What Are Average Backyard Remodeling Costs?

You can transform the backyard at your home into your favorite outdoor spot with some well-thought remodeling. Backyard remodeling itself can cover a broad range of renovation options. Typically, homeowners will choose between patio covers, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, fire pits, decks, fences and a variety of other elements.

When considering a remodel, your budget will ultimately dictate the type and number of elements you can have. Here’s a quick look at the average costs involved with backyard remodeling.

Outdoor Kitchen Costs

The costs of outdoor kitchens range wildly. A kitchen with the bare basics can be propped up in as little as $2,000 while a luxury kitchen can cost tens of thousands of dollars. A bare basics kitchen can include a grill, refrigerator and a steel sink. These will set you back $1,000 to $5,000.

Outdoor Deck Costs

Like outdoor kitchens, outdoor decks vary considerably in terms of their costs. Deck costs are measured per square foot. For the low end deck materials, costs may be as little as $10 to $12 per square foot. Higher end materials can go upward of $50 per square foot. A neat trick to incorporate a deck inexpensively into your backyard is to keep it compact. A 10 x 10 deck, for instance, will cost you around $700 with DIY installation or $2,200 with a professional installation.

Patio Costs

Patios are a more inexpensive option you can use in your backyard remodeling. Factors that affect the cost of a patio include its size and the material you use. At the low end, a 12 x 12 square feet patio will cost around $900 for concrete, $1,200 for brick, $1,500 for pavers and $2,220 for flagstone. If you use high-end materials, the costs can go up to $2,500 for concrete, $1,800 for brick, $3,600 for pavers and $4,500 for flagstone.

Fire Pits

Fire pits are another cost-friendly option for your backyard space. Portable options start at as little as $80. Prefabricated fire pits start at around $1,300 while pits built into your backyard space will cost upward of $5,000.

Swimming Pools

Pool costs depend heavily on the size, design and materials you use. Concrete or custom pools will typically start at $20,000 while low-end vinyl-lined pools can fit into a $2,000 budget.

It is possible to add several elements during your backyard remodeling regardless of your budget. As stated above, most of these elements come in both high-end and low-end varieties. So you can combine low-end and high-end elements to achieve a good results with your backyard project and create a spot where you and your family can have a quality outdoor time.

If you’re thinking about adding a deck to your property, your planning should take into account ROI variables. Materials, size, access, and the “wow factor” all contribute to a prospective buyer’s perception of the value added by a deck to the property. It’s worth becoming familiar with deck construction in the comparable properties in your area so you can position yours where you want to be value-wise. Another value relationship to consider is that between your deck budget and the overall value of the property. It doesn’t make ROI dollars and sense to build something too grand for the size and likely resale price of the home. One rule of thumb used by contractors and architects is that a deck should be no larger than the home’s biggest interior space. 

Keep in mind, too, that adding value to your home gets the attention of the assessor and the underwriter, so your property taxes and insurance premiums are like to be increased. Like anything else built by human beings, a deck will inevitably require some maintenance and/or repair as time goes by. Good choices of materials, with expert design and construction, are the ticket to keeping those costs down and your enjoyment and ROI up.