Anyone built their own sprinkler system?

[NameAlreadyInUse]

So I'm thinking of doing this too but I have the bonus of inheriting a crappy yard from the previous owner. How late can I wait to start on this if my plan is to rip all the grass out, lay a sprinkler system and re-sod the whole damned thing?

 

[HilltopHorn]

At the risk of coming off as a 4th grade jerkwad, I actually have Irrigation License, and a business to go with it. Just let me say you get what you pay for. Unfortunately many of the tract houses out there are built by contractors who pay little to nothing for a sprinkler system, just as long as it squirts water when the controller is turned on and ewws and awws the potential homebuyer.

Coverage, percipitation rate, static and dynamic pressure and how it affects the hydraulics of the system and a lot of other stuff that ought to be considered goes out the window, when you get those systems, along with the hope of having an as-built plan to help you locate the valves.

I would suggest that you contact a reputable irrigator and get his input. You might be surprised how much you can save by doing the dirtwork (trenching/backfilling) and let him design and do the more technical work, i.e. wiring the controller, valves, rain sensor, or setting the heads. He should also know the particulars concerning permitting, backflow devices and such, as well as be able to do the actual tie in, and install/test the right backflow preventer. You might have to work around his schedule a bit, but I have done a few this way, and it worked out pretty well.

Just be aware that you want a) head to head coverage where possible; b) want the nozzles on the rotors or the sprayhead to have as closely a matched precip rate as possible, c) at least 16 gauge underground wire is used, not the smaller guage multi-line; d) try to avoid using risers along walkways, porches, or any other area of pedestrian traffic, opting for 12" popups to clear plants; e) get a final as built, will save lots of headaches, time and $$ when you need to work on a valve.

If you do decide to run 120/240 VAC in the same trenches as your irrigation piping, then please do so in the grey plastic conduit... nothing bites more than a live line when you are digging up a valve.

Lastly, if you guys in Houston do decide to get together and try a few on your own, I would be glad to come down for a Sat or Sun and give you some pointers.

Good luck

 

[mars]

Somebody threw out the number 1200. Where can you get a sprinkler system installed for 1200 bucks? Bids I've gotten have been around 3 grand.

 

[ldogg53]

I believe I threw out the $1200 figure... and that is for one side of the house... front and back would then be more like $2200-2400.. perhaps a bit less if you negotiate... issues like tunneling under driveways/sidewalks will affect the price...

I also speak spanish and just go down the street and hustle the guys doing the install on someone else's yard... you get good deals that way..