Job of the Month!

Hey Everyone!

Below is a video that we threw together explaining the whole process of building a custom in-ground swimming pool! You get to see pictures and videos of each step (Forming/Excavation, Rebar & Plumbing, Shotcrete, Tile & Coping, Equipment Set Up, Decking, Landscaping, Interior Finish, Pool Fill, Start Up and the Finished Project!!!). This customer was a pleasure to work with and they were so kind to let us come by everyday to take pictures and shoot video footage! Below is a wonderful comment from the homeowners! Fill free to comment and let us know what you think. Also, let us know if you'd like to do something similar. It's going to be Summer before you know it and you're going to be wish that you had a nice pool to cool down and relax in :)

Enjoy!

"We have lived in Matthews for almost 15 years and have four children and have always wanted a pool but we live in the woods.  Thanks to a severe weather system, 6 of our trees came down in the back yard and the rest is history.  We had Overstream come out and make recommendations on which trees to remove and which ones to keep and they came up with fantastic drawings in their design program to give us an idea of what it would look like with a pool.  The final product is every bit as beautiful and imaginative as the initial computer layouts and the kids LOVE the slide off the back deck.  We heated it up for a Christmas party to remember with roasted marshmallows in the fire pit and hot chocolate poolside.  We wanted a place that would keep us from having to drive around town every summer to swim in a crowded pool, plus the advantage of hoping that our kids' friends will want to spend time here instead of them going elsewhere.  We love the final product and the construction phase flew by seamlessly.  What a great group of people to work with, and I love that they also do their own landscaping - it's truly one stop shopping.  Every employee from Overstream from the guys who did the tile/pavers, digging, project managers, designers and CEO were all extremely polite, thorough and a pleasure to work with.  We really had a great experience and couldn't imagine not using them if we had it all to do over again!"

Energy Efficient Landscape Tips & Ideas!

Recently, Bill Zemak was asked by a magazine to write about energy efficient landscapes.  Here is a portion of the article that many of you may find helpful:

Here are a few items to offer an energy-efficient landscape:

1)  Use LED low voltage lighting systems with timer and/or photocells:

The LED uses up to 1/4 the energy, the timer prevents the system from operating during the wrong hours.  The photocell does not allow the system to operate during daylight hours.

2)  Irrigation systems:

Use smart controllers:  These controllers allow for historical local data from your area to be loaded into the irrigation controller and adjust as needed for soil moisture levels, air and soil temperature, humidity levels, precipitation rates of the irrigation system itself, and quantity and frequency of rain.

Use rain sensors:  These measure moisture levels and prevent an irrigation system from operating when the turf does not need it.

Use drip irrigation for planting beds:  This allows for water to get right to the roots where the water is ingested into the plant and prevent run-off and water-waste.

Invest in a rain harvesting system to collect all downspout water, run-off water, etc. and then use this water with a pump to irrigate the yard or planting beds.

3)  Plant selection:

Use succulent plants which do not require a tremendous amount of water and those which have an ability to "store" water on their own.

Use drought tolerant plants such as (Junipers, Hollies, Osmanthus, Pyracantha, Wax Myrtles, among many others)

Use plants to help shade areas or the home to keep interior temperatures lower which in-turn will greatly reduce cooling costs inside the home.

4)  Turf choice:

This is by far the largest change that one could make on their property to increase the efficiency of their landscape.

Use grasses which do not require so much water such as Bermuda and Zoysia hybrids.

The tall Fescue turf grass which is so prevalent in the metro Charlotte area is a cool season grass.  This means that when soil temperatures are between 65-75 degrees it is happiest and grows wonderfully.  At those temperatures it also requires very little water.  However, those times of the year are few and far between and last for about 2-3 months out of the whole year.  In order to maintain that lush look, Fescue requires large amounts of water to keep the soil temperature down.  With large amounts of water, then their is a high risk of fungus.

Using the Bermuda and Zoysia hybrids are WARM season grasses which is opposite of Fescue.  They are happiest during those hot summer months when the humidity is high.  They do not require as much water, fertilizer, or fungicide.  They also do not require the traditional aerating and overseeding that Fescue requires in the fall.  There are many hybrid varieties available now which have not been available in the past that offer great color, thicker blades, and a lush feel to compete more with the Fescue look which a lot of people like.

5)  Driveway, patios, walkways:

Use permeable pavement systems to allow for water to penetrate through the surface and into the ground or into a water reclamation system to be used for irrigation.  These permeable systems also reduce water runoff into our waterways which carry fertilizers, soaps, and other toxins to our drinking water supply, which then have to filtered out with expensive filtration equipment.

Belgard Hardscapes Project Excellence Winner!

It's an honor to have won a Belgard Hardscapes Project Excellence award TWO YEARS IN A ROW! We're looking for jobs to submit next year, let us know if you would like it to be yours!

Preferred Payment Program

SAME-AS-CASH!

The Belgard Preferred Payment program is offered by yours truly, Overstream! With a 180-day Same-as-cash program available, homeowners can create the backyard of their dreams without having to phase out the project. Contact us today for more information or check us out as an Authorized Contractor (more info coming soon) at www.belgard.biz!