If you've been thinking about installing a lawn sprinkler system at your Newmarket, Aurora or GTA property, the actual process is probably simpler than you think — but the decisions you make at the design stage will follow you for 15+ years. Here's the full timeline, the smart-controller question, and what really separates a great install from one you'll regret in two summers.
The 5 phases of a residential install
This is the standard PJL install flow. End to end it's typically 2-4 weeks from your first call to a fully running system, depending on the season and our calendar.
Free on-site consult
We come out, walk the property with you, ask about your priorities (whole lawn vs front-only, gardens, trees, future landscaping), and measure key dimensions. Usually 45-60 minutes. No commitment, no high-pressure sales.
Custom design + fixed quote
Back at the office, we draw up a zone plan: where each head goes, what type (spray vs rotor vs MP rotator vs drip), where the valve boxes sit, controller location. You get a written design and a fixed price — not "starting at" — within 3-5 business days.
Permits + utility locates
We arrange Ontario One Call to mark all underground utilities (gas, hydro, telecom). If your install requires a new backflow-prevention assembly or municipal cross-connection compliance certification, we coordinate with a certified Ontario backflow tester (separate trade — extra charge, quoted upfront). This part is on us to coordinate; you don't have to chase anything down.
Install — typically 1 day on site
Crew arrives 7:30 a.m. We use a vibratory plow to pull poly tubing through the lawn (minimal surface disruption), install valves and heads, run wire to the controller location, tie into your water supply, and pressure-test every zone. Most 6-zone residential installs are done by 4:30 p.m. same day.
Walk-through + first programming
End of install day: we walk every zone with you, show you the Hydrawise app, set the initial schedule. One week later we follow up to fine-tune now that the lawn has had a few cycles to show us what's working.
The smart controller decision (it's not really a decision)
Every PJL install ships with a Hunter Hydrawise smart controller as standard. We used to offer a basic mechanical timer as a "$200 cheaper" option — we stopped because every customer who chose the basic timer asked us to upgrade it within 2 seasons.
What Hydrawise gives you out of the box: app-based control from anywhere, automatic skip when rain is forecast (Predictive Watering), zone-by-zone runtime history (which becomes invaluable for diagnostics later), email/text alerts when something goes wrong (a stuck-open valve doesn't just run forever — it pings your phone), and remote troubleshooting access for our team if you ever call about something.
The math: water-bill reduction alone typically pays back the controller within 1-2 seasons. Everything else — diagnostics, alerts, app control — is essentially free after that.
"The single biggest regret we hear from customers who got their system installed elsewhere: 'I wish I'd done one more zone in the side yard' or 'I should've added drip in the front beds.' Adding zones later is doable but never as clean as doing it during the original install. Spend the consult time getting it right."
What separates a good install from a bad one
Most failed sprinkler systems in the GTA aren't broken — they were just installed wrong. Things to confirm with any contractor (us or anyone else):
- Hydrozoning. Are turf zones separated from garden zones? Sun zones from shade zones? If everything's lumped together, you're going to over-water something and under-water something else for the system's whole life.
- Right head for the job. Sprays in small areas, rotors in large open areas, MP rotators on clay slopes, drip in beds and around trees. Generic spray-everywhere installs are how you get $4,000 systems that produce a $400 result.
- Backflow prevention sorted out properly. RPZ or DCV depending on your supply — installed by us, tested and tagged by a certified Ontario backflow tester (separate trade we coordinate with). Skipping this fails municipal compliance and creates a serious cross-contamination risk.
- Properly sized valves and main line. Undersized = pressure problems and erratic coverage. We pressure-test the supply at quote stage so we can spec the right components.
- Quality components. Hunter or Rain Bird heads/valves only. Box-store generics fail in 2-3 years.
- Real warranty. Our standard is 3 years on parts and labour. If a contractor offers "1 year on parts only," walk.
Free design consult.
We'll come out, measure, ask the right questions, and have a written quote in your inbox within a week. Free. No commitment. We'd rather lose your business at the consult stage than over-promise and disappoint at install.
Book a consultReal install pricing in the GTA
Pricing follows our locked 3-tier system. Use the pricing guide for the full picture, or the install calculator for instant quotes by zone count.
- Tier 1 — 1-4 zones (instant quote): $585 base + $549 per zone. Standard residential subdivision lots.
- Tier 2 — 5-7 zones (instant quote): $749 base + $549 per zone. The +$140 base covers the PCM-300 controller expansion module required at this size.
- Tier 3 — 8+ zones (custom quote): Site visit and drawings required. Larger residential, estate scale, complex layouts, well-system tie-ins. Quoted in writing within 3-5 business days of the on-site visit.
- Optional frost-free exterior hose bib install: +$175.
All pricing includes Hydrawise smart controller, Hunter or Rain Bird heads, professional design, permits, locates, and 3-year full warranty. Calculator pricing assumes standard residential conditions and typical access — final quote may differ based on soil conditions (heavy clay, shale, mature root systems), property access (hardscape navigation, mature gardens), water-supply distance, and any property-specific complications. Confirmed during the free on-site assessment before any work is scheduled.
FAQ
Do I need a permit?
For trenching on residential property: no. For new backflow-prevention assemblies and municipal cross-connection compliance: yes — and we coordinate the install with a certified Ontario backflow tester (separate certified trade, billed separately so the cost is clear up front).
What about my existing landscaping?
The vibratory plow we use causes minimal disruption — typically a thin slot in the lawn that's barely visible after 2-3 weeks. Around mature trees, gardens or hardscaping we hand-dig with care.
Can you install during the summer or do I have to wait?
The active install season runs April through November, with peak booking in May–July. We don't install during the deep-frost months (December–March) — frozen ground and frost depth make trenching and pressurization impossible. Winter is for consultations, design work, and locking in your spring slot. Summer installs typically run within a week of your booked date.
What's the difference between Hunter and Rain Bird?
Both are professional-grade. We default to Hunter because we're Hydrawise-certified and prefer the smart-controller integration, but we'll spec Rain Bird where it makes sense (specific nozzle availability, customer preference).
The bottom line
A new sprinkler system is a 15-year investment. Spend the time at the consult stage, demand hydrozoning, insist on a smart controller, and choose an installer who'll be around for the warranty period. If that's us, book the free consult. Either way, get it right the first time.