Mckay Irrigation Systems

These folks are amazing!

I recently completed a sizable remodel and needed to expand my irrigation system around the driveway and in a a new courtyard area. As part of the remodel, I'd consulted with a landscape designer to expand the irrigation system and help with plantings. That idea fell flat when the designer had her own ideas and didn't want to hear about any of mine.

When the remodel was complete, I contacted McKay Irrigation to expand my existing sprinkler system. Sherman McKay took the time to educate me about the types of systems that McKay builds (Netafim Techline CV). His partner, Julio, checked out the specifics of my job, and they were able to give me a verbal quote on the spot. By the time Sherman and Julio left, I'd decided to replace my entire system with a McKay Irrigation one.

The system was installed under the direction of Julio, and was complete prior to the estimated installation time. Irrigation was installed in pots, raised beds, along the fence lines, a back lawn and my front yard. The team cleaned up everything (and there was a lot of digging!).

Sherman was interested in my ideas for planting the new beds (from the remodel), and introduced me to Margarito, who often helps Sherman's customers with landscape. Within days of my irrigation system being installed, Margarito's team planted with my choices of plants - a vision that Sherman and Margarito helped me to fine tune!

The irrigation system itself is high tech and able to be controlled via my desktop computer, iPad, or iPhone. If I have a question about anything, Sherman is only an email or text away. Having a "partner" to help with my irrigation and landscape is invaluable.

My plants, old as well as new, are thriving.

As a relative "newcomer" to the East Bay, I'm delighted to have found the folks at McKay Irrigation! It doesn't get any better than this!

I was having problems with my irrigation system and contacted McKay. I received a very thoughtful text that let me know they were really booked up and suggestions on how I could go about obtaining the names of other professionals in the area.
I appreciated them taking the time to put me on the path to finding someone who could help me even though they were fully booked

Partners Sherman Mckay and Julio Escobar installed our Hydrawise irrigation system in our front and back gardens which has conserved water, lowered our EBMUD bills and kept our plants healthy. We loved working with Sherman and Julio who are informative, resourceful and responsive to our questions and needs. They have a small crew of people whom they've trained. Watching them work is like watching a choreographed dance, plus they're efficient. We could not be happier, and, believe me, we're not easy to please.

Jane and Katrina, officers in our condo association in Oakland

After I posted my review, the owner got back to me and arranged to come give a quote. He had family issues and explained that he is usually very responsive.

I contacted several local companies and obtained 3 quotes:
- Company 1: $2900 to replace all 10 valves. This might not fix everything and then we might need to replace the electrical components ($1500 additional)
- This company: $1500 for a new controller and installation. Recommended 1 type (with a cumbersome looking app).
- Company 3: $200 (2-hour minimum site visit) to install new controller and can use any extra time to address other issues. We were able to research controllers and bought one we liked (~$200) that had great reviews and an amazing app.

Ultimately, Sherman (the owner) was able to correctly diagnose the problem and I feel he would have done good work. He came with a helper so part of the higher cost is for 2 people to do the work. Also they do a lot of commercial work. He was also available sooner to do the work. Considering these 3 points, I think the estimate he gave is fair.

Sherman was so efficient and professional. He was extremely responsive and went above and beyond to replace our irrigation system quickly. Highly recommend him!

This review isn't on the work that was done, because we went a different route due to budget restrictions.BUT the fact that the owner took the time to chat with for 10 mins about a solution outside of using his company was amazing! If the time comes that I redo my whole system I wouldn't hesitate to hire McKay irrigation system, especially know that a landscape companies do know a thing about true plumbing or irrigation.

We hired Sherman and Julio to install an entirely new irrigation system for us this fall after we realized our newish watering system was either over-watering all of our plants or not watering them enough. The system they installed is the Hunter Pro HC smart controller along with the Hunter Flow meter, so that we are able to see how much irrigation water we are using at any given time, and adjust accordingly. And they also installed a meter which provides leak detection.

In addition to the new irrigation system, Julio and Sherman (and crew) installed a french drain along the bottom of our property, as we live on at the bottom of a hill and the plants at the bottom of our yard were drowning. Since McKay irrigation completed their work a few months ago, all the plants in our yard have been thriving.

I would like to add that Sherman and Julio go above and beyond, their work is impeccable, they walk you through every new item and how it runs, and they are incredibly professional and kind. Additionally, Sherman is always available to help, answer questions, and/or update watering times remotely. The way they work with their team, have lunch together as a group and stay completely involved in every step of the process is also highly unusual and really stood out to me. I cannot say enough good things about McKay Irrigation.

I have a 30 year old irrigation system. It has seen better days. I recently hired McKay Irrigation to replace a large drainage pipe under my deck that was broken and causing flooding. They also replaced my very old and outdated irrigation controller with a state of the art, wifi/app, controller. As well, they tested my system and made some upgrades to valve boxes and other areas where needed.

From the first meeting, Sherman and Julio and crew were professional, highly communicative and performed very high quality work. (not my past experience when hiring for this type of work). Always on time, impeccably neat despite difficult work, always keeping their word, always extremely responsive, very very thorough. I know I will be able to call them in the future for anything and they will be there for me. I feel fortunate to have McKay Irrigation as a resource.

(photo is of my app irrigation controller :)

I highly recommend McKay Irrigation Systems. Their team is knowledgeable, friendly, honest, and good with communication. They also did a fantastic job with our french drain project. A+

I highly recommend McKay Irrigation. Sherman McKay is a hands-on owner who, with his team, does excellent work designing and installing irrigation systems. He installed a system at our home 10+ years ago. The system has worked flawlessly. Sherman has continued to be responsive, helpful and reliable throughout the years whenever anything came up that we needed (such as recently when I added a controller to a different part of the garden). One time my husband mistakenly cut one of the irrigation lines and Sherman quickly responded to our SOS for assistance! Great company, honest and terrific people, reasonable and fair pricing - the best!!

We decided to install a new irrigation system in our home. McKay came to the rescue, with Julio, Santiago, and the crew and proposed a subsurface dripping irrigation system that resulted more effective and efficient than the sprinklers (worth every penny). Using the Hunter smart controller and the Hunter water meter, which allow you to track water usage, made a big difference. We also put new trees in the sidewalk strip, and McKay followed the recommendations of the City of Berkeley about irrigation (a bubbler for each tree). They have been very responsive about everything: timing, running lines, adjusting flow, teaching the app, making adjustments, etc. Highly recommended. We're very happy with their work and the result.