Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting was recently recognized for its “Best Sprinkler Systems” by Baltimore magazine.
The Millersville-based irrigation company was one of 410 honorees announced in the magazine’s “Best of Baltimore 2017” issue, released last month. The annual feature culls the best in dining, shopping, arts, health, home improvement, and more throughout the region.
Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting earned the distinction once before, in 2012.
“If you are contemplating a sprinkler system, these are the pros to go with,” the magazine proclaims, touting Chesapeake’s durability, ease of operation, and stellar customer service.
Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting has claimed various accolades over the years, including multiple Super Service Award badges from home improvement review site Angie’s List.
For more on the award, or to see who else made the list, check out the “Best of Baltimore” online. Look for Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting in the Home Shopping section.
About Baltimore magazine
Celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2017, Baltimore magazine is America’s oldest city magazine, providing award-winning features and comprehensive coverage of the people, food, arts, lifestyle, sports, and news in Charm City and the metro area. For more information, visit http://www.baltimoremagazine.com/
2016 Badge Signifies Exemplary Home Improvement, Customer Service
For the second year in a row, Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting, Inc. has claimed a coveted Super Service Award badge from home improvement review site Angie’s List.
The award recognizes a solid year of superior customer service provided to Angie’s List members in 2016.
Businesses cannot pay to be included on the list, which is devised and complied using verified reviews and ratings, which are updated daily on the Angie’s List website. Fewer than 5 percent of companies with verified reviews meet the site’s stringent Super Service Award criteria, which includes an overall “A” rating for a 12-month period. The company must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a criminal background check; and abide by certain operational guidelines, such as holding all applicable licenses for the services the company provides.
Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.
“Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List founder, Angie Hicks.
About Angie’s List
Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than 3 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in more than 720 categories, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of more than 10 million verified reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.
A fierce torrential downpour can transform even the prettiest lawn into an ugly expanse of swamp land. Without a proper drainage system, standing water woes can range from the spawning of mosquitoes and other unwanted pests to encroaching fungus and disease. Most trees, shrubs, and other forms of plant life are unaccustomed to overly-saturated soil, which can cut off oxygen and lead to root rot, killing your greenery and flowers.
What’s more, unchecked erosion can yield tremendous and costly problems, from water seepage into a home’s basement to significant foundation damage.
What are the causes?
Common reasons for drainage issues include lawns with a high water table, or homes built atop dense, clay soil that prohibits the permeation of water. When water cannot penetrate a lawn’s soil, it will naturally follow the force of gravity to the lowest point of the yard, where it can become trapped and pool.
Additional causes include poorly graded lawns that send water toward a home, instead of away from it, and improperly installed downspouts and gutters.
4 Ways to Waterproof Your Lawn
Professionally-installed drainage systems can help you keep your head – and landscape – above water.
Catch basins collect excess rainwater from hardscaped areas, flower beds, and other landscaping features. A collection box with a slotted top and a drainage outlet is installed in-ground, where it empties into a buried drainpipe. The water is then diverted to a surface drainage system. This particular setup requires some moderate, routine maintenance, as the basin must be cleared regularly of leaves and sediment.
Gravel-filled trenches, often called French drains, involve a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel and lined with sturdy fabric or sand. French drains direct water to an appropriate outlet, such as a rain garden or sloped land, where, ideally, it can soak into soil. Additionally, this setup can be connected to a downspout or used in conjunction with a catch basin.
Rain barrels can collect water from downspouts that would otherwise run into your yard, which can then be saved and used for irrigation purposes at a later date.
Gutter repair or replacement may be all that is needed to cut down on water runoff at your home. Homeowners are encouraged to inspect and clean their gutters regularly, checking connections and sealing any loose joints.
Unwanted and unexpected water can wreak havoc on your lawn, landscape design, and home, racking up costly repairs in the process. Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting’s team of specialists can help you ward off water dangers with professionally-installed yard drainage systems. Call us at 410-987-2969 or request a quote today.
Time for a multiple choice pop quiz: Complete this quote:
“This spring, I would like to spend my free time:
A) Dragging the garden hose from the shed, struggling to straighten the kinks, and guesstimating the most efficient times to water my lawn.
B) Relaxing in a lawn chair with my favorite beverage, a good book, and green grass stretching in front of me as far as the eye can see.
Experiencing a bit of exam anxiety? No worries. Simply review the following four benefits of having an automatic irrigation system before selecting your final answer.
Automation: Aside from meeting with the irrigation contractor, paying the bill, and flipping a switch – an automatic system requires no manual exertion. You don’t even have to be home when your lawn is watered.
Cost effective: Automatic irrigation systems provide water to your lawn exactly where and when it is needed, which cuts down utility bills significantly, and offsets the initial cost of setup. In fact, automatic sprinklers ultimately end up paying for themselves within years, and can even boost your property value.
