One of the first questions we hear is "how long is this going to take?" It's a fair question. A backyard project means crews at your house, a yard you can't use for a while, and a list of decisions to make. Here is how we answer it.

For a project in the $40,000 to $50,000 range, plan on about two months from the first consultation to completion. That two months includes permitting and engineering, not just the days our crews are in your yard. Bigger projects, like the full outdoor rooms we build around $100,000, take longer, because there is more to design, engineer and build.

The wait to get started is usually two to three weeks, depending on the season.

Here is what happens in those two months.

Step 1: The consultation

We start by meeting with you to understand your vision, your lifestyle and how you plan to use the space. Do you cook for a crowd? Watch games outside? Want a quiet place by the fire? We look at the yard itself, too: where the sun hits in the afternoon, where the pool equipment sits, what you see from the back door.

There is no design fee. The consultation and the design work are part of how we start every project.

Step 2: Concept development

Our design team turns that conversation into a preliminary concept plan. It shows the layout and the main features, such as the patio cover, outdoor kitchen, media wall, fire pit and seating. This is where the big decisions get made: how large the cover is, where the kitchen goes, how people move through the space.

Step 3: 3D renderings

Next you get detailed 3D CAD renderings of your backyard. You see the space from several angles, choose materials and finishes, and make changes. It is much easier to move a fire pit on a screen than after the gas line is in, so we encourage people to take their time here.

Step 4: Engineering, permits and construction

Once you approve the final design, we move into engineering and permitting. Patio covers and other structures need engineering and a permit, and that paperwork is part of the two months. If your community has an HOA, we help with the approval too.

Then we build. Almost all of the work is done by our own crews. We use two subcontractors: an electrical subcontractor and a slab countertop fabricator. Keeping the rest in-house is a big part of how we hold the schedule, because we aren't waiting on a long chain of outside trades.

Why projects drag on, and how we avoid it

When a backyard project stretches for months, it's usually a coordination problem. The cover is done but the kitchen isn't. The countertops are waiting on measurements. The electrician comes on a different week than planned.

On one of our bigger projects, a dirt yard we turned into a patio cover, media wall, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, breakfast nook and outdoor fireplace, the hardest part was exactly that: coordinating every part of the yard so it all came together at the same time, instead of dragging on for months. Planning the whole space up front, and doing most of the work with our own people, is how we keep that from happening.

Our team is set up for it. Our draftsman, Ray, draws the plans. Our project manager, Josh Huff, and our project coordinator, Gina, keep each job on schedule. Josh Skinner oversees the field crews and the whole operation, and Nicole Skinner runs operations in the office.

What you can do to keep it moving

A few things on your side help the project stay on track:

Bring a rough budget to the first meeting, so the design fits it from the start
Tell us early if you have an HOA, so we can plan for the approval
If a pool builder or landscaper is also working on your yard, let us know, so we can coordinate with them
Make material choices during the rendering stage, not after construction starts

Ready to start?

If you'd like your backyard done in about two months, the clock starts with a consultation. Call us at (702) 614-7650, or stop by our showroom on Pilot Road to see outdoor kitchens in person. You can read more answers about timing, warranty and price on our FAQ page.

From First Consultation to Finished Backyard: What Two Months Looks Like