What to know before you start
A sprinkler system hides its problems underground. A cracked pipe, a sunken head or a zone that waters the fence can run all summer before anyone connects it to the water bill or the brown patch by the driveway.
DougCO Builds maps the system before anyone bids. Our estimator walks the yard, runs the zones when the water is on, and notes the heads, valves, controller and backflow device. The work goes into a line-by-line True Bid, and each irrigation contractor prices that same list, so a repair quote and a replacement quote can sit side by side.
What the job includes
- A zone-by-zone check of heads, valves and coverage on existing systems
- Trenching or pulling new main and lateral lines
- Spray heads, rotors and drip lines matched to lawn, beds and trees
- A backflow preventer where your water provider requires one
- A smart or weather-based controller with rain and freeze sensors
- Valve boxes set to grade and wires labeled by zone
- Repairs to broken pipe, leaking valves and tilted or sunken heads
- Spring start-up and fall blowout, if you want them in the scope
What we scope
New systems
Full installs for new-build yards and older homes that still water with a hose.
Repairs and tune-ups
Leaks, broken heads, stuck valves, dead controllers and zones that no longer reach.
Drip conversions
Turning spray zones over beds and shrubs into drip lines that put water at the roots.
Seasonal service
Spring start-up, midseason checks and fall blowouts that protect pipes from freezing.
Backflow and controllers
Installing, replacing or testing backflow devices and upgrading to smarter controllers.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Number of zones
- More zones mean more valves, more wire and more pipe.
- Lot layout
- Slopes, narrow side yards and lots of separate beds take more planning and more heads.
- Digging conditions
- Hard clay, rock and established plantings slow trenching and pipe pulling.
- Repair or replace
- An older system with many failing parts can cost more to patch than to rebuild in sections.
- Controller and sensors
- Smart controllers and weather sensors cost more up front and can help cut water waste.
- Backflow work
- A new or replacement backflow device adds plumbing labor, and some providers require testing.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Most sprinkler rules come from your water provider. Many providers require a backflow preventer on irrigation systems so yard water can't flow back into the drinking supply, and some require the device to be tested periodically by a certified tester. Tying a new system into the house line may also need a plumbing permit from your town or city, or from Douglas County in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch. We note what applies to your address in the scope.
Watering days and restrictions are set by your water provider too, and they can tighten in a dry year. A good design works within those rules. If the irrigation change is part of a new landscape plan, your HOA may want to see it.
Built for Douglas County
Douglas County weather is hard on sprinkler systems. Water left in the lines can freeze and crack pipe, valves and the backflow device, so most systems get blown out with compressed air in fall. Late spring and early fall freezes make the timing tricky. Start up too early and a cold snap can split a pipe. Shut down too late and you take the same risk.
Soil shapes the design. Clay takes water slowly, so long run times send water into the gutter. Shorter cycles with time to soak in between, heads spaced so their spray overlaps, and drip on beds and trees put more water in the ground. Wind and strong sun make early morning the best time to water.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Does the price include a backflow preventer, and who tests it if my provider requires testing?
- How many zones will there be, and which ones are drip?
- Are the heads spaced so each one reaches the next?
- Which controller are you installing, and will you set it to my provider's watering rules?
- Is the first blowout and start-up included, and what is your warranty on parts and labor?
Sprinklers and Irrigation questions
When should I blow out my sprinklers?
In fall, before the first hard freeze. That freeze can come early in Douglas County, so many homeowners schedule a blowout as soon as watering season winds down. Book early, because irrigation crews fill up fast.
Do I need a backflow preventer?
Most likely. Many water providers require one on irrigation systems, and some require periodic testing. Ask your provider what applies at your address. If your system doesn't have one, it belongs in the scope.
Is drip irrigation worth it?
For shrubs, perennials, trees and vegetable beds, usually. Drip puts water at the roots with less lost to wind and runoff. Lawns still need sprays or rotors.
Who sets my watering days?
Your water provider. Schedules and restrictions vary across Douglas County and can change during drought. A smart controller can be set to follow them.
