Bringing Life Back to an Old Pool – First Steps

The first step with concrete or gunite pools is to drain the water to best assess the situation.  Depending on how long it has been sitting, you may need to clear out leaves and other debris as well.  With vinyl liner and fiberglass pools, there is some risk involved with draining the pool.  Fiberglass pools are lightweight and can move or float without the weight of the water holding it in place.  Vinyl liners can shrink and shift. 

Water Talk

If you opt to not drain the pool completely and the water is questionably green, time and effort can bring it back to clear.  A process of removing all the organic debris, cleaning the sides and bottom, checking the water balance, shocking the pool and filtering the water can bring it back. 

Alternatively, you can fill the pool with new water.  We recommend using a water truck service.  You can fill the pool from your hose but that takes time and with well water, you may be filling the pool with water high in minerals or metals.

Repairs

Now you move on to the repairs.  Concrete or gunite pools can have stains, rough texture, or leaks.  All of these should be addressed and repaired prior to resurfacing.  The pool will need to be prepped for the new surface, this can be achieved through sand blasting or hydro blasting.  Then the pool surface finish material can be installed. 

Denver weather report

With vinyl liner pools, you may need to install a new liner. You may need new faceplates and gaskets as well.

So, as you can see there are many pros and cons as well as many decisions to be made about Bringing Life Back to an Old Pool. We have been involved in the Denver Pool Removal business for many years. Please contact us for the best advice.

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Every landscape architect will have their own unique description of what they do. From historical preservation, to golf course design, commercial projects, residential, and property management, landscape architects are involved. The field of landscape architecture overlaps many studies including ecology, engineering, architecture, sociology, horticulture, soil sciences, graphic communication and art, to name a few. Fredrick Law Olmstead is considered the father of American landscape architecture and pioneered the field in the late nineteenth century.

One of Fredrick Law Olmstead greatest works was Central Park in New York City. At 840 acres, Central Park is a true oasis in the middle of the city, a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. The trees provide shade from the sun on hot summer days. The pathways meander through scenic landscapes and frames views that inspire. This is a timeless masterpiece that keeps reinventing itself. Even though parts of the park were closed due to the pandemic, users were still able to walk through the park and experience the positive effect of nature.

Definition of a Landscape Architect:

From the ASLA: Landscape architecture involves the planning, design, management, and nurturing of the built and natural environments. With their unique skill set, landscape architects work to improve human and environmental health in all communities. They plan and design parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails, plazas, residences, and other projects that strengthen communities. 

Illinois Title Law: Landscape architects are responsible for arranging outdoor spaces and objects to create a safe, efficient, healthful and aesthetically pleasing environment.

Colorado Code of Regulations: Landscape architects lead the planning, design, and stewardship of healthy, equitable, safe, and resilient environments.

The role of a landscape architect is to know what professional to turn to solve a complex problem in the landscape, knowing when to consult a civil engineer or architect. The difference between an engineered solution and one by a landscape architect – an engineered solution will be more of a mathematical, efficient solution, where the landscape architecture solution takes more of the character of the site as a whole into consideration. 

Landscape architects are not substitutes for engineers, architects, and other scientists, but there is some overlap in the tasks a landscape architect performs, such as preparation of grading plans, design of decks, outdoor structures, and retaining walls. The landscape architects at MackLand focus on commercial landscape design plans.

Different states have different laws governing what landscape architects can do.  One of the biggest challenges that one faces after going through the rigorous process of an accredited landscape architecture program and the following testing for licensure, is others claiming to be able to do the same without the same credentials. 

Every landscape architect tends to develop their own niche in the field. Here at MackLand, we are swimming pool specialists. We remove old pools and install new ones.  When we remove swimming pools, we make a great effort to restore the yard as much as possible to how it was prior to the pool.  Taking into consideration character, grading, and soil profiles so that when we are completed with our project, you can not tell there was a pool there. 

As a commitment to the sustainability of the swimming pool industry, we recommend hauling all of the old pool offsite. This is to make the area where the pool was as usable as possible. You never know when a future resident may want to put a pool back in.

During a pool removal, a lot of landscape problems can come up.  Such as what to do next, figuring out hardscape issues, designing of a new patio and planting, and in general, how to utilize the new space. 

When we install swimming pools, we design custom pools and hardscape to meet the needs of our clients with functional space, adding value and character to the area.  Creating a backyard oasis that adds long lasting value to the property.  One of our biggest assets is that our pool removal business has given us a unique perspective on what works and what doesn’t. 

If you are looking for a landscape architect to help you with your next project, give us a call. We would love to work with you.

