Month: January 2019

Here is another Littleton, CO pool removal.  The homeowners came to the decision that they were not using the pool enough and wanted more usable backyard space.

This is another project where we did more than just remove the vinyl liner pool.  It is a perfect example of our Low Impact Pool Removal process.  All plastics and metals associated with the pool get hauled away and recycled.  All concrete associated with the pool is completely demolished.  It is processed into 8” fracture concrete gravel similar to PGE and used as fill. The pool area is restored to lawn. This method is lower impact and more cost effective because less has to be hauled in and out to fill in the pool.

With this Littleton, CO pool removal, we demolished the concrete walk around the pool.  We also removed a  concrete pad that did not serve a purpose for the homeowner.  All of the concrete was broken down and compacted in the bottom of the pool.  Homeowners are always given the option to have all portions of the pool hauled offsite even if leaving concrete onsite is accepted.

We also removed the failing timber retaining wall around their Colorado Blue Spruce.  The homeowners had a plan to create an outdoor seating area with a fire pit in this area.  We assisted the homeowners with starting the new seating area.  We met onsite at Santa Fe Sand & Gravel to hand pick several large granite boulders to reinforce the area where the timber wall had been.  The final seating area and new lawn area were completed by the homeowner.

If you live in the greater Denver or Chicago areas, make sure to contact us for a free quote to remove your pool.

The majority of the pools we remove are outside.  However, we also specialize in indoor pool removals.  Indoor pools present their own set of challenges.  With this Barrington, IL pool removal, we removed both the pool and the surrounding structure.

Our clients recently moved into the house and had no intention of keeping the indoor pool.  MackLand, LLC worked with both the buying and selling realtors to facilitate the the pool removal process.  We were able to start the permitting process while they were closing on the house, allowing us to start as soon as they moved in.

The indoor pool had been an addition to the house and was not consistent with the architecture.  Unfortunately, some details of the structure were costly to maintain and increased the moisture levels in the main house.  The roof of the structure had previously been damaged by hail.  While it had been repaired, it was most likely going to sustain damage again in any strong storm.  Most structures are not salvageable but this one was a prefab aluminum structure that could easily be re-purposed.  In this case, the homeowner was able to resell the structure.

With this indoor pool removal project, we went above and beyond code and removed all of the concrete both from the surrounding structure and the pool, and disposed it offsite at a recycling center.  Some of the brick work was stockpiled for future use to repair where the enclosure was attached to the main house.

After importing backfill and compacting in place, we fine graded the area to match the existing lawn.  The existing structure had landscape beds around the perimeter.  We worked to reconfigure the existing planting beds that were to remain so that they flowed nicely and did not look as they were leftover The client opted to finish with grass seed and blanket.

So if you live in the greater Chicago or Denver area and are looking to have an indoor pool removal requirement please make sure to contact us. Also make sure to visit our experience page to see some of our previous pool removal work.

While flowering shrubs are fantastic through the spring and summer, to truly get color year-round, we need to look at shrubs that provide winter interest.  This can be accomplished through evergreen foliage, colorful branches, or berries.

Classic Evergreens

If you lean towards a more formal planting, boxwoods are great with their neat, tight forms that require minimal maintenance.  Chicagoland Green is a popular variety known for its cold tolerance and compact growth.  Green Velvet is a smaller variety that holds its glossy green color through the winter.  All boxwoods benefit from some winter protection.  Winter Gem is a variety that does best situated on the north side, protected from wind.

Bright Berries

Red berries popping against snow covered backgrounds is a timeless look in the winter.  Cranberry Cotoneaster – as its name implies – has cranberry sized red berries that persist through the winter.  Red Chokeberry is a great deciduous shrub that lends towards creating a hedge.  Not only does it give you great red fall color, its red berries persist through the winter.

Architectural Interest

Not all shrubs are grown for their foliage, its what shows up after the leaves had fallen that is the real show stopper.

Red Twig Dogwood is often a shrub used as a background plant.  However, its flashy red stems in winter make it stand out.  Arctic Fire Dogwood is a smaller variety that is easier to integrate into the landscape and still get those dark red twigs.

If you are looking for a focal shrub that has everyone asking, “What is that?”, Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is it.  This slow growing deciduous shrub is known for its interesting gnarled and twisted branches.  While it will capture your attention year-round, the show yellowish-green catkins are striking in the winter.

Ready to add some winter interest to your yard?  Our Landscape Architects can help you make that happen.

With locations in both Chicago and Denver we are always ready to hear from you.

Most of our pool removal requests come in from private homeowners.  Yet sometimes we work directly with other contractors.  With this project, we were contacted by Phase One Landscapes.  Their client was looking to do a complete makeover of their back yard.  This included removing the in-ground pool and pool deck that currently dominated the space.  That’s where MackLand, LLC came in.

The pool at this property was a fiberglass shell surrounded by a concrete pool deck and patio.   As with many Denver locations, the access and room to maneuver around the site was tight.  Here our use of smaller compact equipment allowed us to get the job done without impacting the surrounding features.  As with all our pool removal projects, we disconnected the pool equipment and capped the utilities properly.  Once we drained the pool, we removed the fiberglass shell and disposed it offsite.  Then we broke up and removed the entire concrete pool deck and patio.

The new backyard plan included installing a new recycled brick paver patio over the pool area.  This can be tricky, however, there are ways to backfill appropriately so it can be done.  For this project, we backfilled with structural fill and compacted it in layers using a Sheep Foot Vibratory Compactor.  With this process, we were able to firmly compact the base material, preparing it properly for the recycled brick paver installation to be completed by Phase One Landscapes.

The backyard makeover went smoothly and everyone involved is happy with the outcome.

We have been specializing in removing pools for over 15 years and are experts in the field. If you live in the greater Denver or Chicago areas, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.