A major reason why people love living in Los Angeles and Southern California is the terrific climate which allows us to spend so much time outdoors. In addition to time spent on active outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and enjoying the beach, people also want to be able to relax outside in their own backyards. It’s no surprise that creating an inviting backyard space is a priority for Los Angeles homeowners. Sometimes this requires an entire backyard makeover or just a minor backyard remodel. Either way, this can be a substantial project which requires some research and planning. So, let’s discuss the major components that could go into a backyard remodel.
Here at GreatBuildz, we speak with clients every day who are looking for quality backyard contractors for outdoor construction project in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura & San Diego.
GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, pre-screened landscape and pool contractors, then provides ongoing project support to ensure a stress-free experience. Give us a call at 818.317.3567 or visit our website at www.GreatBuildz.com to learn more and discuss your project.
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend or what you’re hoping to achieve, a backyard renovation can range from simple and quick to complex and lengthy. If you’re thinking about a full backyard makeover, you might consider hiring a landscape architect who has the experience to give you some great ideas and vision on what is possible. If you want to keep costs down, you can always decide for yourself what you’d like to do and contact a few licensed landscape contractors to get bids and ideas.
What goes into a backyard remodel?
When you’re planning a backyard remodel, you’ll want to make a brief list of the most important things you want in your remodeled backyard, starting with the major components. For example, if you’re planning a pool, that’s got to be your top priority and you’ll plan everything else around that. In general, you’ll want to consider the following categories in your backyard remodel.
Water element: Pool, spa pond, or other water feature.
Seating: patio, deck, pergola, or other patio covers.
Landscaping: lawn, trees, shrubs, ground cover, and other plants.
Features: outdoor BBQ/kitchen, firepit, fireplace, pizza oven, heaters, tv, etc.
Privacy: fencing, walls, gates, etc.
Pools & Spas
For many people, building a pool will be a big reason to do a backyard remodel. In a warm climate like Los Angeles and Southern California, a pool can be utilized more than half the year and provides wonderful relief from the summer heat. It’s also a terrific amenity to have for kids as well as extended family and guests.
Building a pool, however, is a major undertaking that includes a large cost, a lengthy construction period, and hiring a quality pool contractor. And if your backyard has slopes or hillsides, this will further complicate the ability and requirements to build a pool.
Some homeowners don’t want to make the space in their yard or spend the money on a large pool. Other options are a ‘lap pool’ or a spa.
A lap pool requires less room and will cost less to build. A spa can double as a ‘kids pool’ when it’s hot outside and a relaxing hot tub for adults in cooler times. A spa will cost substantially less than a pool, especially if you purchase an aboveground ‘portable’ spa. Keep in mind you’ll still need a contractor to hook up the spa to water, electricity, or gas.
Seating Areas
Another important part of a backyard makeover is the entertaining space where you can create sitting and lounging areas. You’ll want to consider including space or spaces in your backyard for outdoor tables, pool loungers, outdoor couches, umbrellas, and other outdoor furniture. This area can just be a simple patio made of concrete or alternative material such as pavers or limestone.
Another option is a backyard deck that is usually constructed out of pressure-treated wood or a composite material that withstands aging such as ‘Trex’. Although none of these options come at a cheap cost (not even concrete), make sure you create a large enough area that allows you to place your desired outdoor furniture and walk around it. Talk to a reputable landscape contractor about the costs and options available for a patio or deck.
In the hot Los Angeles sun, it’s a good idea to consider a cover for any patio or seating area. This could be as simple as a patio umbrella or a nice shade tree. Alternatively, your backyard remodel could include a patio cover or pergola structure to shade you from the sun and elements. It’s a good idea to research your options like a canvas, flexible awning, or a partial covering like a trellis or a wood or aluminum patio cover structure.
Landscaping
Maybe the most obvious element of any backyard renovation is the yard itself. Landscaping can mean different things to different people.
Some homeowners want to create a lush, relaxing environment by using lots of trees, shrubs, plants, and other natural elements. Others want to have a large grassy lawn for sports and activity. Alternatively, some people want a drought-resistant backyard with synthetic grass, rocks, and low water plants like cacti.
There are really so many options, it’s a good idea to discuss your vision with a quality landscape contractor. They will be able to advise you on which trees, shrubs, plants, grass, etc. are appropriate for your backyard remodel. Keep in mind most landscaping needs water (sprinklers or drip irrigation) and that most household water expenditure is from the landscaping, not indoor water usage.
Backyard Features
Once you have an idea for the basics you want as part of your backyard makeover, you should also be budgeting for the features and ‘frills’ that make spending time outside appealing. The feature that tops the list for most backyard renovations is the built-in BBQ and outdoor kitchen.
A built-in BBQ island should include not only the BBQ but enough countertop area for preparation and ideally a bar where people can eat or just chat with the chef. An outdoor kitchen can also have features like a sink, a mini-fridge, microwave, and storage. Some outdoor kitchens might even include a pizza oven. Talk to your outdoor contractor about the best materials to use when building an outdoor kitchen.
Other popular features in a backyard remodel to create a cozy and welcoming area, especially for entertaining. Including a fire pit, heaters, or outdoor fireplace in your main seating area will entice you to spend more time outdoors even when the weather turns cold. And don’t forget about adding lighting or even a wall-mounted television in your backyard makeover so you and your guests have all the comforts of the indoors.
Privacy
As most people live in communities with neighbors all around us, we want to create a private space where we can enjoy our backyard space with family and friends in private. Most backyards are separated by some kind of walls or fences. If these are getting old, falling apart, or leaning to one side, it’s a good idea to include replacing them in your backyard renovation.
Some people like block walls for their strength while others prefer the look of a fence, which is cheaper to install. Fences can be made of weather-resistant wood, vinyl, or wrought iron.
In addition to walls or fences for privacy, mature trees can create a much taller screen between neighboring backyards. But make sure to discuss options with your landscape contractor to make sure you are getting a tree species that will provide the right amount of privacy without growing too huge, where it becomes cumbersome to trim.
How do I find good Pool & Landscape Contractors near me?
A good way to find a reliable pool and landscape contractor for your backyard makeover is to ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers to recommend someone they’ve used. You can also usually find a list of contractors recommended on social media sites like Facebook and Nextdoor. Beware: if you ask for recommendations on these sites, you should only trust suggestions from your ‘real-life’ friends. Other contacts on these sites can be biased (they’ll recommend their cousin who is a contractor, etc).
If you can’t get any reliable suggestions from people you know personally, you should look to services that do the most intensive contractor screening and offer personalized introductions to quality contractors (like GreatBuildz).
The worst option is just going online and rifling through a long list of backyard contractors on the big review sites. There are so many contractors and most of them seem to have a 4- or 5-star rating on these sites; and therefore, you can’t tell the good contractors from the bad ones just based on reviews and photos.
Related: How to Find a List of General Contractors Near Me and GreatBuildz Contractor Vetting & Conduct of Conduct
GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened landscape and pool contractors in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura & San Diego and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
