Underground Sprinker DIY? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BigNumbers · 07-02-2013, 09:24 PM

So I am hoping I can tap this great collective brain for some input:

I have a relatively small yard in a new neighborhood (shocking for Calgary, I know! Big house no yard!). However, I have a nicely manicured front yard with a lot of grass, as well as a backyard with several trees, bushes, etc. I spend way too much time watering these, hauling the sprinkler front and back...

I thought about a hose with a timer, but then the hose sits on the grass and kills my lawn, and generally looks hobo-riffic.

So I am thinking about a DIY underground sprinkler / irrigation system. Has anyone installed one themselves? I was hoping for a setup that I could attach to my outdoor faucet with a computerized water timer and multiple spigets, so I can use my flower bed hose while leaving the lawn system intact... I realize this is a hybrid (ghetto?) idea, but hope it's something that exists?

I am sure I can rent a small trenching machine and run the appropriate hose around my yard and install the sprinkler heads, but wonder about tying it in? I can't go under the driveway, so it'd be easiest if I just had one setup for the left side of the house (back yard and front left grass) and one for the front right large grass. They could then both be independent systems with their own control on the outdoor spigot?

Basically I am 'talking' out loud here - How crazy is this? Any options out there?

Rathji · 07-02-2013, 09:43 PM

I used to do this for a living when I ran my own company and it really isn't that hard to do the physical work, but your zones need to be designed correctly. I really never designed the zones, as the vendor did it for free if we purchased parts from him.

They sell automated valves for doing this kind of thing in Home Depot etc, but if you are doing to go through the trouble of renting a ditch witch, and trenching out your lawn, you might as well go the full distance and install a proper irrigation system.

It isn't rocket science, and there is a CP member who has a thread in the Power Ring forum that looks like he could help. I will see if I can find the link. http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=114968

Like you are mentioning, you would likely need to leave your house at 2 boxes and have 2 sets of valves. The valves and your control equipment are likely the largest cost in all this, and if money is a factor, you could likely lay the irrigation line, put in proper heads and then use something like this:

to just run from your lines on each side and allow for you to manually turn each zone off an on. You will likely need 4-6 zones on a normal residential lot.

Then you could just do the other work at a later date if you decided to.

opendoor · 07-02-2013, 11:04 PM

I've never done it for a lawn, but I have set up multi-zone irrigation for gardens and it was extremely easy. I used a 4 zone electronic timer to feed 3 irrigation lines and 1 normal hose line. There are a bunch of ways to handle the actual lines whether it's full pressure pop up sprinklers, low pressure sprinklers, or drip irrigation, and I have a mix of all of those with the appropriate pressure reducers and whatnot installed.

Once it's hooked up you basically set it up for whatever time, duration, and frequency you want (I stagger the 3 zones so each line gets full pressure) and you're done. You can delay the watering if it's going to rain and set it to coincide with any watering restrictions.

There's probably more to it than that, but I've gotten years of use out of mine without any trouble. Just make sure you blow the lines out. I live on the coast so ground freezing is less of an issue, but I imagine it's pretty important in Calgary.

The timer I used is similar to this one:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/p...t=2,2280,33160

This guide also might be helpful:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/html/xc000ie.pdf

Titan · 07-03-2013, 08:16 AM

I did mine with friends years ago and it was probably the single best home improvement I made.

Very straightforward to do but spend some time designing your zones. I wish I had spent more time on that. Keep in mind any hanging baskets or flower beds that you would want to water and I would suggest putting the "flowers" on a different zone so you can water them more often for less time.

Orbit http://www.orbitonline.com/ has an online system designer on its site.

Like Rathji said if you are going 90% of the way, go all the way. The extra cost is made up in time in about a week.

Bill Bumface · 07-03-2013, 08:24 AM

How do you deal with tree roots? I've wanted underground sprinklers forever, I'm just really curious how I get the lines past my 2 massive spruce trees that likely have roots just below the surface for a good chunk of the yard.

Russic · 07-03-2013, 08:50 AM

Can anybody ballpark a cost range if one was to have this done professionally? I'm all for DIY projects, but I'd prefer to not do them for the first time on my own house.

surferguy · 07-03-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Can anybody ballpark a cost range if one was to have this done professionally? I'm all for DIY projects, but I'd prefer to not do them for the first time on my own house.

Start a fly by night company to gain experience on other homes, then do your own.

YYC in LAX · 07-03-2013, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Can anybody ballpark a cost range if one was to have this done professionally? I'm all for DIY projects, but I'd prefer to not do them for the first time on my own house.

Really depends on the size of your yard. My parents live in Edgemont and have a slightly larger than average backyard with two levels and were quoted at $10,000.

I bet a Hillhurt/Kensington area sized yard would be around $3,000.

