Planning
What Should You Expect to Spend?
Luxury Outdoor Spaces are Serious Renovation Projects
Outdoor living spaces consist of numerous structures, amenities, and utility systems and are a valuable addition to any home. The following provides budget guidance for swimming pools, patio rooms, decks, and porches.
What you can expect to spend
Poolscape Budgeting
Luxury Pool Projects typically start between $185,000-$250,000 and typically include a gunite or fiberglass pool, pool equipment with salt chlorinator and heater, auto-cover (or fence), electrical and gas line installations, coping, pool decking, any necessary retaining walls, landscaping, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and all necessary site work (demolition, excavation, trenching, grading, soil removal, and drainage).
Pool projects that include additional outdoor living features and patio space usually require an investment ranging from $250,000 to over $400,000.
Cabana structures with a conditioned bathroom typically start around $125,000, and can increase to over $250,000 for a larger structure with outdoor kitchen and fireplace included. Conditioned pool houses typically start around $150,000 and can excede $400,000 with multiple rooms including a kitchen, full bath, and luxury finishes.
Patio Room Budgeting
These luxury spaces are a combination of several outdoor living features which may include a patio, sitting wall, grill island or outdoor kitchen, fire pit or fireplace, pergola, pavilion, landscaping, low-voltage lighting, outdoor TV and audio, and utilities.
A complete Outdoor Dreams patio project typically requires an investment of $125,000-$200,000. Most projects represent an investment of 10 - 20% of the home's value.
Deck & Porch Budgeting
Luxury decks are composed of premium wood or PVC decking with powder-coated aluminum railings. Deck investments typically start between $50,000 - $75,000 with most clients spending between $100,000 - $150,000.
Building a complete porch usually requires a starting investment of $125,000 with most clients spending $150,000 - $200,000.
Another frequently asked question
How do clients typically pay for their projects?
Now that you have a better understanding of the required investment, you might be wondering how other Outdoor Dreams clients fund their projects.
There are four main sources of funding for typical projects:
Cash
Refinancing Proceeds
Home Equity Line of Credit
Personal Loan Proceeds.
To help clients achieve their dream backyard, Outdoor Dreams has partnered with HFS Home Improvement Financing to offer project funding up to $500,000.
Follow this link to learn more about your financing options with Outdoor Dreams.
an investment into your home
The Resale Value of Outdoor Living Spaces
According to the Remodeling 2020 Cost vs. Value Report, outdoor projects in the Richmond area, like decks and patios, have a resale value of 55% - 75%. This is similar to other major home improvement projects (kitchen or bathroom renovations, master suite additions, etc.) which have a resale value of 55% - 70%.
This data shows that an outdoor living space adds resale value to your house while improving the way you enjoy your home.
Cascading Curves - A Case Study
Cascading Curves - A Case Study
This homeowner approached Outdoor Dreams while relocating from Hawaii into their newly built custom home. With a fresh start in Virginia, they envisioned a poolscape that would feel both welcoming and grounded—a space that blended seamlessly with the architecture of their home while also reflecting the rustic, natural warmth of the Midwest.
Sculpting Fire - Custom Curved Fire Features
Sculpting Fire - Custom Curved Fire Features
When it comes to building a luxury poolscape, a swimming pool is just the beginning. The real magic happens in the details—the elements that transform a backyard into an unforgettable retreat. For the Cascading Curves Project, that magic came in the form of two fully customized, curve-driven fire features that now anchor the space with drama, warmth, and unmistakable personality.