Planning
15 Tips for Keeping Your Patio Project on Budget
Story Highlights
With countless material and design options available, it's not uncommon for patio project costs to escalate quickly. If you're like most homeowners, staying on budget is essential.
In this guide, we provide 15 tips for keeping your patio project on budget. Whether you are in the planning phase or design process, these tips are sure to help keep your project costs under control!
Tip #1:
Set a Realistic Budget
It's much easier to stay on budget if you set a realistic one from the outset. From our experience, a multi-element patio renovation typically requires an investment of 10-20% of your house value.
Though you can certainly spend more or less than this range, over and under-investing in a renovation project both present risks . Spending too much on your patio may not provide a great return on investment if you sell the home in 3-5 years. Conversely, spending too little can actually devalue your home if future buyers see the outdoor space as inadequate and something they must redo. Your home can also be devalued if the patio is falling apart because you failed to invest in quality construction.
Tip #2
Consider Phases
If 10-20% of your house value is more than you are able to currently spend, consider approaching your project in phases. Be sure to make this decision early in the process and share the initial budget with your designer. When approached thoughtfully, a good designer can put together an optimal phased plan that limits demo and rework, saving you money.
Features like grill islands, outdoor kitchens, and fireplaces can easily be added at a later date if designed on the edge of a patio.
tip #3
Work with your property...
Challenging site conditions, like slopes, poor drainage, and trees, can add significant costs to your patio project. With every property, there is an optimal way to work within the site's conditions and, sometimes, use them to your advantage. If you're trying to stay on budget, it's essential that you work with your property so that you can avoid or limit the unwanted costs of overcoming site conditions.
Tip #4
Design for your Furniture Needs
Too often furniture is an afterthought when designing outdoor spaces. This frequently leads to designers creating large, open patios with a lot of wasted space. Though open patio space does offer some versatility of use, it is often just a waste of money. For this reason, we recommend that you think through your furniture needs early in the process and design to specifically meet those needs.
Don't design enough space for an 8-person table if you only plan to buy a 4-person one. The same logic should be applied to lounge areas, bar-tops, etc.
TIp #5
Use Straight Lines instead of Curves
Many homeowners want curves in their outdoor spaces. Understandably, curved, free-flowing spaces feel more natural and better embrace the outdoor environment. That said, if you're trying to stay on budget, curved hardscapes should be limited or avoided altogether.
Curved hardscapes are created through extensive, skillful cuts. This process requires more labor and materials, increasing the cost of your patio project. Depending on the design and structure, curves can add anywhere from 10-25+% to the hardscape costs of your project.
Tip #6
Limit Sitting Walls, Pillars, & Wood Boxes
Sitting walls, pillars, and wood boxes add visual interest, built-in seating, and storage to your hardscape. Though these structures are nice additions, they can also significantly increase the cost of your project. If you're trying to trim costs from your project consider eliminating wood boxes, limiting your pillars, and trimming back the lengths of your sitting walls.
Tip #7 and Tip #8
If you're interested in a Fire Feature...
Consider a Fire Pit instead of a Fireplace
If you must have a fire feature, but want to stay on budget, consider a fire pit instead of an outdoor fireplace. Depending on the design, fire pits are typically at least 1/4 the cost of an outdoor fireplace. In many cases, the price differential is even greater.
If you need more convincing, fire pits typically put out more heat, allow for more seating, and are better for making s'mores. With these things in mind, would you even be making a tradeoff by going with a fire pit?
Wood-Burning costs less than Gas
While on the topic of fire pits and fireplaces, it's important to note that wood-burning features are less expensive than those using gas. Though the structure is about the same price, gas features require a permitted gas line, burner system, and decorative finishes (gas logs, fire glass, lava rocks, etc) that can add $4,500 - $7,500 to the cost.
If planned correctly, the gas line and burner can be added later as a phase 2.
Tip #9
For Walkways, use Stepping Stones
One of the easiest ways to cut costs from your patio project is to use stepping stones for your walkways. This simple change will decrease your walkway cost by at least half!
The key to a successful stepping stone walkway is tightly placed large slabs that allow users to stroll with ease. You absolutely do not want pedestrians uncomfortably stretching or (even worse) jumping between stones.
We recommend using large slabs (like BLU Grande from Techo-Bloc, pictured) spaced no more than 6-8" apart.
TIP #10
Efficiently Design your Steps and Stoop
In 17 years of business, we have yet to meet a client that likes the backdoor steps completed by their home's builder. We have also yet to meet a client that wasn't surprised by the high cost of a properly built set of stairs. Because a new set of stairs can be expensive, it's important to design the structure thoughtfully and efficiently.
If you're trying to cut costs, consider using less expensive carpentry materials and a design that requires fewer railings. These simple tips can save you a couple of thousand dollars.
tip #11
Choose a Pergola instead of a Pavilion
If you're looking for a cover structure to create shade and mount appliances (fan, outdoor television, speakers, heaters, or bistro lights) consider a pergola instead of a pavilion or gazebo. Though they do not offer complete protection from the elements, pergolas offer refreshing dappled shade and provide great mounting opportunities for all of the various appliances. At 1/3-1/2 the price of a pavilion, choosing a pergola is definitely a great way to keep the cost of your project under control.
To increase the shade produced, design a pergola with additional rafters, retractable shades, & curtains.
Tip #12
Design Outdoor Kitchens Efficiently
An Outdoor Kitchen (even a simple grill island) is typically the most expensive feature you can add to a patio. The reason for this is the combination of detailed masonry work, expensive countertops, weather-resistant stainless steel appliances, and permitted utility requirements. Because these costs add up quickly, outdoor kitchens and grill islands are often scaled back, designed for a phase 2 implementation, or sometimes completely removed from the project.
For additional tips...
Tip #13
When Selecting Materials, Consider Installation Method
When it comes to selecting materials for your patio renovation, there are two important factors that will impact your budget. The first, and most obvious, factor is the cost of the material. For every structure and feature, you will have numerous options at various price points. Some materials only cost a couple of dollars a square foot, while others may cost 10 times that amount.
Along with the material cost, the second factor to consider is the installation method. It's not uncommon for inexpensive materials to require extensive, skilled labor to install. Conversely, many expensive materials are manufactured so that they're easy to install. When trying to keep your patio project on budget, it's important to find the correct combination of material price and installation method.
Tip #14
Don't cut Landscaping & Lighting
When homeowners need to cut costs from their patio project, the most common place to start is landscaping and lighting. That said, after a year of living in the space, the most common regret of these homeowners is having cut back on landscaping and lighting.
Dollar for dollar, we believe that nothing will add more value to your patio than landscaping and lighting. Landscaping will bring your space to life and put you in touch with nature. Low voltage lighting will provide a stunning ambiance and allow you to enjoy the space after the sun goes down.
tip #15
Work with a Thoughtful Designer
As this post demonstrates, staying on budget is difficult and requires a lot of thought. If you plan to work with a professional designer, be sure to hire an individual that you are confident will thoroughly think through your project and value engineer the space to keep you on budget.
At Outdoor Dreams, we offer a unique process that was developed specifically to keep clients on budget and produce a design that is ready to build.
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