Installing Your Countryside Scape

The length of your project will vary due to size and complexity.

As required by state law, will we call for utilities to be marked at least 48 hours before work is to begin. Not only is this the law, it also ensures the safety of your family and our crew.

Whenever possible, Countryside will use plywood on our job sites to disburse the weight of our equipment and ourselves. This will help us avoid tracking the yard if we will be there for a long period of time. On all of our projects we try and do as much by hand as possible. The only equipment we will use on a normal residential installation is hand tools and small machinery. All disturbed soil will be tamped and raked before the job is completed, to return your landscape to your full satisfaction.

All of our employees will be in uniform and will work under the direction of the owner or field manager.

References are available upon request. We will set up any requested site visits and accompany you as well.

Countryside is fully covered to insure any incident that may occur. We are happy to provide copies of our insurance certificates for general liability, worker compensation, and automotive coverage to our clients.

Our terms are job specific and vary. Specific terms for your job will be on the initial estimate and contract. A down payment is required to schedule the job.

Outdoor Lighting

Weather permitting, the average lighting system will take no more than two days. If the lighting is being installed as a part of a large project, it may be installed slowly, with the conduit and wire installed long before you see any fixtures or light.

A low voltage lighting system can be serviced without inside access to your home. The only thing you need to provide is an outdoor GFCI protected plug near the lighting system.

Low voltage lighting systems require planning. The system will be designed so each fixture will have approximately the same voltage. Uniform voltage at each fixture results in equal amounts of light throughout the system.

With outdoor lighting systems, we install underground rated lighting cable, designed specifically for lighting. On our low voltage connections, we use waterproof, underground wire nuts to seal and protect the connection. Without waterproof wire nuts, shorts are more likely to occur, increasing service calls, time, and unnecessary expenses.

We pipe all of the low voltage wire in PVC or polyurethane pipe. This allows you to work in the landscape without cutting the wire repeatedly.

We employ a full time, lighting educated service technician for warranty work, system maintenance, and to serve your needs after the installation.

Irrigation

Weather permitting, an average residential yard will take no more than three days.

Most cities in the area require a permit is pulled to install an irrigation system. Some cities also require a signed and notarized property owner release in order for the contractor to obtain the permit. In those instances, we have a notary on staff for your convenience. For each job, Countryside will obtain all necessary permits, prior to the work beginning.

As long as the water meter is located on the exterior of the house, we will not need inside access. We will install an irrigation connection near the water meter in the lawn, and install the outdoor rated, lockable controller on the exterior of the house. With this application, if you need service but can’t be home, we can service the system without inside access.

We use a sod cutting method to preserve existing turf on all necessary excavation. The only equipment we use on a normal residential installation is hand tools and a vibratory plow. All disturbed soil will be tamped and raked before the job is completed. A vibratory plow is better than a trencher to keep disruption to a minimum. A trencher would significantly increase the disruption to your yard.

On residential irrigation systems, we install underground rated, 18 gauge sprinkler cable designed specifically for irrigation. On our low voltage connections, we use waterproof, underground wire nuts to seal and protect the connection.  Without waterproof wire nuts, shorts are more likely to occur, increasing service calls, time, and unnecessary expenses.

Without proper head spacing, under watering as well as over watering can occur in a system and effect the end result. Proper head spacing, together with adequate quantity, ensures head to head coverage on you lawn. Head to head coverage gives you the most efficient use of your water.

On residential irrigation, a combination of PVC and poly pipe is installed. We install PVC mainline for more efficient flow characteristics, strength of pipe, and longevity. We use poly pipe on lateral zones (pipe within a zone) for flexibility and economy.

As indicated on our estimate, Countryside will install a Double Check backflow preventer, as required by city and state for your protection. We will test the device at installation, and provide annual testing, as required by most cities. Countryside currently has three certified testers on staff.