Should I hire one company for the whole renovation or separate specialists?

One company managing the whole job reduces coordination headaches and rework, but if you want the best possible result in each category, some homeowners hire a lead designer to oversee specialist subcontractors instead.

In what order should patio, planting and lighting happen?

Hardscape and grading typically come first, irrigation and electrical lines go in before final planting, and lighting fixtures are usually placed last so they aren't damaged during construction.

Can I do a backyard renovation in phases instead of all at once?

Yes, many homeowners phase it over a year or two for budget reasons, but tell your designer up front so the first phase doesn't block or complicate the later ones.

Full backyard renovation: patio, planting and lighting combined

A full backyard renovation usually touches three trades at once: hardscape for the patio, fire pit, or walkways, planting design to fill and frame the new layout, and lighting or irrigation to make it usable at night and keep it alive. Homeowners doing a whole-yard overhaul rather than a single feature need a provider who can coordinate all three, whether that's one design-build firm or a lead contractor managing subcontractors.

This is distinct from picking a hardscape specialist alone or a planting designer alone: the point of a bundled renovation is that the patio layout, bed lines, and light or irrigation placement get planned together so nothing gets torn up and redone in six months.

Patio, seating wall, or fire feature construction
Bed layout and planting that ties into the new hardscape
Path lighting, uplighting, and irrigation zones added before or during planting
Single project timeline instead of three separately scheduled jobs

What it costs

Bundled renovations cost more in total than any single piece but often save money versus hiring three separate companies at three separate times, since site prep, grading, and utility marking only happen once. Get a phased quote so you can see what each piece (hardscape, planting, lighting) costs within the whole.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for hardscape & patio design.

1. Fun Outdoor Living
4.9★ · 480 reviews

93
2. Divine Lightscapes
5.0★ · 102 reviews

91
3. Sealtech Waterproofing
5.0★ · 93 reviews

91

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FAQ

Should I hire one company for the whole renovation or separate specialists?: One company managing the whole job reduces coordination headaches and rework, but if you want the best possible result in each category, some homeowners hire a lead designer to oversee specialist subcontractors instead.
In what order should patio, planting and lighting happen?: Hardscape and grading typically come first, irrigation and electrical lines go in before final planting, and lighting fixtures are usually placed last so they aren't damaged during construction.
Can I do a backyard renovation in phases instead of all at once?: Yes, many homeowners phase it over a year or two for budget reasons, but tell your designer up front so the first phase doesn't block or complicate the later ones.

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