All Forum Posts by: Lewis Vine

 $2400 for four heads?  That's a bit much.  You should be able to find a reputable company for less.  

If you end up going low maintenance with drip irrigation, there are tons of options for making it less "deserty" as well: lantanas, salvias, ceanothus, rosemary all should do well. Just have a little island in your sea or rock. A bunch of three or four larges bushes or cacti with some small stuff on the border.

You'd be surprised how quickly the stuff grows too. Buy small and don't overplant.

@Alfredo Aguirre I ran a landscaping franchise in San Diego for a few years before moving. We mostly did installs focusing on artificial turf and xeriscapes.

I would not do artificial turf. Cheap companies install crap and good companies are expensive. You could end up spending $20 a square foot or more. I would not go with anyone charging less than $10.

Plus turf gets hot and not everyone likes it. Clear 3" around the edges of the lawn, mound to crate some contours with the excess, throw down some heavy landscape fabric, and bring in some nice desert looking rock. Plant some cacti or over low water plants, install some drip irrigation, and move on.

Or install irrigation and get some sod in.

Each of those two options should cost roughly the same. IIRC, we typically did both for around $5-8 a foot. But three contractors will have three different prices.

Do not do artificial turf.

@Frank Agyeman-Duah I used to work in HVAC. Mini splits are notorious for leaking at the joints if not properly installed. Now it should cost an arm and a leg, but I wouldn't necessarily go for Joe blow, "I'll do it for $200" either, or you'll be getting a call in about four months because all the refrigerant has run out your lines.

Is it one outdoor unit and 2-3 heads? I'd expect to pay $1000 - $1500 to get them installed.

He'll need to set the heads, run the lines, hook up the lines, ensure a vacuum, pressure test, and release refrigerant, perhaps even adding some.

The contractor knows he's not making a ton of money, and even though his margins aren't there because you're supplying the units, he needs to factor in you calling him and expecting warranty service if something runs afoul.