Efficient: Perhaps the most appealing benefit of an automatic irrigation system is that it conserves water. Say goodbye to dry patches and thoroughly watered sidewalks or driveways. Automatic systems provide precise coverage, eliminating concerns of over or underwatering your lawn. Timers can be set for daily or weekly watering, and at times of low evaporation. Additionally, “smart” moisture sensors can be installed for many systems. These measure precipitation rates in real time, and activate only when your soil is dry.
Professional installation and routine maintenance: Many irrigation contractors now use a vibratory plow for swift installation and minimal disruption to a lawn that leaves virtually no trace that the soil was even disturbed. A professional contractor will also provide crucial winterization services – blowing all water out of your pipes and sprinkler heads prior to winter each year, and will subsequently offer spring startup and other routine inspections.
Could your lawn benefit from an automatic sprinkler system? The answer should be clear. If you still have questions, however, call our specialists at Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting. One of our qualified designers can visit your property to estimate your specific needs and implement a plan that is perfectly suited to your landscape design.
The Crossbar der Biergarten at 18 E. Cross Street in Federal Hill recently – finally – received its liquor license transfer, following four years of ups-and-downs. By the end of March, however, Baltimoreans and other assorted beer lovers should be able to indulge in two separate floors of German and local craft beers.
What some news reports decline to mention, however, is that the restaurant’s centerpiece – a large and vibrant fig tree, shipped from Florida and planted in the midst of the main dining room – will also have its thirst quenched, consistently, courtesy of our crew at Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting.
Crossbar – the brainchild of partners Brian McComas, Josh Foti, and Brett Austin – was originally intended as an open-air space, merging four previously vacated properties spanning 12-18 E. Cross Street in Federal Hill. When that plan was denied, however, an enclosed version of the beer garden ultimately became the reality – this one with a 36 foot glass ceiling that not only fosters an outdoor sensibility, but provides an abundance of light for the aforementioned fig tree.
The only question left was – “Who is going to water it?”
The answer? Automation. To avoid the need for awkward tree maintenance in the middle of bustling waiters and diners enjoying plates of spätzle and bratwurst, our team was brought to install a contained, automated irrigation system for one. It was a small, but wholly unique job – and Chesapeake is honored to have done its part to keep things lively at Federal Hill’s newest watering hole.
Before long, both commercial and residential property owners desiring growing, green lawns this spring will be shopping around for the ideal irrigation contractor.
Does such a thing exist? It’s hard to say. Ideals vary from consumer to consumer. However, the real question should be: is your irrigation contractor honest? Are they reliable? Do they stick to their word, and can they deliver on-time, within budget, and with little interruption to your day-to-day existence? When the project is complete, do they follow-up to ensure your satisfaction?
If you are looking to have an automatic sprinkler system installed on your property, here are three additional, important questions to ask prospective contractors:
Are you licensed and insured? Many cities and municipalities require distinct permits for various landscaping projects. Avoid fines and court fees by ensuring that your contractor will secure all necessary permits long before the digging begins. Professional contractors should carry sufficient insurance to protect themselves and their clients from injury and harm. Additionally, you will want to inquire about the prospect’s certifications, which show that the contractor is current with industry standards.
Do you provide a scale drawing depicting sprinkler head placement, lateran and main lines, and zoning, etc.? These precise schematics are commonplace throughout the industry, and help to ward off potential damage to pipes, lines, and fittings as any additional construction or yard work is completed in and around your landscape. For this reason, it is important to obtain a final copy of this detailed plan for your records after installation has been completed.
What are the warranty details? What is covered in terms of labor and parts? Find out what brand – or brands – of materials your contractor intends to use, as each individual part should come with its own warranty through the manufacturer. Industry standard is one year for parts and labor. Most manufacturers provide a “to the trade” warranty on products for up to five years. Chesapeake extends that warranty to the client, whereas most contractors do not. You should also inquire about winterization service, which is often provided free of charge during the first year, as well as the following spring’s start up and evaluation.
Be wary of contractors who offer everything and more, particularly if they offer a “to good to be true” price tag. Some catch-all companies absolutely have the goods to back up their claims. Others simply make promises that they can install your automatic sprinkler system, mow your lawn, mend your fences, and groom your dog all at the same time simply to get their foot in the door. Make certain that the contractor you hire has the tools, the time, and the crew to properly fulfill his or her primary objective.
When in doubt, ask for referrals. Check references. Visit previous work sites whenever possible. An automatic irrigation system is a substantial investment. Make sure your decision to hire doesn’t leave you all wet.
At Chesapeake Irrigation & Lighting, our specialists can provide an accurate assessment of your specific irrigation needs and implement a plan perfectly suited to your landscape design.
Contact us today to schedule a free estimate for your irrigation or outdoor lighting needs.
