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Breaking ground for a smart landscape When a home renovation hits a wall due to building permits or unexpected asbestos remediation, the focus often shifts from the interior to the exterior. At the Tech House, Linus Sebastian and his team found themselves in this exact position. Rather than idling, they pivoted to a complete backyard overhaul designed around modern tech integration. The primary goal of this phase is demolition and site preparation, clearing the way for a layout optimized for automated maintenance, specifically robot lawn mowers. Essential tools for heavy demolition To transform a cluttered, multi-tiered yard into a manageable space, specific heavy machinery and manual tools are required. The team utilized a mini-excavator to handle heavy lifting and site access. For drainage and debris management, a sump pump and sledgehammer are critical. Other necessary gear includes shovels, hatchets for root cutting, and standard garden hoses to facilitate siphoning or drainage. Step-by-step site preparation 1. **Clear Structural Obstacles**: Start by demolishing ramshackle sheds or outbuildings that block machinery access. This creates a clear path for excavators and provides a blank slate for new designs. 2. **Drain Existing Water Features**: Use a sump pump to remove stagnant water from ponds. A filtered inlet is necessary to prevent sludge from clogging the equipment. Once empty, remove the liner to ensure proper ground drainage. 3. **Excavate and Repurpose Materials**: Systematically remove brickwork and pavers. These can often be stacked for reuse in features like fire pits or sold on secondary markets. Use dirt from existing tiers to fill depressions left by removed water features. 4. **Aggressive Plant Removal**: Cut back overgrown shrubs before attempting to pull roots. Use a combination of leverage and manual cutting with a hatchet for stubborn root systems. Troubleshooting drainage and terrain A common issue in backyard demolition is discovering that a pond won't drain naturally due to an intact membrane. Even if you puncture the liner with a shovel, the surrounding soil may not absorb the water fast enough, creating a "swamp" effect. The solution involves suctioning water directly from beneath the membrane to ensure the underlying soil can properly accept topsoil and gravel later. Maximizing the tech-ready footprint The final outcome of this demolition is a maximized, level lawn area. By pushing retaining walls back toward the property line, you create the flat surface area required for robot lawn mowers to operate efficiently. This stage isn't just about destruction; it's about setting the foundation for a low-maintenance, high-tech outdoor environment.