Patio, Sprinkler system for a new home
Hi,
We have recently purchased a presale home in Seattle area with a reasonably sized backyard(80ftx50ft). We have big plans for landscaping but right now we need to make a couple of decisions -
1. The new home will come with a small 8x8 concrete patio, which we will replace with a bigger and better one once our design is done in several months. We are wondering if we should let the builder lay the small patio at all, if it cost a lot to remove. or removal could damage the concrete foundation.
2. Sprinkler system, the builder offers good price on sprinkler system, but obviously if we ask for it it will be built for the rectangle lawn, which we plan to redesign. Is there an reason we should let them install the system for us anyway? I am worried if we don't, then we need to spend much more on plumbing after the patio and driveway are finished.
Thanks!
- RIS
Print this page
Email this MessageNavigation
Recent Discussions
Orchids 6 replies
Welcome to my garden 4 replies
What is this plant? 3 replies
Unsure of this plant 1 reply
Backyard from Scratch 1 reply
String algae 78 replies
groundcover between stones 33 replies
above ground pool update and landscaping 44 replies
Electronic insect killers 3 replies
Lettuce and shade 2 replies
Anaheim peppers won't grow 1 reply
Route the water pipe work (post #16391, reply #1 of 4)
Route the water pipe work first . Run it in a material that will be insulated against the frosts, or run it so that you could drain-it-down ( Have a flexible 'tail' so you could blow any standing water out. ) Economicaly, try to have a largest bore you can, to minimise the mains pressure-drop.
Make sure that it can drain-away, if there's a leak or blockage.
Below that, in the same 'trench' or run' - have your insulated & earthed Electric Cable.
Make plans of this & keep them for future reference.
When you've done all that, then you can think about what you want (over the top) & where you want it. Otherwise you'll be spoiling all your fancy tiling/flagging.
Re:- above. The Electric (post #16391, reply #2 of 4)
Re:- above. The Electric Cable goes ABOVE the water pipework, Doh!
Patios are poured separately (post #16391, reply #3 of 4)
Patios are poured separately from the foundation, so removal won't be an issue there. If "several months" could turn into a year or more, I'd let them pour it; removal isn't a great expense. That said, it would be a horrible waste of material. Like me, you live in the wet part of the PNW, so if you're going to have to endure mud for very long I'd go ahead and have it poured.
DON'T let your general install the irrigation system. Hire a landscape contractor to do that work when you're ready with your design. DO have your general install a "sleeve" or "chase" under the driveway before it's finished. A 3" pipe is usually sufficient; if the driveway is long have them install 2 sleeves. Important: if you aren't going to be there to see the sleeves installed have them marked or flagged in some way so they don't disappear after grading is completed. This will enable you to put the irrigation pipe in after the driveway is poured, and it provides a means of pulling the pipe out if it breaks without tearing up the driveway. If you do decide to go ahead with the patio it probably won't be largwe enough to need sleeving; the irrigation system can run around it. You mention that your general offers a "good price"; when you get bids from landscapers, don't take the low bid (or the high one).
Good luck!
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
Good call with the reminder (post #16391, reply #4 of 4)
Good call with the reminder on the driveway sleeve. I had a PVC pipe laid under my driveway, sidewalks and a few other spots where I thought it might come in handy in the future...putting out a few dollars then has saved me a ton of work and frustration...and if you end up not using one, it's really no loss. But as you said, map it out...a sleeve that can't be found, can't be used.