Choosing a contractor

An important decision

A smart way to get a professional garden and park, and especially to take a lot of work off your shoulders, is by hiring a contractor to install your garden irrigation. To ensure that this is done according to your wishes, it is important to design the entire system in advance and to install it with the needs of the garden and park in mind.

It is of course important to choose the right contractor. A good contractor will make sure that he chooses the right components that suit your garden and park when he or she starts installing.

What can you expect

An organised, experienced and efficient contractor will be transparent up front before making a decision. 

• In order to determine what type of soil, water source (s), water pressure and plant material apply, the contractor will want to visit the site before starting.
• The contractor should make a formal estimate after a meeting. Make sure that the estimate takes into account the total price of materials and installation and that you are confident that a complete package is offered.
• It is the contractor’s responsibility to provide all specifications of the estimate to be provided.
• The contractor should leave the garden and park tidy and clean when the work is done. It is common for the contractor to go through the system with you and provide the correct manual for this.

Questions to ask

What type of products will be used and why?

All components that the contractor will use should be explained. The contractor should explain why these components are the best for your garden and park.

What is the after-sales service?

After-sales service could mean services like arranging a start-up for spring or getting ready for winter when it comes to garden irrigation. A contractor should be open to providing these services.

Is there a guarantee?

The warranty will differ depending on the components chosen. Each contractor is also likely to offer different guarantees for the type of work they perform. The most common warranty will be one year.

Ask for references from previous customers

To make sure you have chosen the right contractor, it is advised to ask for references from previous customers. Try to make sure you get names and phone numbers and approach customers yourself. This way you can estimate what you can expect from the contractor.

Advice

Be wary of a contractor offering a noticeably lower rate than other contractors. Contractors who do this are often not certified or insured and will therefore offer lower rates to do themselves better than they are. This has major consequences for the garden and park and we therefore advise against it.

Watch out for…

• The omission of a non-return valve when necessary to prevent you from coming into contact with the drinking water system of your municipality.
• Sprinklers that are too close together or too far away from each other. This can result in zones not getting enough or too much water.
• Sprinklers that have different applications but are on the same line. This can cause areas to get too much water.
• Exposed electrical elements. Every part should be protected.

Trust counts

Perhaps most important of all, have a sense of confidence in a contractor. If you feel that things are not going well then look for another contractor. Choose a contractor who uses reliable products, such as Rain Bird products.

Water-efficient, durable and diverse Rain Bird products have been used extensively and frequently by professional contractors for more than seven decades. Rain Bird is able to achieve optimal results through experience and contractors see this too.

Are you looking for professional help with your sprinklers?

Let the experts at Bosta send you a list of top rated contractors to install your new garden irrigation or maintain your current system.

We will help you find the right contractor.