Becoming an irrigation contractor

[completelawncare]

Who is an irrigation contractor?

Are you licensed? Does your state require a license?

I have an opportunity to do some athletic field irrigation systems. I got a bid from another contractor for almost 15k. I have got 2 estimates for material cost of about 5-8k. I am considering getting my irrigation contractor license and doing the work myself.

If I can do a job in a week or so, and gross 7-10k, it sounds like good money to me.

Thought? Comments?

[Sheshovel]

Have you ever done irrigation installations as big as these before? How large are these fields?
Will these entail installing irrigation controllers or will the systems be turned on manually? How many valves will you need?
Do you know what kind of pressure you will have to work with on each site?

Passing the tests, getting your licence won't make things all better if you don't have the water pressure needed to install these systems. I advise you to check that out first Nicky, before you go forward. Of course knowing you, you probably already have chked it all out. LOL

[Sheshovel]

Also what kind of materials was the contractor going to use? What kind of materials is in that estimate of materials you have? What size and brand of valves? What kind of sprinkler heads are you going to use? What tyoe of irrigation controllers? Do you have a line by line detailed list of all the materials with those 2 estimates?

I know I sound a bit paranoid but it's for good reason. Tell me what you have.

[completelawncare]

You are always paranoid.

I have never done any irrigation jobs before. Believe me though, I will do my homework before I attempt anything.

Also, we are very fortunate in Louisiana to have a great extension service at LSU. They have an irrigation specialist who I will get to help me, if I attempt this project. I have done some studying and research on materials, heads, pipes, pumps, etc. so I have a basic idea of things.

I know enough to know that I don't know enough.

I also have friends in the business who are willing to help me get started. Also, the folks who sell the materials are very willing to help me, in order to gain my business.

This first project seems to be a fairly simple project, as far as design goes. And, it is not a really high profile project. I see it as an opportunity to make some good $$$.

And, if I get more of this athletic field work, it is another service I can offer those folks.

And, I will need to hire more help. Do you need a job?

[Sheshovel]

Now that I have more info and I know you have friends in the businees who are willing to help you and an extension service irrigation specialist at your disposal. Then I see no reason whatsoever why you should NOT get your Irrigation contractors license. You are an intelligent man and those tests aren't exactly rocket science.

As long as your sure to take the time to thoroughly prepare yourself by studying the materials they recommend, you should pass it easily. Your are an excellent business man Nicky. You seem to know by instinct if there is good money to be made in a venture or not. Trust those instincts and go for it.

Irrigation installations are not that difficult once you know the basics of measuring out for the lines and measuring the water supply to get your GPM and PSI. If all the systems will be fed by city water supplys, then thats pretty easy because the water flows stay pretty consistent, unlike wells.
And yes, of course all irrigation suppliers are more than happy to recommend the brands of materials that they happen to sell. Some recommend parts like certain valves that are made with cheaply manufactured PVC that use cheap rubber for internal gaskets and valve solenoids that don't function in the long haul or they are defective from the start.

Some suppliers sell only high quality irrigation parts that are much more expensive but usually very dependable and they warranty their materials.
Some sell both.
I can't stress the importance enough of buying the highest quality parts you can buy when it comes to irrigation. For example, in landscape installations you can get plants for cheap, throw them ground if they die, no biggie you just replace it, little screw ups can be fixed easily with low cost.

BUT in the irrigation business, one bad glue job, one adapter cross threaded, one leak you can't seem to locate or a controller that worked just fine then suddenly malfunctions, can cost you a whole lot of hurt and cause you a whole lot of hassle. If you install a watering system it darned well better keep the trees, plants and turf alive. Bcause if it fails perform and expensive things die, guess who the client holds responsible? Just a heads up there. I'm sure you'll do fine.

I have got 2 estimates for material cost of about 5-8k.

