[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

Just wonerding if anyone has some good verbage for not being responsible for water stains on concrete. There are some places here in Wisconsin that have high amounts of iron in the water. Sometimes, especially with curves on patios the water hits the concrete a little. Can't quite figure out how to get the water to curve with the patio. :nono:

 

[Kiril]

Can't quite figure out how to get the water to curve with the patio. :nono:

Increase the number of sprinklers or use Netafim.

 

[Wet_Boots]

What amount of iron content? Well water?

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

Increase the number of sprinklers or use Netafim.

I have one particular customer that has the most unusual shaped patio. Increasing the number of heads won't work and I don't use netafim in lawns, only gardens. There will always be some amount of water getting on sidewalks and patios anyway. Verbage is the way to go around here with the high iron.

 

[Wet_Boots]

Is this drinkable water you are talking about?

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

What amount of iron content? Well water?

I'm not sure of numbers, but it rusts concrete. Yes, well water and I also pump water from lakes and rivers for sprinklers. Anybody remember hearing about the dam that broke in Lake Delton Wisconsin? I live 20 miles from there. Left one helluva canyon where it blew out 300 yards of road. Now she is fixed and private parties donated a few million dollars for fish. Going to be great again someday. Huge Muskies. Just some useless info for anyone who cares, lol.

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

Is this drinkable water you are talking about?

yes, it's good drinking water. A big water bottling company wanted to build here and the locals shot it down. Dummies.

 

[Wet_Boots]

I have one client with well water having enough iron content to make it undrinkable without treatment. The sprinklers run on the untreated water, and the install had to turn handsprings to keep water away from paved areas and the house itself. The homeowner was wise enough to specify drought-tolerant plantings around the pool (no grass, just flowerbeds) so overspray was never an issue there.

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

I have one client with well water having enough iron content to make it undrinkable without treatment. The sprinklers run on the untreated water, and the install had to turn handsprings to keep water away from paved areas and the house itself. The homeowner was wise enough to specify drought-tolerant plantings around the pool (no grass, just flowerbeds) so overspray was never an issue there.

Smart. The Wisconsin River here and Wisconsin in general is high in iron.

 

[Wet_Boots]

Outside of the landscaping, the general idea was to minimize the staining, but to accept it where the alternative wasn't practical. Trees in the lawn have stained bark, wooden fences are stained, and heads near pavement were set back, and had minimal pressure to cut down on misting.

 

[Kiril]

There is always a way to avoid watering hardscape. If the clients can't live with stained concrete, then I suggest you find a way to to get it done. Since I don't believe in clauses that excuse substandard work ... I will let boots handle this since he is the king of inefficient watering.

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

There is always a way to avoid watering hardscape. If the clients can't live with stained concrete, then I suggest you find a way to to get it done. Since I don't believe in clauses that excuse substandard work ... I will let boots handle this since he is the king of inefficient watering.

I wouldn't really classify it as substandard work. That is far from my attention to detail work. I don't care how good you are there is no way you are going to efficiently water next to driveways, sidewalks, and very curvy irregular patios without having some water get on the concrete.

99% of my customers don't have to worry about this. Just have one customer who is a knife designer by trade and has the most unusual shaped patio you have ever seen. Have not had any problems yet. Actually a power washing in spring solves everything. Just looking for some verbage so I am not the guy at the working end of the powerwasher.

I cannot be responsible for the quality of water the customer has. :nono:

 

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Seems like I've seen some ads on dealing with iron in water. Never had the problem so I didn't pay much attention. Look in some back issues of TURF and its competitor.

I don't see why you just can't state the obvious. Due to the high iron content of your water I cannot be held responsible for the inevitable iron staining it causes. If they need a further explanation you seem to have done an excellent job here and if the customer can't buy it I'd walk away from the job.

By the way I read the story on the water bottle company. My understanding is the pumping of the ground water was causing the stream to dry up. I ended up from my far away locale of being against the water bottle plant. Not that my opinion matters much but those things interest me.

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

Seems like I've seen some ads on dealing with iron in water. Never had the problem so I didn't pay much attention. Look in some back issues of TURF and its competitor.

I don't see why you just can't state the obvious. Due to the high iron content of your water I cannot be held responsible for the inevitable iron staining it causes. If they need a further explanation you seem to have done an excellent job here and if the customer can't buy it I'd walk away from the job.

By the way I read the story on the water bottle company. My understanding is the pumping of the ground water was causing the stream to dry up. I ended up from my far away locale of being against the water bottle plant. Not that my opinion matters much but those things interest me.

Exactly, thank you. Your statement right there gave me a couple ideas for some verbabge. This is in no way designed to cover crappy work. It's designed to protect me from circumstances beyond my control that could later on bite me because some people like to get something for nothing. Plus if the people are aware and I am the one to present to them what may be a potential problem in the future, and suggest they consider all facts, that just reinforces the fact that I am honest and not just out to make a quick buck. Honesty is always the best policy.

The water company was an interesting story. There are some areas here that have some of the best aquifers in the world. Really good pure water. The locals were worried the volume of water they were planning on drawing would dramatically affect the water table, which it probably would have. But you get close to the Wisconsin River and all the lakes on it and the iron gets high.

 

[Wet_Boots]

Thing is, I wouldn't want to place all the emphasis on contract wordage. You know there are possible issues with the water's mineral content, so you should discuss that with the homeowner ahead of time. Work as if there will be nothing in writing to cover you in the event of customer unhappiness. If you are doing the landscaping, then you can take a hand in the design, and keep sprinkler spray away from concrete. Look at using slate or flagstone for pathways and patios.

 

[RandalatA1Sprinklers]

Thing is, I wouldn't want to place all the emphasis on contract wordage. You know there are possible issues with the water's mineral content, so you should discuss that with the homeowner ahead of time. Work as if there will be nothing in writing to cover you in the event of customer unhappiness. If you are doing the landscaping, then you can take a hand in the design, and keep sprinkler spray away from concrete. Look at using slate or flagstone for pathways and patios.

Flagstone is real popular here for that exact reason. Have built many flagstone sidewalks.

I do discuss it with the homeowners. The verbage will be added on my policies just to give me added protection against extrinsic evidence in the event some dispute would arrive.

 

[Tom Tom]

Concrete "staining" is all the rage these days.

Sell the partial staining as an add on....:laugh:

 

[Wet_Boots]

One could also design with the idea of adding an injector pump to add a rust preventative. That would mean using RPZ backflow prevention, as nothing lesser would do. If grass is growing right up to the house foundation, then you have to locate the heads far enough away to avoid drifting spray, but close enough for the soil's capillary action to spread enough water to keep all the grass alive. Low-angle heads, and adjustable-arc sprays would be used.

 

[DanaMac]

Concrete "staining" is all the rage these days.

Sell the partial staining as an add on....:laugh:

Does Colorado just breed sarcasm?

 

[hoskm01]

Does Colorado just breed sarcasm?

As long as it doesn't in-breed... anything.