Living in Georgia doesn’t mean that one is completely safe from a sinkhole “showing up” in their landscape. Sure, there are areas of the country where sinkholes can be more of an issue. But, being an Atlanta property owner doesn’t mean that sinkholes won’t occur. Consequently, the best action you can take regarding sinkholes is to learn what you can about these nuisances and what can be done about them.

5 FAQs Regarding Sinkholes

1. Why sinkholes appear? Sinkholes can be due to both natural and manmade causes. Natural sinkholes are most common in terrain that is rich in limestone, gypsum, salt beads and where other carbonate rocks can be dissolved. When water erodes the rocks, a pit can be formed, and the sinkhole is formed. However, a sinkhole can also be the result of a construction company’s burying debris at various points of the building project.
2. Is there more than one type of sinkhole? Yes. Manmade sinkholes can be divided into 3 types. A development hole is dug by a builder at the onset of a new build to dispose (incorrectly) of debris. A lot cleaning hole is built toward the end of the foundation, and a clean-up hole is done when the job is completed and the company opts to bury the detritus of building.  These holes can be 10-15 feet deep. Natural sinkholes are divided into cover-subsidence holes and result due to the wearing down of soluble rock; cover collapse holes are typically triggered by a heavy rainfall or drought that rapidly removes the material making it possible for the sediment that covered the void to disappear. Consequently, cover collapse sinkholes are thought to be more threatening.
3. How can I identify a potential sinkhole? Periodically, walk around your yard and check for small holes in the ground or cracks along your home’s foundation. If your yard has a significant amount of soluble rock or you suspect that the builder took some shortcuts, you will need to be especially vigilant. 9If you aren’t sure about the type(s) of rocks in your property, you may want to get a geological survey.
4. What are some common areas in a yard that a sinkhole is most likely to occur? Sinkholes can occur anywhere, but common places are near a buried water or sewer line, along any easements, near old wells or utilities, as a result of having a large tree stump removed or anywhere that large rocks may have been buried to aid in the construction of the lot itself.
5. How to deal with sinkholes? Dealing with sinkholes -especially deep ones - is not a task for the weekend DIYer! If you suspect a sinkhole may occur or have recently been surprised by an unplanned pit in your yard, talk to an Outdoor Makeover & Construction team member asap! If the hole is close to your home, then you should get out until the situation can be assessed by a pro. Sinkholes can happen at any time. But, thankfully, they don’t have to be a permanent feature of your property. If you suspect that your property might be especially prone to having a sinkhole, or have recently had a sinkhole develop, then contact the Outdoor Makeover & Construction team today.

The post Dealing with Sinkholes: Why They Occur & What to Do appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

While neighborhoods up North have many homes where the driveways are made from asphalt as they are ideal in areas where extreme cold is more common, in the South many homeowners have discovered that paver driveways are the preferred choice.  This is because driveway pavers offer many advantages that make them a practical investment for residences, as well as many Atlanta area commercial sites. Driveway pavers, often referred to as cement pavers or concrete pavers, can be solid or open and are a great way to make the entrance to your Atlanta home or office stand out from those around you. But individuality in outdoor design is not the only reason to opt for a paver driveway. Here are 8 more reasons to choose paver driveways for you residence.

8 Benefits of Driveway Pavers

1. Durability – Driveway pavers will last for many years and are strong enough to withstand the weight of your vehicles without cracking or damages.
2. Maintenance – Unlike gravel driveways or concrete slab driveways that can require a significant amount of upkeep, driveway pavers do not need to be sealed and are resistant to stains. In the event that anything is spilled on the pavers, they can be easily cleaned with a simple cleaning solution and a water hose. In addition, unlike a concrete driveway where grass/weeds can grow up through cracks, pavers do not allow for unwanted foliage growth.
3. Replacement – In the rare event that a paver is cracked or damaged, they can be easily removed and replaced in as little as a day.
4. Value – Choosing pavers for your driveway is an easy way to add curb appeal and home value. Also, because there are many types of driveway pavers available there is a significant range of cost of paver installation.
5. Versatility – The list of driveway pavers available is exceptionally long, and the styles are varied. Be it an Old World look, a Modern style or a more casual approach, there are driveway pavers that can be used to create the look you want. From the color to the design used, you can have driveway pavers that showoff your own individuality and compliment the architecture of your home.
6. Color – As referenced above, there are many different colors available for driveway pavers. Some of these include various shades of red, brown, black or grey. This range of colors means you can have a custom designed driveway pavers that shows off your style.
7. No Spalling – Unlike a concrete driveway that can look patchy as a result of spalling due to excessive moisture, pavers are not affected by significant rainfall.
8. Installation Time – Most driveway paver designs can be installed in just a matter of days.  

If you are ready to update your Atlanta driveway with pavers, then contact the team at Outdoor Makeover and Construction and learn how we can take your driveway to the next level.

The post 8 Reasons to Opt for Paver Driveways appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

When it comes to getting work done around the home, everyone wants to be sure they have hired the best. Be it an interior project or and exterior one, we know that homeowners will talk to friends, co-workers and family to learn who they recommend for a particular job. But beyond talking to people we know, as a consumer, the average homeowner will also check out sites such as Angie’s List, Yelp or Google Places, or look for awards a company has received.

Consequently, the value of what you, as a client of Outdoor Makeover and Construction, has to say about our work on your property matters significantly. We know that you could have hired any other landscape design team in the Atlanta area, but you chose us. You trusted us with one of your most valuable possessions and allowed us to come in and redesign the space. You counted on us to listen to your dreams and goals for a space, and to work within a budget and timeframe so that we could make your landscaping dreams come true. But, many of you went above and beyond merely being satisfied customers – you told others about what we did. From word of mouth promotions to online recommendations, you bragged about the Outdoor Makeover and Construction team of Atlanta – in fact, we have been given over 800 online five-star reviews! It is these reviews, that were instrumental to bringing us to the attention of the Atlanta area Consumers' Choice Awards panel. The Consumers' Choice team uses several aspects – market surveys, industry directories and records, etc.- to check out what clients are saying about a company’s ability to deliver on its commitments, its team members and the quality of a company’s work.

The CCA team researches a company on sites such as Google Plus, Houzz, Homestar, YELP, Bing and others to see if they meet the CCA’s standards. If the comments meet their criteria, then that company is added to the list of possible award winners. Thanks to our client base in the metro Atlanta area, we were awarded the 2017 Consumers' Choice Award for Business Excellence. This award is received due only from customers voting and writing recommendations, and is recognized by other companies as a Seal of Excellence for top ranking companies. As one of the many Atlanta area landscaping teams, the Outdoor Makeover and Construction team does not take this award lightly.

We know that it is due to your continued support and recommendations that have allowed us to be in the spotlight and we are thankful for having such a supportive – and vocal- group of homeowners and businesses.

The post Outdoor Makeover – The Consumer Choice Award Winner appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.