Why Patio Renovation Plans Do NOT Always Start From Scratch
Homeowners who haven’t worked with us before tend to assume that patio renovation plans necessarily involve months of planning and execution. They think of backyards being dug up, fences and trees ripped out, and maybe even structures knocked over. In other words, they picture a complete transformation.
That’s certainly possible, and there is a certain type of fun and satisfaction that comes with turning a customer’s backyard into something brand new. However, it’s important to know that not every patio renovation plan has to start from scratch. There are a lot of times when we work with, or around, existing elements on a property.
There are many reasons we might decide to keep some elements of an existing patio design. In today’s post, I want to run through a few of them so you’ll have an idea of the thought process either way. I also want to give an inside look at how, why, and when you might choose to do a smaller patio renovation plan rather than taking everything apart to begin from a blank slate.
Let’s begin with something that is easy to overlook.
There Is No Typical Patio Renovation Plan
No two properties are the same, and no two customers want the same thing. Put those ideas together and it’s obvious why there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter patio renovation plan. Nothing works for everyone.
Certainly, we have elements that come up frequently in interviews with new customers. Many of them want swimming pools, grills, and outdoor fire pits or fireplaces. But none of these are so common that we would assume someone is going to want them. Instead, we just have to ask lots of questions and listen to the answers.
My advice to you would be similar: ignore all the posts with “must-have” advice, and don’t worry about what your neighbors or relatives have done. Just think about what makes sense for you. Consider your preferences, your budget, and (most importantly) your dream for your patio. It doesn’t matter whether that works for someone else or not.
Homeowners Sometimes Work in Stages
We have customers who have been upgrading their outdoor space, piece by piece, over the course of a decade. In some ways it’s easier and more sensible to follow this kind of approach than it is to do everything at once.
On television shows, homeowners talk to a design specialist and then go away for a week. When they come back it’s time for a big reveal where we as viewers gawk at how some part of their property has been transformed. That’s fine, but not everyone has the budget to install dozens of features all at once. And, it can sometimes be good to install the most important elements of your patio renovation plan to see how they might affect your future preferences.
In fact, that brings me to another important point in this process.
One Phase of a Patio Renovation Plan Can Unlock Another
Sometimes, making one change to your patio can make you decide to add another. The shift in your thinking might be planned or it could happen spontaneously after the first round of work has been completed.
For a simple example, take the case of a homeowner who decides to have us install an outdoor kitchen, deck, and pergola. The desire is to enjoy those long summer days, and possibly to host friends and family for barbecues and celebrations. After having those pieces in place for a season, they might decide to continue with a pool or a hot tub. Then, those additions might call for a walkway with some extra lighting along the path.
These kinds of add-on requests come to us all the time. Certainly, we can use our experience to suggest little changes and additions during the design phase, but it’s still possible that you might expand your thinking after your initial patio renovation project has finished.
Extras and Upgrades Can Change Everything
While the example I gave in the last point was about relatively large additions to a patio renovation plan, there are also small upgrades and extras that can make a huge difference. In this case I’m talking about the elements like lighting, furniture, and even decoration that can take your patio from “great” to “amazing.”
As I’ve already mentioned, though, those little extras and upgrades aren’t always obvious until you have the major pieces in place. And so, you’ll sometimes get better results by working in stages – while keeping some of what you have in your existing patio design – rather than doing things all at once.
You Might Have Great Elements in Your Current Patio
I have saved the most important point for last. The best reason to avoid changing your patio all at once is to keep what works.
Often, we meet with homeowners who have beautiful trees, fences, and structures for us to work around. They might have already had a pool or a deck installed, or want to keep a patch of grass clear for playing football. They might even want to save space for some future use.
Putting a patio renovation plan together doesn’t require an all-or-nothing mindset. That’s especially true if you already have pieces that work for your goals or lifestyle.
What Does Your Perfect Patio Renovation Plan Look like?
My goal for this post isn’t to talk you into going for a brand-new patio. I don’t want to convince you to keep some or all of what you have, either. Instead, it’s to think about the way you want to use your outdoor space – to share it with family and friends all year round – and then work back from that goal.
Sometimes that means spreading the project over a decade, as many of our customers have. Or, it could mean you want to take out everything that was there before and start fresh. You may just want to add a few features to what you already have and love.
If you want to fill in some of the details for your perfect patio renovation plan, or just get some thoughts from a member of our design team for free, I hope you’ll schedule an at-home consultation. We’ll be sure to give you our best advice, answer any of your questions, and then give you a quote with no obligation.
The relaxing oasis you are dreaming of is waiting for you in your backyard. Let us help bring that vision to life.