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Don’t let your old swimming pool define the space.  Often older pools dominate the space and do not leave room to entertain.  You must wonder if it is the best use of space?  Removing the pool opens a world of possibilities that can add value to your home and increase the usable space in your backyard.  Do you want a large lawn area for the kids and dogs to run?  Or how about a large patio with a firepit or outdoor bar or kitchen?  Or all the above?  Installing a spacious patio with different gathering areas and diverse spaces can enable you to entertain and social distance. 

That’s not to say that installing or working with your current pool isn’t possible as well.  Today’s swimming pools place emphasis on the spaces around it and how it relates to other features in the backyard.  On average, the are slightly smaller and shallower than traditional pools.  The key is to balance out the pool cost (which is typically the largest) with the costs for the surround spaces.  The most value is added when everything is done to the same level.

MackLand’s landscape architects are here to help you design the backyard you are looking for.  We are following the CDC’s best practices and public health guidance to keep our clients and staff safe.  If you are in the Denver Metro area please contact us to discuss your options. 

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While this topic varies depending on who you ask and local municipal codes, the landscape architects and excavation specialists at MackLand LLC always recommend full structural removal as part of our comprehensive Denver pool removals. No matter if local building code allows it to be left buried onsite. Removing the concrete is ideally the right thing to do and adds the maximum long-term value to your property.

Local Building Codes vs. True Property Value

Most Denver-area towns do not see a massive volume of pools being removed and have not put deep thought into their municipal codes—and some towns have no specific pool removal code at all. The most basic code we commonly encounter requires a contractor to perforate the pool bottom and take the top walls down 24 inches below grade.

While a partial fill might satisfy a seller looking to do the bare minimum, it leaves serious liabilities behind. What if the next homeowner wants to install a new pool, build an addition, or construct a patio?

3 Major Benefits for the Denver Real Estate Market

Whether you are preparing to list your home or buying a fixer-upper along the Front Range, complete pool removal provides key market advantages:

1. Expands Usable Yard Space: You gain a larger backyard with functional, marketable space for realtors to sell—and potentially lower your property taxes.

2. Appeals to a Broader Buyer Pool: Homes without aging swimming pools appeal to a significantly wider range of home buyers who want low-maintenance yards.

3. Protects Home Value During “As-Is” Sales: Selling a home “as-is” with a pool in disrepair decreases the property value far more than the actual cost to remove the pool. Surrounding neighborhood property values can be negatively impacted as well.

When sitting at the closing table, a prospective buyer can take issue with buried concrete—even if local code allowed it—and leverage it to negotiate a lower sale price. In elite Denver and Golden communities, doing a complete removal always pays off.

The Danger of Excavation Shortcut Contractors

An excavating or “pool removal only” contractor is often concerned only about winning the bid and getting off the job site as fast as possible. They frequently do the bare minimum and show little concern for minimizing damage to surrounding turf or driveways because they aren’t responsible for restoring the site afterward. While their initial bids look cheaper, they often leave homeowners with settling soil and damaged landscapes.

High-Impact Standards when Concrete Must Be Processed Onsite

When site constraints, narrow access, or tight budgets make total concrete hauling challenging, MackLand LLC applies rigorous engineering standards:

• Total Material Sorting: We thoroughly break up the pool into small concrete pieces and remove 100% of plastics, rebar, copper pipes, wood, and organic debris to be recycled offsite.

• Clean, Local Fill Soil: We ensure all imported fill dirt is clean, free of contaminants, suitable for compaction, and sourced from trusted local residential suppliers.

• Ground & Turf Protection: We utilize heavy plywood ground protection along the entire access path. Our specialized, low-ground-pressure machinery minimizes compaction on your lawn and driveway.

• Professional Restoration: We finish every site with professional grading and top-tier seed and turf.

Copyright MackLand, LLC – a pool removal & demolition company.  All rights reserved.

Lifetime Warranty & Pool Removal Closure Reports

Improperly removed swimming pools can turn into a nightmare at the closing table or haunt you down the road long after the real estate transaction is complete. Most state laws require sellers to disclose buried landfills—and buried pool concrete can easily be classified as landfill material.

To protect both buyers and sellers, MackLand LLC provides formal Pool Removal Closure Reports and a Lifetime Warranty on our pool removals.

The Closure Report is an invaluable legal and real estate tool—providing full, photo-documented proof of the entire engineering process from excavation to soil compaction, giving future buyers 100% confidence in the property.

