Why Install an Inground Sprinkler System?

As an irrigation contractor, Rainforest Inground Sprinkler staff does a fair amount of driving around and seeing different homes in different neighborhoods. We have seen enough degrees of landscaping – from the very lush and ornate to the parched, cracked dirt with weeds – to know what’s attractive and what’s not.

Yes, we know the value that landscaping can add to a home…but do you? And can you justify a system based on the benefits that you receive from beautifying your property?  From a visual standpoint, it’s easy to see how landscaping can benefit a home. Simply put, it looks more attractive. A home with green grass is more eye catching than the exact same home with bad grass or no grass. Add in some well-manicured trees and shrubs and some colorful flowers and you increase the curb appeal of your home even more. 

Increase Home Resale Value by 15%
According to PBS-TV personality Bob Thomsen, former host of the award-winning Victory Garden show, quality landscaping on a home can increase the resale value of that property as much as 15 percent! Of course, not every homeowner is planning to move soon (maybe not at all), but homeowners are still concerned with their home’s current market value.

Thomsen noted that the economic value of landscaping is so great it has prompted numerous studies and tests. And the resulting data has consistently shown that landscaping provides a home with a recovery rate (the percentage return on an investment when it is applied to a home’s resale value) of 100 to 200 percent.

No other home improvement project offers that high a rate of recovery.

And, according to Thomsen, when you consider how interior remodeling can disrupt a home for weeks or months, you can put your mind at ease when you know that landscaping is a less intrusive project. The work takes less time to complete, plus there’s a better return on your investment.

Green Today. Green Tomorrow?
Of course, any contractor can install mature sod and plants, then walk away from the property with a picture perfect landscape. But, how will those grounds look in a month? Or a year?

You invest hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars in a beautiful landscape. An irrigation system will be the insurance plan to make sure that your investment thrives.

Remember that real estate appraisers judge a home’s landscape on its appearance, condition and maintenance. They also compare your home to other homes in your neighborhood and look at the functional use of the landscape items incorporated into the plan, including the irrigation system.

A professionally installed and maintained system can be an asset to your property, while a poorly designed and installed system can actually be a liability. Something for you to think about when you want to cut a corner today that might come back and haunt you in the future.

Why Choose Rainforest Inground Sprinklers as your Irrigation Contractor?

It's a Very Important Decision
The success of your irrigation system depends largely on the contractor you choose to install it. Rainforest Inground Sprinklers expertise and specialized skills are crucial in determining your system's efficiency and long-term reliability. In fact, how your irrigation system is designed and installed will make the difference between a system that is reliable and keeps your lawn green and healthy, and one that is troublesome, wastes water and leaves your lawn looking brown and unhealthy. It's a big decision, but choosing the right contractor isn't as difficult as it may seem. Here are a few tips that will help you select a contractor who will guarantee a job well done.

What to Expect
As an efficient, well-organized contractor, Rainforest will be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice. First, we will want to view your property in order to determine soil conditions, water sources and pressure, planting materials, etc. We then will present a formal estimate detailing what we plan to do and the total price for materials and installation. Along with the estimate, we will clearly explain all the specifics to you. There generally should be little disruption to existing foliage, and the average job should take less than a week.

Questions to Ask When Selecting a Contractor

The best contractors will encourage you to ask a lot of questions. By asking questions, you will know exactly what you will be getting for your money and what to expect from your new sprinkler system. Here are a few important questions to get you started.

What type of product will be used and why? He should tell you what type of controller, valves and rotors or spray heads are best for your landscape.

• Is after-sale service provided? A professional contractor should be willing and able to provide after-sale service.

• Is there a warranty on the system? His work should be guaranteed; a one-year warranty is typical. Also, be sure to ask him for names and telephone numbers of recent satisfied customers, so you can call and check his references!

You Get What You Pay For
When choosing a contractor, you should be wary of those who offer to charge you significantly less than other contractors. Low bidders may not be licensed or insured and often use cost-cutting techniques that can jeopardize your lawn and shorten the life of your system.

Watch out for these commonly used tricks of the trade:

Not including a backflow preventer, which is required by local codes to protect your drinking water supply.

• Installing sprinklers too far apart, which makes it impossible for certain areas to receive enough water and causes brown spots during the hot summer months.

• Mixing sprinklers with different application rates on the same line, which causes one area to be overwatered in order to sufficiently water another.

• Not using special watertight connectors and a protective valve box to safeguard the electrical elements, guard against short circuits and prevent corrosion.

Above All
A sprinkler system is a complex network of pipes, valves, electrical connections and sprinkler heads. Because it serves as the circulation system for your yard, the design and installation of your sprinkler system are critical to its success. It's a complicated process requiring a host of equipment, as well as a background in landscape design and hydraulics. This is why it's so important to have a professional contractor design your system.