Three Contractors Failed. A Hidden Sinkhole Was Destroying Their Backyard. Here's How Outdoor Contracting Solved the Problem.
When homeowners invest in a luxury backyard, they expect years of enjoyment—not costly repairs, structural failures, and the realization that the entire project was built on unstable ground.
For one Charlotte-area homeowner, what appeared to be a minor settling issue quickly turned into a much larger and far more expensive problem. A beautiful swimming pool, travertine pool deck, retaining wall, and outdoor living area had already been constructed. Everything looked perfect—until portions of the backyard began sinking.
At first, the problem seemed small with a corner of the pool deck settling. Then it happened again. And again.
What no one realized was that a massive underground construction waste burial pit was hidden beneath the surface, threatening the stability of a substantial portion of the backyard.
After multiple contractors failed to identify the real cause, the homeowner was referred to Outdoor Contracting and owner Bill Botkin. What happened next revealed a problem far bigger than anyone expected.
The Problem Started with a Settling Pool Deck
Like many homeowners facing settlement issues, the family initially contacted the contractor responsible for building the retaining wall and pool deck. The contractor repaired the affected area and for a short time everything appeared fine. Then the settlement returned.
When the homeowner attempted to contact the contractor again, they discovered the company was no longer in business. Looking for answers, they hired another contractor to investigate and repair the problem. The second contractor made similar repairs.
The result? The area settled again.
After repeated failures and no clear explanation as to why the ground continued moving, the homeowner found themselves stuck with a growing problem and no viable solution.
That's when they reached out to a trusted industry supplier for advice. The recommendation was immediate. The suppliers stated, "If you want the problem fixed correctly, call Bill Botkin at Outdoor Contracting."
Looking Beyond the Symptoms
One of the biggest mistakes made by previous contractors was focusing on the visible symptom instead of investigating the cause. Every contractor before Outdoor Contracting treated the depression itself. They added material, leveled the surface and restored the appearance.
But no one asked the most important question: Why was the ground settling in the first place?
When Bill arrived on-site, he proposed a completely different approach.
Instead of simply filling the depression, he recommended a subsurface exploration to determine exactly what was happening beneath the pool deck and retaining wall.
It required removing portions of the existing construction and digging into the affected area. The homeowner agreed to the proposed plan and that decision changed everything.
What Was Hidden Underground Shocked Everyone
As excavation began, Outdoor Contracting uncovered something no previous contractor had identified. Beneath the pool deck and retaining wall was a massive construction waste burial pit filled with debris, trees, stumps, and organic material.
The settlement wasn't being caused by a simple void. The entire area had been built over material that should never have been left underground.
As organic matter decomposes, it creates underground cavities and unstable soil conditions. Over time, those voids grow larger until the surface above begins to collapse.
The further Outdoor Contracting investigated, the worse the situation became. What initially appeared to be a small settlement area less than ten feet across quickly expanded as excavation continued. The burial pit extended far beyond the visible sinkhole.
In fact, it occupied roughly 30 percent of the entire pool deck and retaining wall area.
The homeowners were stunned. But even more concerning was what the investigation revealed next.
Evidence of Substandard Construction
As excavation progressed, Outdoor Contracting uncovered evidence that multiple contractors had performed substandard work during the original construction process. More troubling was that several conditions suggested that contractors working on the project had likely encountered the buried debris during construction.
Instead of stopping work and addressing the issue, they simply continued building. Pool plumbing had been installed directly over buried organic material. Structural elements had been constructed over unstable ground. Retaining walls had been placed in areas where future settlement was almost inevitable.
The problem wasn't simply that poor soil existed. The problem was that construction proceeded despite warning signs that should have raised immediate concerns.
For the homeowner, the discovery was frustrating. For Bill Botkin, it reinforced something he has seen repeatedly throughout his career.
Too many contractors focus on finishing a project rather than understanding the long-term performance of what they're building.
Why Sinkholes and Settlement Issues Are So Difficult
One of the greatest challenges with sinkholes and underground failures is that the real problem is often invisible.
Homeowners see a crack. They then see settling and movement. What they don't see is what's happening below grade. Even experienced contractors cannot accurately determine the size of a sinkhole simply by looking at the surface.
In this case, a relatively small depression ultimately revealed an underground condition extending nearly one hundred feet in diameter. That's why proper investigation is critical. Without excavation and exploration, any repair is simply guesswork.