I'll ask you again but n a different way. How do you know that the materials will cost 5 to 8kf you don't know what materials you will need? For example, MaxiPaws can cost four times the price of rotary rainbird sprinklers. Irrigation controller prices depend on how many stations/valves you will need them to control. And depend on your budget because the prices from one brand to the next can vary greatly. I am just trying to spark your mind dear man. Have fun!

[Dog]

I say do it.

With the local suppliers and indusrty friends you can't go wrong.

[PineCrestWoods]

Nick,

What did you find out on this?

I've been looking for Nebraska, and I can't find anything official about a "legally required" license here. Could be there, and I just haven't found it. Sure, many contractors have a "license" or a "certification," but many actually seem (to me) to be from what I call "made up" or "phantom" entities. For example, a company or a couple of companies get together and create an "association" and then award themselves special honors and certificates. I can't say 100% that's the deal, but it certainly seems that way.

Just curious if you found out anything, or have proceeded down this path anyway.

[completelawncare]

Jeff,

I have not pursued this license. Nebraska may not have any requirements for irrigation contractors to be licensed. Up until about 3 years ago, Louisiana did not require any license for irrigation work. A few good contractors got together and formed the La. Irrigation Association and lobbied our state legislature to get a law passed to require the license.

The certifications you speak of could be legit certifications from the manufacturers (such as Rainbird or Hunter) or from the distributors (such as Ewing Irrigation, or Lesco, or John Deere Landscapes).

An example would be that our nursery and landscape association issues "Certified Landscape Professional" certifications. This requires classroom education and passing a test. I took the test about 7 years ago, and passed 4 of the 5 categories. The only one I didn't pass was the 'plant identification' category. I did not get the "CLP' certificate.

However, our state also requires a Licensed Horticulturist license to do any fertilization, installs, hedge trimming, etc. It requires passing a test also. I have had this license since I started this business 8 years ago.

My point is that the CLP from our nursery and landscape association is more difficult to get than the state required license. So, not all association certifications are weak and meaningless.

Try to find if there is a irrigation association in Nebraska and contact them for information. If not, contact the state regulatory agency that governs landscape licenses, and see if they have any info. In Louisiana, the state Department of Agriculture regulates our industry.

Hope this helps you.

Here is a link to the Nebraska Irrigation Association, but it doesn't look like they have anything to do with landscape irrigation.
http://www.nebraskastateirrigationas....org/index.htm

[PineCrestWoods]

Wow, man! That was quite a response!

While I appreciate what you said, and will follow up on those avenues, I was more mentioning the various certificaitons as an aside. I do believe that ANY sort of education or training in any field, especially those as important as the application of chemicals and convservation of resources does, on any level, have validity.

I have a "local" company that is in the business for themselves, and offer CIC (and CID, I think) certification. It is not clear to me at this time if it is more or less "their" program, or if they offer a curriculum designed by another entity (association).

I did not mean to imply that all association certifications are meaningless.

I was also simply curious to see if you had started an irrigation side to your business.

[completelawncare]

Jeff,

Nor did I mean to imply that all certifications are legitimate. Just trying to help.

I have not started an irrigation side of my business. But, I have not given up completely on the idea.

[AmEdge]

Somehow I missed this thread back in Feb....Nick, I think you should absolutely pursue the irrigation aspect, I also think having you first job be an athletic field is a little ambitious, so I'm glad you passed on that...but still think you should get into it and start of with some smaller residential systems. New construction is the easiest rather than trying to design for an existing landscape.

Jeff, find an irrigation supply house and ask them about any required certifications for your state. If you need it they'll be able to tell you how/where to go about getting it. If it's not required, it's still not a bad idea to get certified for training purposes. If you decide to do it, then I'd say get it through the (national) Irrigation Association http://www.irrigation.org/ they have a lot of great resources, and being certified in anything is never a bad idea.

[completelawncare]

I know Byl, you are right, I should do it. I have hesitated because it would have to be me to do most of the design and installation, and I haven't had time to take that on.

One day, I will do it..