I am trying to get my head around whether I want to install a sprinkler system myself or pay someone to do it. Can anyone give any insight to what the materials would cost vs paying someone to install for about a 1/2-3/4 acre lot with about 5 flower beds? Thanks.

Wow, you are talking almost 5 figures probably for that size. Personally, I don't think it's worth it. I'd recommend it if building since you could work it into your mortgage. But a new install is very complicated not to mention the fact that your yard will get torn up with the install.

I dont know about your lawn, but your flowerbeds could be set up with a drip irrigation system and you would waste less water and do it yourself easily. Also, it is definitely the cheaper of the irrigation systems. I was pricing a simple set up for my house and was looking to spend under $200.

Link Here. This stuff is sold at the Home Depot and it consists of a 1/2 hose you can bury and the smaller mircotubes or spigots that start as low as $1.00 each.

[This message has been edited by jetescamilla (edited 4/13/2010 5:20p).]

How long do you plan on living in your home?

If 1-5 years, you might consider getting it installed as it will make selling your home easier.

If you plan on staying in your home 5-10 years, I'd pass.

If you never plan on leaving, it might be worth it since it would make your life a little easier.

Take a minimum of three bids. Pay close attention to their license number. Smaller number means been in business longer.
Ask them to provide a drawn plan and to "stage" the system. Master valve, zone valves for grass, zone valves for flower beds. Any boring that needs to be done. What type of heads, valves, and controller they will be using.

Give me a heads up on what size water meter you have or are you using a well.

Once you have this info get back here and we will work it out. Price a square foot on a project like this will not work to your advantage. Have the contactor give you the lump sum.

Big project, you will quickly find out who is busy and who is starving.

My best,
Stump

If you're in Brazos County, I'd be happy to come out and give you an estimate. Give me a call or email if you're interested. Grassmastersbcs at aol.com. 979-219-5010

Thanks for the responses guys. The deal is I have a little over an acre lot, but am mainly interested in putting a sprinkler system in the front yard, so things may be closer to 1/2 acre. I'll try to get some bids and come back for more advice. I just wanted to know ballpark am I looking at $5,000 bucks or something like $15,000 bucks? I certainly won't go through with things if its closer to the latter. Also, I'm in DFW.

$15,000 is way to high, you could get the whole yard irrigated for less than $5,000.

I'm on a 9000 sq ft lot
9 zones
cost me $2400

UpNComing...what part of DFW? I have a guy here in Grand Prairie who is pretty good. If you're in this area, I'll shoot you his info.

I'll stand by my original estimate. I hope I'm wrong for your sake, but when my house was built in 2003, irrigation install was $5500 for 1/2 acre and that was without any sod down.

I assumed that for an acre it would be roughly double that. That's where I got my 5 figure estimate from.

Whatever you do, have them install a rain sensor. That little thing paid for itself the first summer I had it.

quote:

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I'm on a 9000 sq ft lot
9 zones
cost me $2400

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OK, then the original owner of my house got ripped then. I didn't build my house, but the invoice is still with the documentation of the system.

If any sprinkler guys are in Houston I would like to get an estimate as well.

[This message has been edited by jswags (edited 4/14/2010 10:17a).]

To be clear,
I could install you an irrigation system for less than a grand on your property. Will it be worth a crap? You will get what you pay for. Trust me and get some bids, ask the questions and get back to us. Different valves, heads, controllers....they all make a differnece in price and quality. I have installed everyone. I left the business for just this reason. I could have done better fixing other peoples screw ups.
My best,
Stump

All true about costs...

Which is why I'd even recommend this guy. We sat around talking while he was doing a repair for me, and he explained how a "top of the line" system a builder is going to charge you to put in will run you ~$8000, but it will run them ~$1500-2000.

Exactly!
I simply could not stand for 200% mark up on my work any more all the while the builder would brow beat me down because someone could do it cheaper......cheaper maybe, better no.

I just want you to be proud of what you purchased and tell people who did it for you. It got real old, real quick. Eternity is a very long time.
My best,
Stump

1. Don't ever take a bid "by the zone". A zone's size is dependent upon available water flow & pressure and the demand of the designed zone. Plenty of shady contractors will size zones small (creating high pressure which causes heads to mist & waste water) to get an extra $350.00 or whatever they are charging.

2. You should demand a head layout from all contractors giving you bids. The contractor is required BY LAW to have an irrigation plan on-site showing head & valve locations, pipe sizes, gallons per minute of each zone, etc.

3. A quick check to see if the guy giving you a bid is competent or not: Ask him what your water pressure is, what size meter you have & how many gallons a minute will your system flow. If he doesn't know the answers to those questions after giving you a bid, he likely isn't an irrigator worth dealing with.

You can also make a drawing of your yard, figure your GPM, pressure, etc and send all the info to Rain Bird and they will design a system for you for free. That way you can price out the pieces individually and see how much it would cost for different "grades" of the same system.

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

Thanks for the responses fellow Ags. I live up in Little Elm, near Frisco, by the way.

MCAggie...interested in talking to your guy in GP...mostly interested in troubleshooting/fixing system we have in our casa we just purchased...we are in North Dallas. Gig' Em
fstanush at yahoo dot com

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