Hi Mom's,
I have a few questions that I think I know the answer to, but thought maybe someone who might be in the profession may be able to answer them more accurately. My yard is a tiered yard, meaning I step out onto the deck and walk down the steps into a grassy area of about 6 by 14 feet and then there in another set of steps to walk down to a large flagstone patio and another side area of grass that is approximately 10 by 5 feet, then there are more steps to another concrete area to a back door to the basement. This is my first time having a yard so oddly laid out. It is hard to mow and thank goodness we have a push mower as a riding would never work. We have to mow on my husband's days off and I help him carry the mower up and down the steps, and after I run the weed eater. The problem is the homeowner has landscape lights in the grass on the smaller area 10(length) x 5(width) and are difficult to maneuver around. The homeowner also has random wires sticking up from the grass where he had contemplated a fountain at one time but then didn't put one in but never removed the wires. The first issue is my husband bumped into one of these landscape lights and it broke off at the base(pole). It is a metal light. I saw them at Home Depot for $18. So my issue is, how hard will it be to replace this light with the wiring in the ground? Do I have to dig up the yard, or is it simple to replace? My thoughts are to buy the light and have Home Depot come out and give me a quote for replacing it. But I don't know if it is going to be a big issue and the whole yard needs to be dug up because of the wiring. Next issue is on the other grassy area on the next level there is a outdoor faucet with plastic pvc piping leading out to the sprinklers(also electric wires sticking out up here as well), my husband bumped the plastic pvc pipe to the sprinklers with the mower and it cracked. There is a shut off for the sprinklers on the faucet itself so we shut it off. The faucet itself still works we just shut off the water going to the sprinklers. So this is my other question, how hard will this be to fix? The part of the pipe that is cracked is above ground and is plastic pvc, can a clamp or some sort of casing be put on this or does the whole pipe need replace and dug up in the yard? I was also going to have Home Depot come out and assess this as well. I'm just worried these are going to be big jobs although they seem so minor. Both of these accidents have happened at different times of mowing and it's due to the fact that the yard it so hard to maneuver and mow with all the accent lights and wires sticking out everywhere. I would just use the weed eater on all of it but it wouldn't be even or look as nice as the mower. I am thinking of buying a non gas/electric old fashioned grass mower until we move out. Thanks in advance for all your advice!
Just to add, my landlord just to say it politely collects a check and that's it! There are other major repairs that were to be done before we moved in per the realtor that weren't and still aren't done. We would've refused the keys on move in day but were stuck between a rock and hard place as we had just driven 3000 miles and had our belongings being delivered the next morning. We have lived here now 10 months and the original repairs to be done before move in still haven't been done and that last communication we have had was in April with another promise to come within two weeks to fix the repairs, never came. The realtor told us basically to suck it up as she worked for them not us and she did her job and got it rented. We had a friend view the place prior to us moving out here and the realtor told him the repairs would be done prior to us moving in which was why we sent the deposit. My husband obviously doesn't care about whether we fix these things or not do to how we have been treated thus far but I do and have always received my entire deposit back everywhere I have lived and expect to this time as well. Thanks again!
Thanks for all your input thus far! The light is a low voltage light. The two times I have seen my landlord, I mentioned all the things wrong with the house and the exposed wires and pipes that are everywhere. He added it to his to do list that has never been done. I do have all these things outlined by him in and email and also a copy of an email that the realtor gave me when we moved in that he had outlined all the items to be done and said in the email he would do in two weeks. After over a month went by we again emailed and asked for a timeline for the items to be done. Got another timeline and didn't hear from him again until April and haven't since. I have all the emails from him/realtor and the original list ad for the house outlining and incentive for renting which was to paint rooms with our choice of color. No rooms were ever painted and still aren't and haven't been in years, just one thing of approximately 10-15. Thanks again for all your advice, I will discuss what you have said with my husband and let you know the outcome!
The sprinkler pipe should be a quick and easy fix, cut out the pipe and glue in a new one.
The landscape light should also be fairly simple, providing it's a low voltage light. That could be determined with a quick visual.
The other wires could be traced down, disconnected, and cut back as necessary. Again, it would be a lot easier to determine with a quick visual inspection.
Buy the replacement $18 light at Home Depot. If you are even semi-adventurous, read the package directions and follow them. You do not need to dig up the whole yard. It's likely these lights are low-voltage anyhow, so you could do this repair yourself and I promise it won't be difficult. You can even have one of the guys at Home Depot tell you how to do it. They love to talk about that stuff.
