Have your visions of a backyard paradise—a pool patio, outdoor kitchen, cozy fire pit, and lush landscaping— seemingly been dashed by a jaw-dropping price quote? You’re not alone.
Custom outdoor living spaces can come with sticker shock and leave many homeowners wondering if their dream is out of reach.
But you don’t have to choose between your vision and your budget. By taking a phased approach to construction, you can build your ideal backyard step by step without compromising on quality or design.
What Is a Phased Approach to Backyard Construction?
A phased approach means breaking down your complete backyard vision into manageable segments that can be built over time.
“It’s appropriate at the very beginning to plan what the whole thing could be, because there are cases where you might need to run electrical wiring or plumbing to various places, and if you’ve built one phase you might have to tear it up to build the next phase,” Robert Bowers, VP of Engineering – Hardscapes at the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA).
Rather than tackling everything at once, you strategically plan which elements to build first, second, and so on, while ensuring the entire project will ultimately work together seamlessly.
“Dream big, but take small steps if you need to,” said Joe Raboine, Vice President of Design at Oldcastle APG. “We can pick away at a project over several years. We’re totally fine with that as long as you have a plan.”
Why Start Your Backyard Project with Professional Design?
When hiring contractors for hardscaping backyard projects, it can feel like a struggle to obtain comparable quotes and make fair decisions.
The challenge arises during the initial quoting phase. When homeowners make general requests like “We want a patio” or “We want an outdoor grill island,” they receive widely varying proposals. This makes direct comparison difficult.
Bowers specifically cautions against taking one contractor’s design to another contractor simply because of preferred pricing. This practice undervalues the creative and planning work that goes into developing designs and proposals.
“It is not acceptable to take the design from one contractor and say, ‘But, hey, I like the price this guy gave me, so can you build this,’” he said.
There’s better approach to design-build projects can benefit both homeowners and contractors and it’s right there in the name.
Establish a distinct design phase to your phased backyard project. Start by interviewing several designers, selecting one, and compensating them for their design work. Once the design is complete, homeowners can then approach multiple contractors for implementation quotes based on the same specifications.
Even if it seems like an added expense at first, spending money on professional design for a $50,000+ project is a small investment that can save thousands in the long run through efficient construction and avoiding expensive changes.
“Somebody’s paying for design at some point,” Raboine said. “If you don’t give a design, or it’s a poor design, you’re going to pay through inefficiency and change orders and frustration.”
A professional designer can help you:
- Visualize the complete project
- Create a realistic budget
- Develop a logical phasing plan
- Identify critical infrastructure needs
- Avoid costly mistakes and rework
Benefits of a Phased Approach to Backyard Construction
Financial Flexibility
The most obvious benefit is spreading costs over time. Instead of needing $100,000 upfront, you might invest $25,000 this year for your patio, then add additional elements in future years.
“Maybe we can’t afford the $100,000 backyard that we’re talking about. But maybe we can invest 20,000 this year to do the pool patio,” says Bowers. “And then, okay, live with that for a couple of years and say, ‘Okay, let’s now do the outdoor kitchen area.'”
Many homeowners can budget for annual improvements using tax returns, bonuses, or savings over time.
“This is a good investment. It is for you personally, for your health and wellness and social life,” Raboine said. “Those are all important. But you’re also not compromising with phasing and phasing doesn’t necessarily cost more money.”
Infrastructure Planning
A comprehensive master plan allows contractors to install crucial infrastructure during the first phase that will support future elements.
This might include tasks like:
- Running empty conduits for future electrical needs
- Installing gas lines for future fire features
- Planning water and drainage for future water features
- Creating foundation support for future structures
“If I know in phase two, you want to add a plunge pool, or you want to add a pergola or a pavilion or lighting, or a fire pit eventually, I can design that in from the beginning, and I can build the infrastructure in,” Raboine said. “So, when I come back in in a year or two, I don’t have to rip your whole yard up and start up from scratch.”
Live and Learn
Living with each phase gives you time to see how you actually use your outdoor space before committing to the next element.
“When you get to phase 3 or phase 4, it is never like it was planned at the very beginning of the project,” Bowers said. “It always gets tweaked or modified. Like ‘Hey, that worked out so well, let’s continue that,’ or ‘That didn’t achieve what we wanted at all, so we’re doing a left turn.’ There might be some changes you might want to do. Be flexible in your expectations or your concept.”
This flexibility allows your backyard to evolve with your family’s changing needs and preferences.
Avoiding Regret
A phased approach helps prevent settling for a project that doesn’t fulfill your vision for your backyard.
“I think there’s nothing worse than seeing a beautiful design, then understanding ‘I can’t do this all now, so I’m not going to get anything,’ or ‘I’m going to take less and feel like it’s not what I really wanted, and I’m always going to be disappointed,'” Raboine said.
With phasing, you can maintain your original vision while breaking implementation into manageable chunks.
How to Create a Phased Plan for Your Backyard
Step 1: Define Your Vision
Start by thinking about how you’ll actually use the space:
- How many people do you typically entertain?
- What activities do you want to enjoy outdoors?
- What furniture pieces are important to you?
- What seasons do you want to use the space?
“What is it about this space that you’re hoping to achieve?” Raboine said. “…If you can get to that conversation and you start to talk about quality of life, lifestyle, health, and wellness, and having experiences, it totally transforms the conversation and you’ll end up designing a better space.”
Step 2: Invest in Professional Design
Look for contractors who offer design services or consider hiring a landscape architect or designer. Be prepared to pay for quality design work. It’s an investment that pays dividends throughout the project.
Some designers at design-build companies even offer a credit toward construction if you hire them for the build phase as well.
Step 3: Prioritize Your Phases
Work with your designer and contractor to set a timeline and determine what will happen at each phase.
Typically, the most disruptive elements should come first:
- Major excavation (pools, significant grading)
- Retaining walls and foundational structures
- Primary patio or deck spaces
- Infrastructure for all future phases
“Quite often the biggest expense items are the ones that are going to do the most damage. They’re going to need the most construction, the most materials moved in, materials moved out, so often they end up being the first elements to be done,” Bowers said.
While maintaining your overall vision, be prepared for adjustments as you progress through the phases. Your priorities and preferences may evolve as you live with each completed phase.
Step 4: Plan for Future Material Availability
Consider material selection carefully, especially for items that will be installed across multiple phases.
“Products, paver shapes and colors change from year to year,” Bowers noted. “Some manufacturers do have their standard colors and shapes that will be around for 10-15 years, but I have had numerous people reach out to me that have said, ‘We got these pavers installed in ’95, and we would like to add on to it.’ That shape may not even be available anymore.”
Some homeowners purchase all hardscape materials upfront to ensure consistency across phases. You can also work with your designer and contractor to determine if matching is necessary or if there are ways you can play with different materials, shapes, colors, and textures across phases.
Ready to Start Planning Your Backyard Project?
A phased approach to backyard construction allows you to create your dream outdoor living space without the overwhelming upfront cost. By starting with a comprehensive design and thoughtfully planning each phase, you can build a cohesive backyard retreat that enhances your home’s value and your quality of life.
Step 5: Now it’s Time to Enjoy your Backyard Oasis
