FAQ
Planning an outdoor living project often comes with a lot of questions. From the design process and project timelines to budgets, permits, phasing, and working with other contractors, we’ve answered some of the most common questions homeowners ask before getting started with Outdoor Spaces.
At Outdoor Spaces our team of professional landscape designers creates custom designs catered directly to your property, needs, and aesthetic preferences. We then bring your vision to life through expert project management, and a network of vetted partner contractors.
Rather than coordinating everything yourself, you’ll have a dedicated team ensuring every detail of your outdoor space works together seamlessly. With Outdoor Spaces, you get more than a contractor; you get a complete, professionally managed outdoor transformation designed around you.
No, the initial in-home consultation is completely free. If you decide to move forward with us following the consultation, we will begin the design process which often requires a design fee. The design fee is typically then credited toward the cost of construction.
Yes. While we don’t offer design-only services, we can work alongside contractors you’ve already hired. We regularly coordinate with other professionals involved in a project to help ensure every part of the installation works together cohesively.
Not at all! We ask a lot of questions. The consultation is an opportunity for us to gather information about you and your home so we can make recommendations based on your needs, preferences, and constraints.
Some of our clients know exactly what they want at the beginning of the consultation, and others only have a vague concept of what they’re looking for. We’re happy to provide guidance either way.
Any time! Although, if you’re envisioning a larger project, the design, permitting, and financing process can sometimes be lengthy (6 to 12 months) so we recommend planning ahead.
During the initial meeting, we’ll ask plenty of questions to get to know you and your vision for the space. We’ll talk about your goals, the features you’re considering, how you want to use your space, and your personal style. It’s also helpful to think through how much you are willing to invest in your project. Inspiration photos can be helpful for communicating your style to us, but are not required.
Absolutely! We are experts at combining multiple elements into a comprehensive masterplan. Even if the goal is to phase, we prefer to design all features at once, including deck, patio, pool, outdoor kitchen, landscaping, and more.
Yes, we often design around existing spaces. Our goal is to create a space that looks and functions cohesively as one outdoor living space, no matter what you already have in place.
Yes! We often prefer to design projects with future phases in mind if you know this is a possibility. For example, we may design both a deck and future patio together, even if you only initially build the deck. This allows stair placement, elevations, and other design decisions to accommodate a later phase.
We generally do not offer ongoing landscaping maintenance. The landscaping we build into our projects is designed to be fairly low-maintenance (unless you prefer otherwise), and primarily exists to support the outdoor living space.
Yes, we will handle required permitting processes. We will obtain any zoning and building permits and coordinate necessary inspections. Depending on the project, we will also handle permits for electrical and gas work. For an HOA, we will prepare the information needed for approval, but the homeowner will need to submit the application and may need to complete additional steps such as gathering neighbor signatures.
Our design backlog varies, but you should typically expect to have an initial design within 2-6 weeks of the initial consultation. From there, construction timelines vary greatly depending on size and scope of the project.
Construction Timeline Examples
- Small projects (i.e. patio & landscape) = Approx. 2-4 weeks
- Medium projects (i.e. deck, porch & patio) = Approx. 2-4 months
- Larger projects (i.e. pool, patio & porch/pavilion) = Approx. 6-12 months
Cost can vary greatly depending on your project elements. Our projects typically start in the $20-30k+ range.
Project Cost Example Ranges
- Small projects (i.e. patio & landscape) = Approx. $20K – $70K
- Medium projects (i.e. deck, porch & patio) = Approx. $70K – $250K
- Larger projects (i.e. pool, patio & porch/pavilion) = Approx. $250K – $1M+
No, we encourage clients to secure financing independently. As obtaining financing can be a lengthy process, we advise starting this process early.