I think landscape architect or landscape designer is the way to go. The title isn't as important as the talent. Word of mouth is the best way to find someone. Also, with spring here (although it is COLD in Georgia this morning!), garden tours will be popping up. You might want to check out a few, or at least read about who designed what and zone in on what you want. Your architect may have a recommendation as well. We talked to two people - one our architect recommended from Atlanta and one our local friends recommended. The architect recommended one wanted 14,000 for a master plan (large lot but we left most wooded), and the local guy 1500. Both are landscape architects with degrees from highly regarded landscape architecture schools. Needless to say, we went with the local guy and have been thrilled. He has done a great job so far (we wanted him on board to site the house and design the driveway and walkway before grading), and we will see but I think he gets what I want. We wouldn't have known about him if we didn't ask around!

If you like the view back there and aren't concerned with privacy across the back since there is plantings already doing some coverage, I would put wrought iron or something to that effect across the back. Tie it into a wood privacy fencing on the sidelot lines. We have wood fencing 6' high around the perimeter of our yard for privacy and then have the pool area split with a 4' wrought iron type fencing to give us a play area for the rug rat yet be able to view all the landscaping and pool section from either side. Personally I think a 4' wood fence would look odd. I can dig up some pictures if you are interested.

Hi Lax There are definitely gaps to the enclosure. The whole thing sits on a rail system (ours has 3 parallel) and each module has to be able to telescope over each other therefore there has to be wiggle room. The company tries to compensate by using rubber flaps along the perimeter of each section but they certainly don't keep the cold out. Also, the building has an R-value of only 5... Our unit was manufactured 4 or so years ago and since then, they have greatly improved the technology of the overall unit so we've been told. But since we saved a HUGE chunk of change we don't mind dealing w/ a 9 month season instead of possibly 12! There is a guy here in CT who tried keeping his pool open 12 months the first year he installed the enclosure. His pool is only 12X24 yet it cost him TONS to keep the heat in. His enclosure sits b/ a large shed for one end wall and his house for the other. He installed a huge gas heater in the shed to blow hot air into the enclosure but found it to be too costly. Now he shuts down the day after Thanksgiving and re-opens April 1. He has a lot of sun year round which is a big help. You may not be able to actually heat year round w/ gas/heat pump w/o spending a fortune but if you have a lot of sun exposure you'll be amazed at how hot it gets inside due to the greenhouse effect. A woman in TX uses hers year round; she installed a large electric heater like those found at the entryway of Lowe's/Home Depot. Even in the winter when she gets some snow, she told me it was so warm due to the sun she had to turn off the heater and open the windows! Her enclosure is HUGE: the pool alone is 60' long! Wish we didn't have a tall tree line behind our house; lose our sun by the end of Oct. The trees belong to the backyard neighbor so I can't touch them... Keep us posted! Joanne

Hi Goyom, Thank you for posting those examples! It's higher pitched. More like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XInJTdsbj9A&feature=related Golfgeek, I think you're right. I just hate any kind of confrontation. We were hoping they would fix it but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Is it possible that they could set this thing to just run at night or does it have to run during the day as well? Here is a link that might be useful: noisy pool equip