Are there obstacles that may play a factor in the layout? Are you having a system installed in an established landscape? All these questions will help you figure out the best installation plan for your property.
You will need to know if you have the water pressure to support your watering system. The water meter size and service line size will play a big factor in your watering system. Next you will need to acquire the required permits. All local municipalities in the New Jersey area require a permit, also it is state law that you contact all relevant utilities before digging. You can call NJ ONE CALL at 800-272-1000, and they will mark out any appropriate lines before you start. The costs will vary from town to town. Then you are ready to plan out your system.
In order to get a good idea of how you want your system to be placed you can start by sketching out your boundaries. Plan out your landscaping and this will make it easier to figure out what types of system you need in each area. More than likely you will have more than one watering zone. And there may be zones that require more water than other zones.
Do Your Research
Before lawn irrigation installation you should do a little research. It’s good to know which pipes you’ll need to use as well as what other supplies are required. The wrong components will over stress your system or provide insufficient irrigation.
Find out what type of systems you need for each zone in your landscape by researching the type of plants you have or will be planting. All plants require different amounts of water. If you are planning from scratch, plan on combining plants with similar water needs in one zone.
Once you have come up with a plan, done some research on products and materials, contact a lawn irrigation contractor for estimates and designs. Shop around and find the best contractor for you and your needs. When it comes to lawn irrigation installation you want to find a contractor that is able to provide the best quality work. Check the internet and look for recommendations from neighbors.
Factors to Consider That Change Costs
The cost of lawn irrigation installation varies. The cost depends on many factors. There are also things that can come up during installation that can change costs.
The first factors to consider are the size of your lawn, the size of your house, the amount of landscaping, the amount of zones you need and the grade on your property.
The materials that you use will also vary by brand and quality. For example, the timer you choose to run your system automatically may range in price based on the features.
In order to protect your system from cold elements and damages that occur, your lawn sprinkler contractor will need to winterize your system, which will cost extra.
You should always keep in mind routine maintenance for the future as well. Sprinkler heads and valves will need replacement from time to time in order to keep the system running smoothly.
Finding the Right Irrigation Contractor
Choosing the right lawn irrigation contractor is an important decision to make. A contractor will help you in designing your system. They will also ensure that the right components are being installed for each part of your landscape.
Here are a few questions you should ask when finding a contractor for your lawn irrigation installation:
- Is there a warranty?
- Do you provide after-sale services such as winterizing or spring start ups?
- What products will you be using?
- Do you have customer references?
- Are you licensed?
Don’t always go for the lowest bids. Keep in mind that saying ,”You get what you pay for.” You don’t want to end up paying more in the future on repairs due to poor quality. A good lawn sprinkler contractor will guarantee their work and provide a warranty. Research your contractor, check for customer ratings and comments. Above all, you need to feel comfortable and confident in your hired contractor.