The unveiling – Real Outdoor Living $10,000 Backyard Oasis Winner

Real Outdoor Living $10,000 Backyard Oasis Contest Winner Announced

Huntsville Resident to Receive Complete Backyard Makeover 

(Tyrone, GA) – Huntsville resident Annie Laura Smith was recently named the Grand Prize winner of the Real Outdoor Living Backyard Oasis Contest, entitling her to a complete backyard makeover worth up to $10,000.

The Backyard Oasis contest opened in early May 2009 and concluded on August 31, 2009. Homeowners throughout the Southeast were encouraged (via ads in Southern Living magazine and online) to enter to win a backyard makeover featuring a project or projects constructed using pressure-treated wood. Ms. Smith was chosen as the Grand Prize winner via random sweepstakes in early September. Additional first- and second-place winners received gift cards to the home improvement retailer of their choice.

Sean Lintow, Sr., owner of SLS Construction, was chosen by Real Outdoor Living as the builder for the project. Once on board, he visited Ms. Smith’s home to research opportunities and help define the scope of the project. Upon his recommendation, Ms. Smith’s old, outdated-looking deck – which spans the entire backside of her home – will be torn down and replaced with a stunning, two-story addition. Deck boards, railings, joists and ledger boards – all if it will be replaced with strong pressure-treated wood designed to withstand the elements.

            “We’re going to install the decking on a 45-degree angle to improve the look of the deck and promote better drainage next to the home,” said Mr. Lintow. “This will add a sharper, cleaner look to her home and the finished product will look great!”

            Mr. Lintow will use only pressure-treated wood for the deck. Brad Staggs, HGTV and DIY show host and producer and Real Outdoor Living spokesperson explains why: “Pressure-treated wood is the real deal – it’s everything a homeowner should look for when selecting an outdoor building material,” says Staggs. “It is extremely strong, it lasts for years with surprisingly little upkeep required, it is one of the most economical decking choices on the market and its natural beauty will make it blend effortlessly into the rest of Ms. Smith’s yard. Add to that wood’s inherent ‘green’ qualities and you simply can’t go wrong!”

SLS Construction is a small, family-owned, Alabama state-licensed homebuilder specializing in residential remodeling and renovations. Established in Cullman County in 2006, the company serves most of Northern Alabama including Smith Lake, Huntsville and Decatur. Sean and his crew are known for high-quality jobs that are done right the first time and completed on-time and on-budget.

Real Outdoor Living is an educational program designed to inform consumers as to the merits of building outdoor projects with pressure-treated wood. For more information, please visit www.realoutdoorliving.com. Real Outdoor Living is managed by the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, which represents independent Southern Pine sawmill owners across the Southeast.

We would like to personally thank not only Ms. Smith for being a pleasure to work with, but Emily Burke & the crew at www.redpepperLand.com, along with John B. Dollison. 

Mr. Dollison is a Huntsville area GC whom Ms. Smith has worked with before and was handling some other issues on her property. While we could have handled the structural issues we discovered after removing the prior deck, it would have made it near impossible for us to meet the schedule. Ms. Smith gave Mr. Dollison and his crew a call and they were able to rearrange their schedule to get in there immediately, which allowed us to stay on schedule.

Emily Burke represents redpepper, an advertising company who not only made sure their clients’ needs were met, but helped make sure that the homeowners and our concerns were looked after promptly.