Cooler temps will soon be here. And while cold, wind, and snow may move you indoors for the blustery winter months, the time to start planning your outdoor project is right now! Depending on the size and scope of your project, there are a few essential team members, including your contractor, landscape designer, and maybe even an architect. We’ll walk you through some of the critical details, so you can get started.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

If you’re looking to kick back on your back patio in the fall of 2022, it’s time to get started. There’s a lot that goes into an outdoor project. Depending on the size and scope, imagine that it could be the same effort as a full kitchen remodel or even a home addition. After all, your yard is likely your largest “room” in the house.

Photo: Ross van Pelt

BROKEN RECORD.

We’re sorry to be saying it. We’re even sorrier to be experiencing it. Like everything else, the building industry is a victim of supply chain delays, with everything from appliances to construction supplies. That doesn’t just mean more careful planning for a project, but it can mean higher prices, too. Manufacturers of all kinds are in short supply and shipping is taking much longer, plus supply and demand means that materials prices have expanded beyond the annual 5% increase. We recommend careful planning, then ordering, and then starting the project. It makes the process a bit longer, but makes it all go so much easier when the materials are on site before we start digging and drilling.

PLAN YOUR WORK. WORK YOUR PLAN,

Although we are going to talk about the actual project planning, there’s work to be done before you even get to that point.

Check Neighborhood Guidelines.

Do you live in a newer neighborhood or do you belong to a Homeowners’ Association (HOA)? Many newer neighborhoods and most HOAs have guidelines or even restrictions on how your property can be improved or developed. These can include paint colors, fence height, and other details. It can also dictate the percentage of your lot that you can use. While intended to keep the development aesthetically within certain standards, they can be really restrictive, so check and double check. And if you live in a historic district, triple check, since often in these types of areas, there are guidelines on improvements to keep homes within the historic character of the neighborhood.

Check Property Lines.

It can be a good idea to have your property surveyed before starting a project in your yard. A disagreement about property lines once a fence or other outdoor element has been added can be a costly one to remedy.

Call Before You Dig.

Here’s an important one. Call 811 to have utility lines marked before anyone starts digging. Your contractor may take care of this for you, but it’s a detail that should not go overlooked.

BALANCING ACT.

Before you start an outdoor project, you may need to do a little juggling. It’s the only way to manage your wish list against your budget. We recommend starting with a budget range in mind, always with a little extra in reserve for unforeseen circumstances. Budget should always be on your mind with a construction project. It’s another reason why planning in advance is—and sticking to that plan—is so important. We see project costs increase because of a large amount of change orders and the dreaded scope creep. Scope creep is when the size of your project slowly grows. When the project grows, your cost goes up, as simple as that. We love how a project can evolve on site, but careful and consistent communication can keep you on the same page and prepared for budget increases.

Once you’ve established a budget, start thinking about your outdoor space. Are there any challenges, like a large slope in your back yard or lack of privacy? Add these to the list of issues you want to address with this project. Think about how you’ll use the space. It is a space to contain and entertain kids and pets? Will you entertain large crowds? Are you looking for some respite from the hustle and bustle? Or all of the above? On this wish list, prioritize any “must have” features: a fireplace, water feature, outdoor kitchen—the list is endless! Here’s where the balance comes in. Your budget, outdoor space, and neighborhood restrictions will have to be balanced. We want you to have it all are careful planning will make sure the project turns out in the best way possible.

CALL IN THE EXPERTS.

Once you’ve done your homework, it’s time to assemble your team. It’s essential to find the right people for the job, who can help you not only plan and budget, but bring your project dream to life. Now is the time to get started so by this time next year, you could be relaxing in your new outdoor room.

Looking for project inspiration to get you started? Check out these projects here:

Photo: Paige Pederzani

• Covered Front Porch

• Exterior Transformation

• Screened In Porch

• Front Porch & Outdoor Living

• Front Porch Addition

• IPE Deck

The back yard patio is the new living room.

Let’s discuss.

If you’ve tried to purchase an outdoor, propane heater, new grill, or even outdoor seating in the past six months, this is not news to you. We’re all doing our best to manage through the pandemic while still enjoying social connections and time with family and friends. The solution that so many of us have adopted is to spend more time outside. There’s a Norwegian saying that says, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” It’s a mantra worth adopting these days. We have a lot of customers who are ready to bundle up and enjoy their back yards as much as they enjoy their living rooms. But these lucky homeowners have had that opportunity for the past six months. Reading any further may make you pretty jealous, but we hope that it inspires you for a future project in your own back yard.

This stately Hyde Park, Cincinnati home was already a real beauty and the homeowners instantly saw its potential. The scope of our project included new paint, a new driveway, an expanded front porch with new front doors and then, the creme de la creme of a backyard, giving this home garage space, privacy, extra parking and outdoor living space—all elements that it had previously been lacking.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

The home received an instant update with a new coat of paint and a new front door. A new, enlarged porch was added that expands the entire front of the house, allowing for two seating areas. New lighting and ceiling fans make it a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

Of course, the front of the home looks beautiful from a distance, plus, the closer you get, the more stunning it becomes. The stained headboard ceiling adds a gorgeous custom detail. The composite flooring give the space low maintenance durability.

A new poured concrete driveway now extends from the street to the backyard, not only offering additional parking, but also giving an impressive gated access to the backyard. As the gates swing open, you can see an expansive paver patio—beautiful enough for entertaining and durable enough for even more parking, when necessarily. The addition of a two-plus car garage, gives a place to park cars and is large enough to accommodate additional storage.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

The backyard provided a blank slate and the perfect spot for a new two-car garage, a rarity in a community of older homes. In addition to adding more storage and lighting, the new structure gives more privacy from neighbors for the new entertaining and outdoor living space.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

If you were to look up “outdoor oasis” in the dictionary, this picture would surely be right there. What used to be an empty back yard is now a multi-level living area, with easy access to the street, house and garage. But why would you ever leave this cozy little nook. The paver patio includes a grill and refrigerator, plus a gas fire pit. Custom built planters add an extra bit of privacy and some seasonal color.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

The composite deck extends this entertaining space and is maintenance free, to boot. Instead of railings, it includes beautiful built in planters and a built in bench. Take note of the outdoor television. We’re sure this family doesn’t miss going out because they have it all right here.

And you can too. Give us a call to get on our schedule to upgrade your own backyard.