When you call us at TLC Incorporated to ask about installing a lawn sprinkler system, you’re not just calling for a price — you’re calling for peace of mind. I’ve been in this business for over 40 years, and I’ve seen firsthand what happens when homeowners say yes to the lowest bid without asking what’s actually included.
Let me walk you through what we include in every TLC sprinkler estimate — and why that matters for your lawn, your budget, and your sanity.
What’s In a TLC Quote (And Why You Want It There)
✅ 1. Site Visit & Full Yard Assessment
We don’t quote you based on a satellite image. We come to your property — whether you’re in Crofton, Davidsonville, or all the way out in Frederick County — and walk the lawn with you. We check water pressure, review landscaping plans, and talk through what you want out of your system.
Why it matters: Soil type, elevation, hose bib PSI, plant types, sun exposure — they all affect layout and performance.
I remember walking a sloped backyard in Upper Marlboro where the homeowner didn’t even realize half their water pressure was being lost uphill. Without that in-person check, they would’ve ended up with patchy grass and wasted water.
✅ 2. Custom System Design
We don’t do cookie-cutter. Your yard gets its own zone layout, head placement, pipe routing, and pressure regulation plan.
Why it matters: A system that “sort of works” will frustrate you for years. A system that’s designed properly will last decades.
We once installed a 9-zone system in Anne Arundel County that had to weave around a koi pond, garden beds, and a bocce ball court. The homeowner told us afterward, “Bob, you made it feel like I had a water system designed by an artist.”
✅ 3. High-Quality Components
We use commercial-grade sprinkler heads, valves, backflow preventers, and pipe. We don’t cut corners. No plastic knockoffs from the discount bin.
Why it matters: Cheap heads fail fast. Cracked valves = flooded gardens. Pay once, not twice.
This one’s personal. In my early years, I took a chance on a “good deal” from a new supplier. We had 17 callbacks within three months due to valve failure. That mistake cost me plenty — and taught me to never compromise on materials again.
✅ 4. Smart Technology (Optional)
If you want Wi-Fi timers, rain/freeze sensors, zone-by-zone app controls — we include that in the quote. Not as an upcharge surprise later.
Why it matters: Homeowners in Anne Arundel or Prince George’s County love the set-it-and-forget-it approach. So do we.
One Bowie client wrote to tell us his smart controller saved him $225 in water bills his first season. He said it paid for itself faster than his air fryer (and got used more, too).
✅ 5. Full Trenching & Backfilling
We hand-trench or machine-trench, depending on soil. We backfill, tamp, and seed — and we clean up like we were never there.
Why it matters: Some companies don’t include trenching in their quote. (Yes, really.) You’ll want this in writing.
We had a call from a Crofton homeowner who hired a “budget install team.” They left trenches open overnight. The next morning, a heavy rain washed away two flower beds. That family now uses us for everything — and we reinstalled their entire system correctly.
✅ 6. One-Year Workmanship Guarantee
If we install it, we stand by it. If anything leaks, fails, or frustrates you within the first year — we fix it. Period.
Why it matters: Warranties are only good if the company picks up the phone. We do.
In Davidsonville, a client had a backflow valve go faulty after six months. Our tech was onsite within 24 hours, replaced the part, no charge, no hassle. That kind of follow-through isn’t extra — it’s expected here.
✅ 7. Winterization & Spring Startup Options
We quote service plans with the install, so you know what year-round care costs. Want to go one year at a time? That’s fine, too.
Why it matters: Maryland winters are no joke. Blowout matters. Don’t skip it.
In Charles County, we’ve had homeowners call in spring asking why water is bubbling out of their lawn. Nine times out of ten — it’s because their lines froze and cracked over winter. A $95 winterization service could’ve saved a $1,200 repair.
✅ 8. Training & Walkthrough
We don’t hand you a manual and disappear. We walk you through your system, test each zone, set the timer together, and answer every question.
Why it matters: The best sprinkler system in the world doesn’t help if you don’t know how to use it.
We’ve had folks from Montgomery Village to St. Michaels say this is their favorite part of the install. One even said, “Bob, I didn’t expect a class — but I feel like I just got certified in running my lawn.”
What’s NOT in Some Other Quotes (But Should Be)
Here’s where things get real. I’ve reviewed hundreds of competitor quotes from PG County to the Eastern Shore, and here’s what I see homeowners getting left out in the cold on:
- No mention of trenching — they quote parts but not labor.
- No smart controls, or not installed/configured properly.
- “Warranty” that’s 90 days and doesn’t include callbacks.
- Zero cleanup or site restoration.
- No walkthrough, just a system left running.
In one case in Calvert County, a family thought they were getting a complete install — and then the crew said they’d need to come back and charge extra for zoning and wiring. They called us. We installed the whole system right — and they’ve been with us since 2019.
Another homeowner in Glen Burnie sent me their contract to review. It didn’t include a backflow preventer — which is required by code and protects your drinking water. That’s not just bad business — it’s unsafe.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
AI-generated quotes, national call centers, and “push-to-purchase” tactics are everywhere. It’s never been easier to make something sound like a deal — while hiding the most important details.
We take the opposite approach. We build systems to last, and we price them honestly, with everything on the table.
Because at TLC, we believe: – It’s not about the quote — it’s about the outcome. – It’s not about price — it’s about value. – And it’s not about closing the sale — it’s about starting a relationship.
When you choose TLC, you’re choosing: – Accountability – Transparency – Follow-through – And yes — great green grass, all season long
If you’re in Maryland — from Washington, D.C. up to Frederick, from Baltimore County down to Charles — give us a call. Let’s walk your yard, talk about what matters to you, and get you a quote you can trust.
When you ask, Bob answers — and TLC delivers.