Irrigation Systems & Sprinkler Installation
Sprinkler and drip irrigation systems designed for Front Range clay soils, water restrictions, and our short, intense watering season.
What this work involves
An irrigation system on the Front Range has to do two contradictory things at once: deliver enough water to keep turf and beds alive through July heat and constant wind, and do it efficiently enough to survive under watering restrictions that most metro water providers now impose every summer. We design zones around both realities, not just around square footage.
We install new sprinkler systems for new landscapes and additions to existing yards, retrofit older systems that were laid out for turf that's since been converted to xeriscape or rock beds, and add dedicated drip zones for planting beds, trees, and vegetable gardens. We also handle backflow prevention device installation and coordinate the annual testing that Colorado water providers require.
Clay soil changes how irrigation should be designed here more than most homeowners expect. Water infiltrates slowly and then runs off if a zone applies it too fast, so we build in cycle-and-soak scheduling and select nozzles matched to your actual soil infiltration rate rather than a generic default.
What is included
- Site evaluation with water pressure and flow rate testing
- Zone design matched to plant type, sun exposure, and clay soil infiltration rate
- Backflow prevention device installation to code
- Trenching, mainline, and lateral pipe installation
- Smart or weather-based controller installation and initial programming
- Head and drip emitter placement with coverage verification
- System walkthrough and controller training
What you get out of it
Zones designed for clay soil, not sandy soil defaults
We select nozzle precipitation rates and program cycle-and-soak run times matched to Front Range clay's slow infiltration, so water soaks in instead of running off into the driveway or street.
Separate drip zones for beds and trees
Turf and planting beds have different watering needs. We run dedicated drip zones on their own valves so beds aren't overwatered just because the lawn needs a longer cycle, and vice versa.
Backflow prevention installed and coordinated
Every irrigation system tied to municipal water requires a backflow prevention device, and most Front Range water providers require annual testing by a certified tester. We install to code and can connect you with a tester for the annual requirement.
Smart controllers for watering restriction compliance
We install WaterSense-labeled, weather-based, or soil-moisture controllers that can be programmed to your water provider's specific odd/even or day-of-week restriction schedule, so you stay compliant without babysitting the timer.
Winterization built into the plan
Every system we install gets a compressor blowout point designed in from the start, so fall winterization is straightforward rather than a scramble to find an access point before the first hard freeze.
How we run the job
- 01
Site evaluation and zone design
We walk the property, check static water pressure and flow rate at the point of connection, and map zones based on plant type, sun exposure, and slope.
- 02
Backflow prevention and point of connection
We size and install the backflow prevention device required by your water provider and tie the system into your water supply at the appropriate point.
- 03
Trenching and pipe installation
Mainline and lateral lines are trenched to the appropriate depth for our frost conditions and laid out to minimize disruption to existing landscaping where possible.
- 04
Valve and controller installation
Zone valves are installed in accessible valve boxes, and the controller is programmed with a starting schedule based on zone type, soil, and current watering restrictions.
- 05
Head and drip emitter placement
Spray heads, rotors, or drip emitters are placed and matched to zone precipitation rate, with head-to-head coverage checked to avoid dry spots.
- 06
System testing and walkthrough
We run every zone, check for leaks and coverage gaps, and walk you through the controller programming and manual override before we leave.
How long it takes
- Design and utility locate
- 3–7 days, including the required 811 utility locate before any trenching begins.
- Installation
- 1–3 days for a typical residential system; longer for large lots or systems with extensive drip zones.
- Backflow testing coordination
- Initial test typically scheduled within a week of installation to satisfy water provider requirements.
- Seasonal service
- Spring startup and fall winterization/blowout each take under an hour once the system is established.
What moves the price
- Lot size and zone count
- More zones mean more valves, wire runs, and controller stations, which is the biggest driver of total system cost.
- Water pressure and point-of-connection work
- Low static pressure or a difficult tap-in point can require a booster pump or additional plumbing work before the system will function properly.
- Existing landscaping
- Trenching through mature landscaping, hardscape, or established turf costs more in labor and repair than installing on a bare lot.
- Drip vs. spray mix
- A yard with extensive planting beds requiring dedicated drip zones costs more per square foot to irrigate than a simple turf-only layout, but uses meaningfully less water.
