[Terre]

I do softscape and gardens, and although I do drip and micro for flowerbeds, I stay away from lawn irrigation. However, I have noticed at a lot of homes, upper end especially, the lawn irrigation really stinks.

For example, I have an ongoing relationship with a lawyer, who is totally fine with spending money. We are building flowerbeds, which entails sod removal and we noticed a broken sprinkler head, which I had fixed for him. Long story short, we cycled his stations, and found that multiple sprinkler heads are partially clogged, over 75% of them need raised, and his strip between sidewalk and street is wasting massive amounts of water down the gutter. Another home I work at, also has sunken heads and dying grass. Although this property is only 3 years old, it is built on bentonite, so everything sinks!

I have noticed, within the last month, 5 or 6 properties with these issues. Is this type of service not profitable enough for a sprinkler company? It seems like someone is certainly missing a bet here, but perhaps installs are more profitable?

It isn't my area, but I can have these heads raised, aimed, etc., but do I just charge T&M? Or I wouldn't mind building a working relationship with a couple of sprinkler companies, so would they appreciate me sending the customer to them?

[tom]

You could do the work for T & M if you want. Contacting reputable irrigation companies can be a hassle during their busy seasons, so it never hurts to at least start a relationship with one or more.

The sinking heads seem to be a lack of compacting the soil beneath the heads upon installation.
There are definitely a bunch of hacks out here in the irrigation business.

[Inspired]

Many times the home owner depends upon the maintenance crew to take care of it. They just don't have the time or desire to get into it till it becomes an issue with the neighbors or an HOA or maybe the water police if you have them.

Most of the flaky sprinkler jobs I've noticed were put in by maintenance companies. Just an observation.

Most sprinkler companies charge on a time and materials basis for repair work. We charge 65.00 for a service call and that includes the first 30 minutes we are there. After that the rate is 65.00 per hour. I've heard everything between 25.00 and 85.00 here in Phoenix. Most reputable companies charge over 50.00. I'll bet Denver rates are similar.

[Terre]

Since I posted this originally in June, I tried to contact the sprinkler companies that did the startup, and blow outs. Three different ones, two never returned my calls, and one told me they didn't have time to mess with little stuff.

I put together a 2 man crew, college kids, one with brains and one with a shovel, in their own vehicle. I started charging a flat fee per sprinkler head. Raised, clean, adjust. It's been a nice sideline for me, all with no more equipment than a shovel. Nearly every job I do needs at least a few done, and so do their neighbors, etc.

Plus this gave me a couple of extra guys for when I needed muscles. I'm still not sure why no one else is doing this, my guys made some decent summer money, both for them and for me. While one guy repaired what the first guy dug up, the first one would go door knocking on neighbors, and offer a free evaluation to see where they could save water and eliminate yellow spots in the lawn.

[PSUscaper]

Terre, in my area you need a license to do such work, so maybe that is why you don't get a lot guys doing the same as you. I know every state is different, and if I could legally install a sprinkler system, I would. But not in the state I live in.

[Terre]

Oops. Never thought about that. I know that in this state you don't have to be a licensed plumber, but didn't think about needing a license just for repairs.

Will check on that before I stick my foot in it for next year. Thanks.