How much does it cost to redo a backyard
Backyard Renovation Cost: This Is How to Calculate It | Architectural Digest
Messner says that working with hills or slopes instead of leveling them can save cash, as can shopping for native plants. “Using aggregate materials, like gravel or decomposed granite, is a great way to save on paving costs too,” he adds.
Determining different “rooms” in your yard should help you to figure out where to spend the most money. “You may have a costly drainage issue that is a top priority, as an example, so to compensate you can play with medium price points for the hardscape,” Anne says. “Design with less expensive materials where possible, and intersperse more expensive accents throughout. This allows for a budget-conscious design without appearing that way.”
You need a design phase
As much as you might want to immediately put a shovel to work, every expert suggests following a thorough plan first. “It doesn’t cost much to edit a blueprint, compared with editing a construction site after something goes wrong,” Anne says. “With proper design, planning, and engineering, a construction project can be quite exciting, predictable, and enjoyable.” This plan will also help you narrow down what your yard can actually accommodate.
“The biggest cost drivers for outdoor renovations are pools, retaining walls, slopes, and demolition,” Lenhart notes. “It’s useful to account for the most expensive features first, and then work your way down to more cost-effective design elements. Understanding the rough cost of big ticket items like decks, retaining walls, or kitchens helps you to figure out which features will deliver the most value to you. Ideally, you want to spend your budget on features that will have the greatest impact on your design.” Yardzen makes this process a cinch with an online quiz, but an in-person pro will run you through the costs before ever breaking ground. It’s also possible to complete this project in more than one phase, which would account for seasonality and provide more time to save.
“Phasing is key,” Anne says.
“For example, if the pergola you want needs to be done in phase two, then make sure you install the footings needed now under phase one.”
Spaces should have more than one use
Your design should capitalize on flexibility, particularly if you’re short on space and budget. “Design spaces that can adapt to multiple uses: Entertaining, relaxation, dining, play,” Lenhart says. “Keeping boundaries between spaces broad and open, minimizing barriers within spaces, and leaning on movable furnishings goes a long way toward achieving this.”
Don’t be shocked by the cost of nixing rocks
Removing things that don’t fit your vision can be expensive. “Clients are most often surprised by the cost of demolition, including concrete, stumps, rocks, and boulders,” Messner says. “Access to the yard and grading can also add unexpected expenses.” To help ensure that costs are accounted for as much as possible, keep a checklist. “Our firm has a series of checklists during the design, estimating, and construction phases,” Anne says.
The checklist encompasses the scope of each construction bid and all of the possibilities inherent to that scope.
Anne also says that working with one design firm lessens the chance of potential miscommunications, which can lead to costly mistakes. But on the bright side, issues can often be spotted immediately. “Most aspects of landscaping projects are visible to the eye, rather than an interior wall that may contain old electrical, plumbing, or mold,” she notes.
If you invest in one thing, make it trees
Lenhart recommends investing in trees—particularly ones that are native to your area—to get the best return on your investment. “They offer a ton of functional benefits, like habitat provision, improved infiltration and soil health, and even reduced home energy expenditure,” he says. “From a design experience perspective, they’re just as valuable. Trees make key focal points, can help lengthen sight lines, define outdoor rooms, and lend purpose to awkward nooks.” They can also supply more privacy and shade in years to come.
But you don’t have to be as enthusiastic about investing in plants. “Installing fewer plants is fine,” Anne says. “If you work in enough layers, varying heights, contrast of foliage colors, and plants that will grow over time, then I would embrace the sparseness.”
The Real Costs to Build 5 Different Backyard Retreats
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Whether for your own personal enjoyment, to help your family spread out, or even if you're just thinking of increasing the value of your house, crafting a more permanent place of respite outdoors can be worth the investment it takes to do it right.
According to KV Harper, founder and principal of Kex Design + Build in New Orleans, the biggest considerations for a backyard renovation are how you plan to use it and what your budget is. The cost for a backyard remodel can vary greatly, with total spend averaging anywhere from a couple thousand dollars for basic landscaping to more than $40,000.
For bigger budget projects that can creep into the $20,000 range, like adding an outdoor kitchen, consider a Discover® personal loan (which allows for flexible repayment terms for all loan amounts of 36 to 84 months) to help cover the costs.
Getting inspired? Here are a few ideas to consider.
A Low-Maintenance Retreat
“If you don't think you'll be up for much maintenance, then a design utilizing mostly hardscape would be the better option,” says Harper. This doesn’t mean turning your yard into a barren expanse of concrete, but it does mean you should avoid grass and a lot of flower beds. Instead, opt for a patio and walkway, with a few planters potted with low-maintenance grasses and shrubs.
A small DIY pathway or patio can be constructed for less than $1,000 with materials from a big box retailer. Professional installation adds $5 to $15 per square foot, and higher-end materials, such as flagstone will also bump up the cost.
Pea gravel or a similar material is the most cost-efficient. “I really like crushed granite as an inexpensive hardscape that can provide a nice clean backdrop for furniture,” Harper says.