Unfortunately, guesswork is exactly what many homeowners receive. Contractors often treat visible symptoms because it is faster, less expensive, and easier to sell. The downside is that the underlying issue remains unresolved.
Months or years later, the problem returns. Sometimes worse than before.
Engineering Expertise Makes the Difference
What separates Outdoor Contracting from many outdoor construction companies is Bill Botkin's background as a civil engineer.
Before founding Outdoor Contracting in 1998, Bill worked as a professional engineer specializing in site development and soil conditions. That experience influences every project the company undertakes.
Rather than simply looking at what is visible, Bill evaluates what may be happening below the surface. He studies grades, analyzes drainage and investigates soil conditions. Most importantly, he asks questions other contractors often overlook.
In this case, that engineering mindset prevented the homeowner from wasting even more money on repairs that would never have solved the problem.
Instead of repeatedly treating symptoms, Outdoor Contracting identified the root cause. Only then could a permanent solution be developed.
The Difficult Reality of Correcting Someone Else's Mistakes
Many homeowners assume that fixing a settlement issue simply involves adding soil or replacing damaged pavers. Unfortunately, major sinkhole remediation is rarely that simple.
Once the extent of the burial pit became clear, significant portions of the existing work had to be removed. Sections of the retaining wall required reconstruction. Affected areas of the pool deck needed to be demolished and rebuilt. Unsuitable material had to be excavated and removed. Stable structural fill had to be installed and compacted properly.
Only after the underlying conditions were corrected could reconstruction begin. For the homeowner, this represented a painful reality. They weren't investing money into a new backyard feature. They were paying to correct work that should have been done properly the first time.
As Bill often explains, homeowners in situations like this feel as though they're paying multiple times for the same project. And unfortunately, in many cases, that's exactly what they're doing.
The Real Victory
While the project may not have delivered a brand-new outdoor feature or luxury upgrade, it accomplished something far more important. It restored confidence.
The homeowners finally understood why the problem existed. They had documentation and answers.
Most importantly, they had a plan. The settlement wasn't being patched anymore. It was being corrected. The hidden hazard beneath the backyard was identified, excavated, and addressed properly.
For the first time since the problems began, the homeowners could move forward knowing the issue had been investigated by someone with the experience and qualifications to uncover the truth.
Could This Have Been Prevented?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask after hearing stories like this is simple: "How can I avoid this happening to me?"
The answer often starts long before construction begins. Many older properties contain hidden conditions beneath the surface. Buried trees, construction debris, old drainage systems, improper fill material and abandoned structures. These conditions may remain undetected for decades before settlement finally appears.
That's why Outdoor Contracting frequently recommends subsurface investigations for homeowners planning major investments such as:
- Swimming pools
- Retaining walls
- Outdoor living spaces
- Large patios
- Sports courts
- Detached structures
- Extensive hardscape projects
Test pits and soil exploration can reveal hidden conditions before hundreds of thousands of dollars are invested in construction.
Compared to the cost of rebuilding a failed project, the investment in proper due diligence is often minimal.
The Outdoor Contracting Difference
Many contractors are excellent at installation but few are trained to investigate failures. Fewer still have the engineering background necessary to diagnose complex site conditions.
At Outdoor Contracting, every project begins with understanding the property itself and questioning:
What's happening underground?
How will water move through the site?
What risks exist today?
What risks could develop years from now?
Those questions guide every recommendation and every design decision. Because the goal isn't simply to build something beautiful.
The goal is to build something that performs properly for decades.
Before You Build, Know What's Beneath the Surface
If you're planning a swimming pool, retaining wall, outdoor living area, or major property improvement, don't assume everything below ground is stable.
What you can't see can become incredibly expensive later.
Whether you're experiencing settlement issues today or planning a future project, Outdoor Contracting can help identify potential concerns before they become costly problems.
With more than 25 years of experience, engineering expertise, and a reputation for solving the challenges other contractors can't, Outdoor Contracting provides the insight and problem-solving capabilities homeowners need when the stakes are high.
Because when it comes to protecting your investment, guessing is never a strategy. Understanding the problem is where every successful solution begins.
Scroll through the image gallery below to see more sinkhole remediation and repair jobs completed by Outdoor Contracting.
