Who Am I?

With over 34 years of hands-on experience in irrigation design, installation and maintenance in the Triangle, I have learned that communication is absolutely key to providing every client with the product and service they expect and deserve. I have grown my business almost entirely by word of mouth. I am Ethan E. Shapiro, president, owner, lead foreman, supervisor and chief laborer of Laurdane Associates, Inc.

I have remained fascinated over the years by the challenges of connecting with clients and their specific needs. I love to innovate as each project is a bit different from all the others. My primary niche is troubleshooting, evaluating and optimizing existing sprinkler systems as well as designing complex residential systems. Also, during the course of the past 20 years, I have incorporated landscape lighting and drainage into my business.

O) 919.870.1489 C) 919.427.8641
[email protected]

We offer lawn sprinkler installation and a lot more!

Ethan Shapiro started Laurdane Associates in 1989. The name Laurdane comes from Ethan’s father’s and grandfather’s engineering firm called Laurdan. Ethan’s siblings are Laurie and Dan. When Ethan was born, the company name was changed to Laurdane.

Ethan worked with his father in the 1970s in water and sewer construction. Specifically, they designed and installed residential and light commercial lower pressure pipe (LPP) sewage systems. These were called “alternative” at the time. They are on-site sewerage disposal systems designed to function in soils that will not absorb water well enough for a conventional gravity-feed system. The transition from LPP system design and installation was very easy. Ethan was quite familiar with the hydraulics, pumps, water pressure dynamics, etc., as used in the design of an effective irrigation system.

Laurdane Associates has remained a small, hands-on company over the years. Staying small is one of Ethan’s strongest selling points. He can personally oversee every project, and usually gets his hands just as dirty as everyone else!

Ethan goes above and beyond the call of duty and doesn’t leave until he has solved the problem.

“Ethan goes above and beyond the call of duty and doesn’t leave until he has solved the problem and fixed it. He also explains everything so the customer can understand what is happening with their system.”

★★★★★ 22^th August 2018 Christine B.

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Services We Offer

Irrigation

We offer thorough evaluation of your watering needs with attention given to your existing landscape.

Drainage

We can evaluate your moisture problems and help you understand your options.

Lighting

Add beauty, safety, and security to your home with meticulously installed lighting.

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Look at One of the Beautiful Water Features We Created Recently

Ethan likes his company to be innovative and specializes in complex irrigation systems that require “personality” and ingenuity. He has two outstanding projects of which he is especially proud. One is the residence on the cover of Landscape Architect of January 2002. The other is the Coker Arboretum at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Along the way, Ethan discovered that he enjoys innovative, outdoor accent lighting. He enjoys creatively incorporating lighting into the landscape and working with shadows as well as creative path lighting. He is quite positive that it is HIS job as a professional contractor to educate his clients so that they can make intelligent, well-informed decisions about their landscapes. So, after many years in the business, Ethan Shapiro is able to offer you a wide variety of plans, systems, and enhancements to make YOUR garden and yard the most it can be!

Why Choose Laurdane Associates?

Check out what some of our customers have to say about our irrigation work.

Ethan and his team were incredibly professional and friendly, and their work is the absolute best quality. Our new irrigation system works beautifully and gives us full coverage: we love it!

Stokely Boast

18:55 19 Nov 21

Ethan exceeded expectations in every way at every opportunity, and I 100% recommend him. I cleared my lot and was installing a first-time lawn, requiring advice on topsoil, grading, runoff / swales, sprinkler system designs, installation, etc.. After researching the best irrigation companies, with Ethan making the short list, I met each of them on site. Most were eager to get the job, shrugging it off as an easy project they surely could do, but Ethan was different. He came in an older van wearing a Crocodile Dundee hat (which I mention because I misjudged the book by the cover, and I wouldn't want anyone else to do the same), and walked around the yard thoroughly. He checked slope, root systems, asked about plants, garden zones, grass types, timelines, and also about me and my family (he's such a nice guy). He said he wouldn't be the cheapest nor would he be the most expensive, and encouraged me to pick his brain for problem solving while he was here, because he liked that part and wanted to help while he could even if I didn't move forward with him. A natural teacher, Ethan explained anything I asked about with detail and patience. He worked around our schedule, coordinated with our other contractors (grading and stump grinding), helped spread dirt in a swale to speed up the process so I could seed before the first frost, and paid close attention to the little details like making sure sprayheads reached target areas, the water sensor was level on the roof, and the backflow preventer was neat and trim. His crew worked quickly when it was time to trench for the pipes, and they were very polite and respectful of our property. At their suggestion, multiple weekend days were taken advantage of to keep the project on schedule. As with any new install, a few issues came up and Ethan was there same day to address. His pricing was excellent, with a line-item approach for full transparency (so refreshing), and asked me to approve any changes beforehand. Final cost was right where he said it would be, and I couldn't be happier. He even showed me how to winterize the system and adjust sprinkler arcs so I could be self-sufficient. Ethan always asked how my wife and son were, by first name (and I only told him once on the first day), and genuinely cared about the answer. That guy in the old van with the silly hat easily was the most dependable, hardest working, level-headed, and best contractor I've hired in the state. Don't even bother asking anyone else, pick Ethan and know you're in experienced, capable, considerate hands. 5/5.

David Manning

13:27 17 Mar 21

Ethan is excellent. He has always been extremely professional. Promises made, promises kept with Ethan. He understands he operates a service business, wants your continued business and shows it.

Tony Hickory

22:18 06 Mar 21

Laurdane Associates not only maintains our irrigation system, but turns out, unbeknown to us, had installed it 25+ years prior for the previous homeowner. They are hard workers and have installed/updated multiple new areas on our property in addition to Startup / Winterizing each year.

John Kaplan

17:02 17 Nov 20

Very knowledgeable and professional in all aspects of the job.

Robbie Shapiro

01:31 28 Oct 20

I used Ethan to install my first irrigation system 27 years ago. When it came time to install a new system in my new home I called on Ethan again. I am a satisfied customer again!

Jim Schendt

14:30 20 Oct 20

Laurdane solved several issues we had with water draining and pooling in crawl space. They improved both conditions to the point that they are no longer problems. The service was honest and straight forward, very profession and efficient. Service fee was reasonable to a quality job. Would call on them in the future is another issue arises.

William Arendshorst

13:10 13 Oct 20

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