Get It Done Right the First Time with MackLand LLC

Don’t pay to have a pool removed twice. With over 30 years of experience serving the greater Denver Metro and Front Range areas, MackLand LLC delivers permanent, high-value pool removals and structural earthwork.

If you are located in the greater Denver, Golden, Parker, or Arvada areas, contact us today to discuss your pool removal options:

• Golden Office: (303) 501-0828

• Denver Office: (303) 335-0850

• Online Quote: Request a Free Quote at MackLandLLC.com

The post Why Complete Concrete Pool Removal is Essential for Denver Real Estate appeared first on MackLand LLC.

As smart home technology continues to evolve, autonomous robot mowers in Denver are rapidly moving from a niche novelty to an essential element in modern residential landscape architecture. At MackLand LLC, our landscape architects work directly with homeowners across the Denver Metro area to design custom outdoor spaces optimized for next-generation autonomous turf care.

With advanced technological leaps—such as ZCS Cloud RTK satellite navigation (which operates with centimeter-level precision without perimeter wires) and Ambrogio’s Twenty ZR / Zeta R AI-vision and radar systems—robotic mowers maintain immaculate lawns through quiet daily micro-cuts. However, maximizing these advanced systems requires thoughtful landscape design. Designing your yard with autonomous mowing in mind prevents operational hangups, protects your equipment investment, and elevates your entire property.

1. Choosing the Right Robot Mowers in Denver Properties

The latest Ambrogio models offer two distinct navigation systems that directly influence hardscape and bed design:

• Wire-Free RTK & AI Vision (Ambrogio RTK & Twenty ZR Series): Models like the Ambrogio Twenty ZR use AI radar, cameras, and Cloud RTK satellite tracking to detect physical grass edges and avoid obstacles without underground wire perimeters. For these units, MackLand LLC designs crisp, high-contrast borders—such as concrete curbing or clean stone pavers—giving the visual sensors a clear edge transition.

• Traditional Perimeter Wire (Ambrogio 4.0 & 4.36 Series): For wired systems, we install flush stone or brick coping level with the turf. This allows the mower’s wheels to travel over the edge for a zero-trim finish along fences and walls.

2. Conquering Front Range Slopes with 4WD Traction

Colorado terrain presents unique steep topography, from foothill properties in Golden and Parker to terraced yards in Denver. Standard robotic mowers can struggle on severe inclines or wet turf.

• Ambrogio 4WD Series Integration: Heavy-duty models like the Ambrogio 4.0 Elite 4WD and 4.36 Elite 4WD are engineered to tackle steep slopes up to 60%–65% grade.

• Grading & Terracing Optimization: During the landscape preparation stage, MackLand LLC’s earthwork crew smooths out sudden grade drops and swales, or constructs structural retaining walls paired with level turf zones to give multi-zone mowers safe, effortless navigation.

3. Concealed Subsurface Passages & Multi-Zone Passways

When your property features separated turf zones divided by stone walkways, concrete driveways, or paver patios, your mower must travel between zones without getting trapped or scuffing its stainless steel blades.

• Subsurface Conduit Channels: During hardscape installation, we embed heavy-duty PVC wire conduits beneath stone patios, paver walkways, and driveways.

• Flush Transition Strips: We integrate smooth, level flagstone stepping paths through planting beds, enabling the robot to transition autonomously between front and backyard zones.

4. Custom Charging Station Enclosures & Utility Integration

Every robotic mower requires a dedicated weather-resistant charging station connected to an outdoor GFCI outlet. Rather than leaving the docking station exposed in the middle of your yard, MackLand LLC integrates the dock into your overall landscape architecture:

• Custom Screen Walls: We construct custom timber, composite, or stone privacy enclosures that shield the docking station from street view and high-altitude Colorado weather.

• Irrigation Zone Mapping: To prevent hard water staining from Denver’s mineral-rich water supply, we position the charging station outside active sprinkler head trajectories, adjusting rotor angles so the unit stays dry during watering cycles.

Reclaim Your Weekends with MackLand LLC

Whether you are installing an entry-level compact unit or deploying an advanced multi-robot Ambrogio Infinity System across a sprawling property, designing your yard around autonomous turf technology ensures your lawn stays pristine with zero weekend labor.

With over 30 years of experience in high-end landscape architecture, site grading, and earthwork across the Denver Metro and Front Range regions, MackLand LLC blends innovative technology with durable outdoor design.

Contact our team today to discuss incorporating autonomous robotic mower planning into your upcoming landscape project:

• Golden Office: (303) 501-0828

• Denver Office: (303) 335-0850

• Online Quote: Request a Free Quote at MackLandLLC.com

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