If you're not feeling adventurous, here's what you do. The next time one of your neighbors' gardeners comes to mow the neighbor's lawn, run out there and ask them to fix your light and sprinkler pipe, and cap off the fountain wires or whatever they are. I'm guessing he'll say $50 or thereabouts. Then have him give you a quote to mow your lawn. Most of these guys will do it super cheap, especially if they also mow your neighbor's lawn. Normally I'd say, hey, if you have a small yard, just mow it yourself, but your yard sounds like a huge pain in the neck to mow! Sometimes it's better just to hire it out, rather than having to replace sprinkler pipes and light fixtures every other week. =)
Dear S.,
My husband is an owner of a tree and landscape business called Props Tree and Landscape, Inc. He stated that the landscaping light comes with wiring and you can just crimp the existing wiring to the new wiring in the new light. No digging should be necessary. As for the pipe if the break is above the ground you can just cut the broken piece off and replace it with a new one you can purchase at Home Depot. There shouldn't be any digging involved if the break is above ground like you have stated. My husband suggests that you should call a landscaper and have them come out and not Home Depot. Home Depot doesn't do repairs themselves, they will just suggest a landscaper.Good luck!
S.:
Are you renting this property or do you own it? If you are renting, tell the landlord he needs to fix the problems as he left the place in a manner that you have no choice and the fact that you are willing to help fix is good and make sure he/she takes the amount of time and money you spend either off your next rent check or gives you the money in return.
Now, if you purchased the home from a past homeowner and you own the property then the choice is yours either to check with reputable landscaping companies to see how much it would cost to fix the pipe/sprinkler system or see about doing it yourself.
Regarding the lights, you probably can do it yourself or find a friend who knows a handyman that can come and take a look.
In that regard, my boyfriend is an awesome stay at home dad for our soon to be 3 yr old and he is very knowledgeable in lights, landscaping repairs, sprinklers, electrical, etc. If you would like, email me at ____@____.com and I can talk to him about getting in touch with you and giving you his thoughts on your situation.
Good luck and remember if you are renting, you aren't responsible. But if you are, call us.
T.
Have you discussed these issues with the landlord? He might be able and willing to give you some assistance in knowing how to best care for the yard, and what to do regarding the replacements. I agree that your yard sounds like a nightmare to keep up, and it seems having created such a yard, the landlord would be willing to help you care for it. I know that isn't always true of landlords, but it's worth a try at least.
You will have to dig out some dirt to get at the PVC pipes.I think you will have to dig to where the next "joint" or connector is down on the pipe. You then remove the damaged portion of pvc, and glue the new portion of pipe onto the old portion with a new pvc joint. Whenever my hubby works on a plumbing issue, I make sure I take my shower and run several pitchers of water. Usually the water is off a while and sometimes, if the fix doesnt work, off a long time! The key is to make sure the pipes and joints are DRY dry dry - no moisture, when gluing. One trick is to plug up the pipe with a ball of wonder white bread so no excess water can leak down the pipe and onto the joint you are gluing. Once the water is turned back on- the water pressure blows the bread plug right through the pipes and it disolves. Even seasoned plumbers sometimes have failing joints in newly glued seams with even the slightest moisture.
If u cant replace the entire lawn with groundcover, put a small flower type bed around each lamp or other item sticking up in the lawn. About 8 inches from the center of the post. Put in a very low type plant/groundcover, or even river stones(with landscaping fabric under them so weeds don't come up).
Dicondra groundcover will work for shade, but not sun.
There is a grass called mondo grass, which if I remember corectly doesn't have to be mowed. it is not as pretty as a mowed lawn though. Thyme is a nice option and it gets sweet smelling flowers on it. Talk to your nursery personnel or look up "low maintenance ground cover options" online.
My husband put in our sprinkler system. All exposed pipes are in flower beds and non-lawn areas. Then he put rocks around them so people wouldn't step on them. The pipe can be replaced by a plumber and it shouldn't be too much work. You might consider ripping out the sod/grass and putting in a ground cover that doesn't need to be mowed, such as dicondra (SP?). It's a low clover-like groundcover. But exposed pipes or electrical conduit in a lawn sound like an recipe for broken pipes. Consider getting rid of the lights or creating a flower bed in that area.
The light and the pipe are not huge deals, my husband has done those things, and it didn't seem to take too long, so it shouldn't cost a lot, but sometimes there is a fee just for workers coming out.
The pipe is more of a pain than the light, because there might be some digging, cutting or sealing.
I assume that you use a weed whacker around the sensitive areas and then just mow the rest. But I can see how the mower might hit something while you lift and move it.
The rotating push mowers ("human powered") are easy if you mow regularly. They are lighter and smaller, so that might be a good way to go, if you don't want to have gardeners.
By the way, I understand about the rental/no repair situation. We are in the same boat. We think something is supposed to be repaired, and then we never hear about it again. But it is not the property manager's fault-- they have to get authorization from the owners. I think the owners just will not agree to pay for repairs unless it is an emergency, so they let the house slowly fall apart...it's sad.
Next time, get the repair agreement in writing! = )
