Month: January 2018

We recently had a client who was looking for a reputable Chicago pool removal company. They were quite thorough in their approach and did a lot of research. Here are some of the questions that they asked us along with our responses.

Do you have any examples of other Chicago pool removal jobs?

We have been in the Chicago pool removal business for many years, have removed 100’s of pools and have many satisfied customers. Take a look at just a few of these here.

Algonquin, IL – Above ground Pool removal

Long Grove, IL – In ground Pool removal

All concrete Pool removal in Northbrook, IL

What methods do you use?

We have continually refined our processes in order to do the job as quickly and efficiently as possibly. Long gone are the days of the wrecking ball. We are able to minimize collateral damage by using new and improved low impact techniques.  Our main tool to achieve this is the compact excavator.  We also set up the Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators (JULIE) inspection long before we start to ensure that everything runs without a hitch.  Additionally we are a complete turnkey solution company with ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) certifications allowing us to not only manage your Chicago pool removal but also to leave you with a beautifully landscaped garden afterwards.

How environmentally conscious are you?

Where possible all the concrete associated with the pool removal is completely demolished and processed into 8” fracture concrete gravel similar to PGE and used as fill in the resultant hole.  Because we process the concrete associated with the pool into fill material, also called our low impact method, it reduces heavy truck loads of concrete out and then heavy truck loads of fill back in reducing trauma to your property and public roads.

We also recycle all the pool heaters plus whatever other material is recyclable.

What about OSHA?

We continually keep abreast of the latest OSHA requirements to ensure a safe working environment for both our employees and for our customers.

As you can see there is a lot to consider before choosing your Chicago pool removal contractor. Get the facts, make an informed decision and be happy with the outcome.

Still not sure? Contact us for a free consultation.

In our previous article we spoke specifically about the Rachio Smart Irrigation system and what features a good smart controller needs to have. In this article we talk about smart irrigation in general.

Smart Irrigation Systems – Saving water

Smart sprinklers and irrigation controllers can simplify home lawn and garden care, and reduce water consumption.

Instead of fixed timers, these systems draw on data from sensors, weather forecasts and plant-care databases to determine watering needs. They deliver just enough moisture at just the right time. Lower your water bill, and check up on your plants from anywhere in the world using mobile and web apps.

EPA standards

According to the EPA, in the United States, outdoor water use alone averages more than 9 billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation. As much as 50% of this water is wasted due to over watering caused by inefficiencies in traditional irrigation methods and systems. Smart irrigation control technologies can significantly reduce over watering by applying water only when plants need it.

Not all controllers are made equal so the EPA came up with the WaterSense stamp of approval. WaterSense labeled controllers allow watering schedules to better match plants’ water needs. With proper installation, programming, and maintenance, homeowners and businesses can use WaterSense labeled controllers instead of standard clock-timer controllers on their existing systems, and no longer worry about wasted water.

To earn the WaterSense label, landscape irrigation controllers must be able to adequately meet the watering needs of a landscape without over watering. As with all other WaterSense labeled products. WaterSense labeled controllers will be independently certified to ensure that they meet the criteria for efficiency and performance.

Replacing a standard clock timer with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save an average home nearly 8,800 gallons of water annually. If every home in the United States with an automatic irrigation system installed and properly operated a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller, we could save $435 million in water costs and 120 billion gallons of water across the
country annually from not over watering lawns and landscapes. That’s equal to the annual household water needs of nearly 1.3 million average American homes.

The Benefits

If you’re a typical property owner, you probably put your automatic sprinkler system into the same category as your heating and cooling system. You expect it to work reliably and efficiently with minimum fuss. Smart irrigation controllers saves water, saves time, adds convenience.

There are two major types of smart irrigation controllers: weather-based and on-site soil moisture sensors. The right solution depends on your geographic location and landscape environment. Not wanting to baffle you with too much detail here. We suggest that you contact us to discuss the various options for your site.

We have installed smart irrigation systems in Denver and in the greater Chicago areas where we have our teams located.

Let us conduct an irrigation audit for you to help determine the best smart irrigation solution for your property.

The question about Recycling Pool Heaters often comes up.

When you remove as many pools as we do here at MackLand we tend to accumulate a lot of recyclable material such as pool heaters. Recycling pool heaters at a state regulated facility follows our ethos of being as friendly to the environment as possible on every job that we do.

How do you prove you’re the industry leader?  Drop off 33 pool heaters at a time from our Illinois operation, to be reborn into new products that you may be using tomorrow.

Both our Chicagoland and Denver Metro operations strive to reduce the impact to your property and to reduce the impact to the environment by keeping trash out of the landfill and recycling all the various debris generated from a pool removal including the Recycling Pool Heaters. 

Xeriscaping is known as the art of conserving water through creative landscaping.

The concept was coined and trademarked by Denver Water, the city of Denver’s water department, during a difficult drought period in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Since then Xeriscaping has become more mainstream even in areas where this is no drought but where people would like to conserve water for many other reasons.

Yards that embrace xeriscape ideas actually feature all manner of plants and garden styles, including cottage gardens. The term simply refers to a landscape that minimizes water use.

For a Xeriscape exercise to be successful the following steps need to be considered.

• Thorough planning and design of the overall area
• Improving the soil with organic matter to hold more moisture
• Practical turf management.  Turf grasses have a place in xeriscapes for recreational space, for pets, or just for their aesthetic appeal. However, because turf grass uses more water and maintenance than any other part of the xeriscape, it is recommended only for limited areas that serve a specific purpose. Lawns created primarily for appearance could be replaced by attractive alternatives, which also reduce erosion, prevent the sun’s glare, and cool the local environment.
• Appropriate plant selection is key. As you research xeriscaping plants, always select ones that are winter hardy in your zone. Many of these water-wise plants demand well-drained soil. Take time to amend soil in planting beds with compost or grit, which includes things like gravel, pulverized granite, terra-cotta pot pieces or builder’s sand.
• Efficient irrigation practices, such as “smart systems” like those from Rachio that recognize moisture content or drip systems which lessen evaporation.
• The use of mulches, both organic (compost, wood chips, bark, etc.) or others such as gravels, cobbles or decomposed granite.
• And finally, on-going maintenance of the garden to ensure long term health and appearance.

As members of the American Society of Landscape Architects we have years of experience and are eminently qualified to assist you in your xeriscaping pursuits.  We are able to tackle xeriscaping in Chicago and xeriscaping in Denver with teams in both of these areas and surrounds.

Contact us and we will get right back to you.