93Hound · 07-04-2013, 03:02 PM

I used a company called Turfies landscaping and they were fantastic to deal with. Great cost too. I have 3 zones with a rather average size yard.
His name is Chris and his email is turfies@shaw.ca. He has also done landscaping for us in the front yard. He does by far the best work I have seen. I refer him to everyone.

return to the red · 07-05-2013, 12:18 PM

pm'd

If anyone else has questions you can ask them in here, pm me or check in the Irrigation thread in the power ring.

If you would like to know my creds or company I work for you can pm me

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Can anybody ballpark a cost range if one was to have this done professionally? I'm all for DIY projects, but I'd prefer to not do them for the first time on my own house.

Beware the contractor that seems way less then others, chances are you aren't getting appropriate coverage or workmanship.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

Orbit http://www.orbitonline.com/ has an online system designer on its site.

Like Rathji said if you are going 90% of the way, go all the way. The extra cost is made up in time in about a week.

I've seen these orbit online designs and i'm always somewhat cautious of them, their coverage seems to be lacking and they always max out the zone sizes (what happens if your water flow drops as the house ages or new development occurs?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

How do you deal with tree roots? I've wanted underground sprinklers forever, I'm just really curious how I get the lines past my 2 massive spruce trees that likely have roots just below the surface for a good chunk of the yard.

Like tieing a shoe (over under in and out), whichever way to get the lines to where they need to go but be aware that roots seek out water and guess what... I've actually seen tree roots choke off lines and grow around them and into them making the system useless

Rathji · 07-05-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Can anybody ballpark a cost range if one was to have this done professionally? I'm all for DIY projects, but I'd prefer to not do them for the first time on my own house.

When I was doing this, about 6 years ago now, I think we started at $1500 a zone, with a normal sized home using 4-6 zones. I didn't do a lot of the quotes though, so that might be a bit off.

Its not that hard really, and you could likely get someone in to do the inside plumbing, although any idiot with pex crimper can do a mediocre job of it and spray water all over someone's utility room! Holy crap, you only ever make that mistake once.

Clarkey · 07-05-2013, 09:08 PM

What would just the parts cost for a typical set up (diy install)?

return to the red · 07-06-2013, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

What would just the parts cost for a typical set up (diy install)?

pm'd

Table 5 · 06-20-2015, 06:38 AM

Hey guys, I could use a little insight.

We have a new yard and getting some loam/sod put in soon. I realized I should probably put in an irrigation system while it's relatively easy, so now I'm scrambling to figure it all out.

Ive been looking up the guides at Lee Valley, and I think I have it somewhat figured out to be able to do most of it myself. One thing I can't seem to figure out though is which hose size I need to go with. There alway seems to be a 1/2 or 5/8 option. Any recommendations?

Also, is there any place besides LV to get this kind of stuff (i.e. besides Home Depot or Lowes)?

Table 5 · 06-20-2015, 06:57 AM

One other question...for lawns, is it better to use a pop up rotor sprinkler that's placed in the middle of the lawn, or an impact sprinkler thats in a corner? It sounds like impacts are better and more robust, but i guess they don't really hide very well, and it would be nice not to have to have a sprinkler head always out.

calf · 06-20-2015, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

One other question...for lawns, is it better to use a pop up rotor sprinkler that's placed in the middle of the lawn, or an impact sprinkler thats in a corner? It sounds like impacts are better and more robust, but i guess they don't really hide very well, and it would be nice not to have to have a sprinkler head always out.

We bought a house with a sprinkler system where the heads are all in the corner. While I'm sure the coverage would be fine either way, I'm glad it is this way. Any time we get a power rake or aeration they ask to mark where the heads are...it is so much easier telling them to avoid the edges than trying to mark random heads in the middle of the lawn and potentially missing one.

Table 5 · 06-20-2015, 09:25 AM

Cool thanks.

Any idea what the best emitters are for tress and/or bushes?

Bean · 06-20-2015, 10:01 AM

Check out Regency Irrigation up by the airport.

Pete was able to design a fantastic system for me and walked me through the process of a DIY install. Saved a bunch and was able to customize with some odd features too.

I'm all thumbs and was able to do it myself with a little bit of digging. Tell him Larry sent you!

Table 5 · 06-20-2015, 03:59 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, Bean. I actually went down to Regency after you mentioned it and talk to them a little bit and they seem like a nice balance of DYI and pro-help if needed.

Did you hook up your system in to water line, or just into the garden faucets?

Btw, in case anyone runs into this, apparently all the irrigation supplies at Lee Valley are above-ground only. I found this out after spending half a day trying to plan out all the hoses/connectors etc and going down there to buy it all, ha.

Bean · 06-21-2015, 11:27 PM

Waterline will allow for better flow as it should be 3/4" pipe as opposed to a downgrade to 1/2".

An unfinished basement allows for the most flexibility however you can always make adjustments if your setup isn't ideal.

Sent you a PM with more details but depending on what exists in your house could open many options.

Check out the Sprinkler Controller that syncs to online forecasts and your iPhone FTW!