If you have children or pets and don’t want to deal with mowing the lawn, artificial turf is an option, though it can be expensive, at $5 to $20 per square foot, compared to $0.90 to $2 for sod.
Transform the Shed
Sheds are often under-utilized. Instead of using it as a place where rusty garden tools and old bicycles go to die, transform it into useful real estate. A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed for overnight guests. There are literally thousands of models on the market, many designed to look like miniature houses, complete with porches.
A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed.
If you aren't wiring for electricity, or concerned about climate control, the only real cost is buying a shed that comes with at least one window to let in light. These can be found at home improvement retailers and big box stores for a couple thousand dollars.
Running electricity and insulating the shed so that you can use it when the weather is hot or cold adds a few hundred dollars to the budget. The average cost of installing insulation is $0.64 - $1.19, so for a 100-square-foot shed, it would be around $120. Hiring an electrician is $50 to $100 an hour.
Create a Culinary Experience
Dining al fresco on warm evenings is the best part of summer. Adding an outdoor kitchen and dining room can be a dream come true for many home cooks, but they can be expensive, costing up to $21,000 (or much more for a luxury setup).
Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about the design.
“One of the first things to consider for an outdoor kitchen is the weather,” notes Harper. “Outdoor kitchens can get hot, so you want to design to accommodate shading either naturally or with a pergola.”
Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about outdoor kitchen design.
For the grill, Harper recommends gas over charcoal because it is easier to maintain and clean. She adds that you will want “a durable heat-resistant stone for the flooring and countertops.” Natural stone is one of the priciest materials you can choose, at $25 to $45 per square foot, but will hold up much better than cheaper options like stucco or manufactured stone.
Other add-ons that can increase your budget include plumbing for a sink, a built-in grill, refrigeration, or special features, such as a pizza oven or fireplace.
Build an At-Home Spa
With many self-care businesses still closed, some DIYers are creating spa-like retreats in their own backyards.
And it can actually be quite affordable, when compared to a major project like an outdoor kitchen. A prefab sauna that seats four averages$2,800,$3,500
while you can expect to pay for a typical residential hot tub.
Add native plants and grasses around a sauna or hot tub for ambiance and privacy, or consider a pergola with curtains for an even more secluded escape. If either is too much of a commitment, you can achieve spa vibes by adding a small fire pit or chiminea, a water feature, and fragrant flowering vines or shrubs such as lavender.
Make Small Mighty
Related Story
- 37 Ways to Make a Small Backyard Feel Expansive
Don't let limited real estate stifle your dreams. Harper designs a lot of small backyards, and she always focuses on making the space multi-functional.
“I think the easiest way to transform a small yard is to create a design that maximizes space by using built-in seating or dining,” she says, which is something she did in her own backyard.
“I recently added a small deck to replace the stairs from our kitchen to the backyard. It was less expensive than doing a wide deck, and now the deck functions as stairs and a place to relax.”
She adds that light landscaping with hardscape materials is another inexpensive way to transform a yard. Think a pea gravel and paver patio combined with native plants that will thrive in the existing condition. In other words, if your yard only gets a few hours of sun, don’t waste space trying to grow a vegetable garden.
A design that maximizes small spaces? Built-in seating or dining, says Harper.
A Note on Buying Outdoor Furniture
For any backyard transformation, be sure to budget for furniture. A small patio can be outfitted for less than $1,000, but a full outdoor living and dining room set up will be significantly more. Harper recommends waiting until prices drop to invest in new pieces.
“I know it’s hard, but try to buy outdoor furniture at the end of the season when it goes on sale. Most big box retailers put outdoor furniture on sale at a deep discount around the first week of August,” she says.
65 Backyard Ideas That'll Transform Your Space Into Paradise
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obligated persons and responsibility of the managing organization
Roads are an eternal problem in Russia. This is also true for the adjacent territory, the asphalt surface of which is often kept in poor condition. Pits and potholes in the yard of the house not only spoil the view, but can also lead to injury during the period of ice or mud. The owners demand this repair from the managing organization, and the managing organization is often limited to replies, citing a lack of money. We figure out who is right and who is wrong in this situation. nine0004
Repair of asphalt pavement as part of the maintenance of the common property of the managing organization
When operating the common property, we encounter the following main problems of the road surface in the local area: asphalt pavement, requiring spot current repairs
- destruction of asphalt and curb stone as a result of the actions of resource supply organizations carrying out repair work in the courtyard of the house
- the need for a major overhaul of the entire road surface of the land plot due to its significant wear
- the need for repair (spot or capital) of the sidewalk or footpaths.
First of all, we note that neither the Minimum List of Services and Works Ensuring the Proper Maintenance of the Common Property of the Owners of Premises in an Apartment Building, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 3, 2013 No. 290 (hereinafter - Rules No. 290), nor the Rules for the maintenance of common property in an apartment building, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 13, 2006 No. 491 (hereinafter referred to as Rules No. 491) - does not provide for the obligation for the managing organization to repair asphalt in the local area.
