We Destroyed the Tech House Backyard

TL;DR

The Linus Tech Tips team demolished a shed, drained a pond, and cleared retaining walls to renovate the Tech House backyard for future owner Gee.

Key Points

• 1.The asbestos situation forced a major rework timeline. Asbestos found in electrical caulking required all drywall removal inside the Tech House, so the team pivoted to tackling the backyard instead.
• 2.The renovation plan centers on maximizing flat lawn space. The retaining wall will be moved back toward the rear fence, tiers removed, and the layout optimized for a robot lawn mower and low-maintenance use by future resident Gee.
• 3.The shed was demolished first to allow excavator access. Removing it cleared the path for the mini excavator (described as 'line-of-sight sized') to operate in the backyard for digging and earthmoving.
• 4.Draining the pond required improvised tools and a sump pump. Shovel holes accidentally punctured the liner, so the team used a borrowed water pump to suck out the pond water before pulling the liner to prep for gravel, sand, and topsoil infill.
• 5.Bricks from the retaining wall were stacked for potential reuse or disposal. The team neatly stacked all recovered bricks, with the likely outcome being a free listing on Facebook Marketplace.
• 6.A raised fire pit seating area is planned for the upper tier. The team intends to keep a small elevated zone with a fire pit using the salvaged bricks, preserving some larger feature plants to avoid a direct sightline to the back fence.