- Controller and smart features
- Basic timers cost less upfront than weather-based or soil-moisture smart controllers, but the smart controllers typically pay for themselves in water savings and restriction compliance within a couple of seasons.
Specifications that hold up in Colorado
Pipe and fittings
PVC mainline rated for our water pressure and buried below the frost-sensitive zone, with polyethylene lateral lines for flexibility around existing landscaping.
Valves and controllers
Commercial-grade zone valves and a WaterSense-labeled smart controller capable of weather-based adjustment and restriction-schedule programming.
Backflow prevention devices
Pressure vacuum breaker or double-check assembly sized to your system and required by your specific water provider, installed per local plumbing code.
Sprinkler heads and nozzles
Matched-precipitation-rate nozzles for turf zones to avoid dry or soggy patches, and pressure-compensating drip emitters for bed and tree zones.
Drip components
Inline drip tubing or point-source emitters with filtration and pressure regulation appropriate for bed irrigation, run on separate valves from turf spray zones.
Colorado considerations
Nearly every Front Range water provider — Denver Water, Aurora Water, and most South Metro and suburban districts — imposes watering restrictions during peak summer months, typically limiting watering to specific days and hours. We program controllers to match your specific provider's current rules and show you how to update the schedule if the restriction changes mid-season.
Backflow prevention isn't optional. Colorado plumbing code and virtually every municipal water provider require a backflow prevention assembly on any irrigation system connected to potable water, and most require annual testing by a state-certified backflow tester, with results reported to the water provider. We install to the correct device type for your service and can refer you to a certified tester for the annual requirement.
Winterization matters more here than in most states because of our early and hard freezes. A system that isn't properly blown out with compressed air before the first hard freeze can crack pipes, valves, and backflow devices, all of which are far more expensive to replace than the cost of an annual blowout.
Clay soil infiltration is slow, so a single long watering cycle usually runs off before it soaks in. We program cycle-and-soak scheduling, multiple short run times with rest periods between them, which matches how our soil actually absorbs water and cuts runoff and waste.
Xeriscape and water-wise landscaping incentives are increasingly common through Denver Water and other providers, including rebates for converting turf to drought-tolerant beds with drip irrigation. We can design a system that qualifies for those programs where they're available.
Project photos
Irrigation Systems & Sprinkler Installation FAQs
Do I need a backflow prevention device for my sprinkler system?
Yes. Any irrigation system connected to municipal potable water requires a backflow prevention assembly under Colorado plumbing code, and most Front Range water providers require it be tested annually by a certified tester with results reported back to them.
How much does a sprinkler system cost to install?
Cost depends mainly on lot size and zone count, along with whether your point of connection needs extra plumbing work. A straightforward residential lot with turf and a few beds costs less than a larger property with extensive drip zones and a mix of terrain.
Why does my system need separate zones for the lawn and the flower beds?
Turf and planting beds have different water needs and different delivery methods, spray versus drip. Running them on the same zone means one or the other is always getting the wrong amount of water. Separate valves let each zone run its own schedule.
When should I winterize my sprinkler system?
Before the first hard freeze, typically mid-to-late October on the Front Range, though a hard freeze can arrive earlier in some years. We recommend scheduling the blowout as soon as the growing season is winding down rather than waiting for a forecast freeze warning.
Can you retrofit my existing sprinkler system if I've converted turf to xeriscape?
Yes. We regularly convert existing spray zones to drip for beds that used to be lawn, which usually cuts water use in that zone significantly and often qualifies for a water provider rebate.
Will my system still work during watering restrictions?
Yes, we program the controller to your water provider's current restriction schedule, and smart controllers can adjust automatically as schedules or seasons change. You'll still need to manually update the schedule if your provider changes the specific days or hours allowed.
How do you handle clay soil so water doesn't just run off?
We program cycle-and-soak watering, several short run times with rest periods in between instead of one long cycle, which matches how slowly clay soil actually absorbs water and prevents runoff into the street or driveway.
Related services
Landscaping
Paver hardscape, xeriscape planting, and grading work engineered for clay soils and Front Range water rules.
Drainage
Grading corrections, French drains, and surface water solutions built for expansive Front Range clay.
Decks & Patios
Cedar and composite decks, paver patios, and covered structures engineered for Colorado snow load and UV exposure.
Start your irrigation systems & sprinkler installation project
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