Works on the maintenance of the local area in the cold season and in the warm season are reduced only to cleaning common areas, taking into account climatic features (clauses 24 and 25 of Regulation No. 290).
At the same time, the requirement of paragraph 1 of Art. 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation that the management of an apartment building should ensure favorable and safe living conditions for citizens and the proper maintenance of common property in an apartment building - also does not contain a direct reference to the obligation to repair asphalt in the yard.
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However, judicial practice takes a different path: if a resident receives any injury as a result of the poor condition of the asphalt pavement, then the harm will be recovered from the organization managing the house (Appeal ruling of the Ulyanovsk Regional Court in case No. 33-4408 / 2014 dated 11.11.2014 G.).
What types of asphalt repair is the managing organization obliged to do? The only exception to the rule is that the land plot near the apartment building is missing or not formed. The fact of the presence or absence of a land plot can be verified according to the data of the Public Cadastral Map https://pkk.rosreestr.ru/
If a land plot has been assigned a cadastral number, then in 99% of cases it belongs to the composition of common property by virtue of clause 1 of Art. 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the managing organization is obliged to properly maintain and operate it.
In addition to the general rules set forth in the LC RF, as well as Rules No.
290 and No. 491, there are special technical standards and regulations. We are talking about the Rules and norms for the technical operation of the housing stock, approved by the Decree of the Gosstroy of Russia dated September 27, 2003 No. 170 (hereinafter referred to as Rules No. 170). nine0005
Some time ago, colleagues in the workshop had a discussion about whether it is legal for managing organizations to use Rules No. 170. Taking into account the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation dated September 29, 2010 No. 6464/10, and also taking into account the decision of the court of cassation on in case No. А84-1499/2020 dated 14.01.2021, the courts point out that the requirements and standards for the maintenance and service of the housing stock, which are defined by Rules No. 170, are mandatory for managing organizations. nine0005
In accordance with paragraph 4.1.7 of Regulation No. 170, subsidence, cracks and cracks formed in the blind areas and sidewalks must be sealed with materials similar to the coating: bitumen, asphalt, mastic or crumpled clay with preliminary cleaning of damaged areas and backfilling with sand.
At the same time, in accordance with paragraph 17 of Appendix 7 to Regulation No. 170, the repair and restoration of destroyed sections of sidewalks, driveways, paths, blind areas of fences and equipment for sports, utility and recreation areas, platforms and sheds for garbage containers refers to current repair work. nine0005
In such a situation, in the absence of proper repair of the road surface, the employees of the housing inspectorate issue instructions to the managing organization to carry out repair work. And the courts, as a rule, refuse to cancel these instructions, indicating that the managing organization, having assumed obligations under the contract with the owners of residential premises and being a commercial organization, bears the risk associated with the implementation of commercial activities, and cannot refer to the lack of funds for the implementation of such activities or other circumstances that led to his failure to fulfill his obligations to the tenants.
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Thus, in the decision of the Arbitration Court of the Vladimir Region in case No. A11-10626 / 2013, the court indicated that the fact that the owners of residential premises refused additional funding for the relevant asphalt repair work is not a reason for the management organization not to carry out these works.
In the decision of the Arbitration Court of the Tula Region in case No. A68-9606 / 2014, the court indicated that the managing organization, while managing an apartment building, is obliged to ensure the proper condition of the asphalt pavement of the adjacent territory. nine0005
In another case (where the prescription for asphalt repairs was also contested), the court indicated that all current, urgent, mandatory seasonal works and services are considered provided for in the contract by virtue of the norms for maintaining the house as an object and must be carried out by the management company, regardless of whether whether the relevant specific actions are mentioned in the contract and whether there is a special decision of the general meeting of the owners of the premises in the house on the need for their implementation (case No.
A43-17219/2015).
Norms of the Gosstroy of the USSR dated 11/23/1988 No. VSN 58-88 (r)
Norms of the Gosstroy of the USSR dated 23.11.1988 No. VSN 58-88 (r) approved the Regulations on the organization and implementation of the reconstruction, repair and maintenance of buildings, objects of communal and socio-cultural purpose (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation).
This Regulation is mandatory for all organizations, institutions and enterprises engaged in reconstruction, major and current repairs, maintenance of buildings (clause 1.2 of the Regulation). nine0005
Annex No. 4 of this regulatory act, among the works performed during the preparation of buildings for operation in the spring and summer period, the repair of sagging blind areas, sidewalks, footpaths is indicated.
Despite the fact that in 2021 the Regulation will turn 33 years old, and it was adopted in the USSR, it is still valid and the supervisory authorities are guided by it.
We are looking for a compromise with the residents
It is impossible to completely refuse to repair the asphalt pavement in the local area. On the other hand, carrying out capital work to repair the asphalt pavement at the expense of funds and the tariff for current maintenance is also impossible. nine0005
In this case, the schedule for minor repairs should be approved at the general meeting, or coordinated with the council of the apartment building. Repair planning will remove unnecessary questions from residents to the managing organization and will reduce potential dissatisfaction with asphalt pavement problems in the local area. Ph.D.
Site: pavelkuznetzov.ru
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