You’ve finally decided to renovate your outdoor space. You’ve been scrolling on Pinterest and flipping through design magazines, and finally know exactly what aesthetic you want. Now what? How do you make your vision a reality? In this article, we’re breaking down the steps to a well-planned and successful landscape renovation. Keep reading to learn more!

Know your purpose 

What purpose does this outdoor space serve you? How you organize your outdoor space will depend on whether you’re thinking of creating a space for the dog and kids to play in, or for you to relax and unwind in. When planning an outdoor space, it’s important to know what you’ll be using it for, allowing you to prioritize what you really need.

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Make your wish list 

Once you’ve established the purpose of your outdoor space, you need to prioritize the features you wish to incorporate. These priorities reflect the purpose of your space. If you’re looking to create a family-friendly environment, a swimming pool and fire pit would be interesting features for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking to create a host-worthy exterior, opt for an outdoor kitchen instead! Making a wish list will allow you to stay on track and remember what key elements are most important to you.

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Estimate your budget

It’s important, when planning your budget, to understand how much things cost. In our Backyard Planning Guide, we’ve created a table in which we’ve listed approximate pricing for different features and spaces. It’s also important to remember that 70-80% of your project costs will be labor. That is why it is very important to select an experienced contractor to handle your investment. We also offer a tool called The Estimation Tool. We give you an estimate of the total cost of your project based on the information you provide us. This service includes the cost of labor which makes it a very interesting tool to try. Best of all, it’s free!

Featured products: Travertina Raw patio slab and Raffinato Smooth Retaining Wall

Find the right pro

The owner-contractor relationship is a determining factor in your project’s success. Make sure you select the right professional for you! For many, this step can be overwhelming. Firstly, you need to find a landscape professional and then you need to determine their knowledge, skill set and experience. Many of these installers don’t have a great online presence, which makes this step even more difficult. Unless you’re being referred to one by someone you can trust, this whole process can become a serious headache. For that reason, we’ve created a program called Techo-Pros. We’ve essentially done the hard work for you: We’ve filtered the contractors in your area and present you with the ones we think are the best! We also offer a service called Concierge in which we help you locate a Techo-Pro in your area and connect you two. Let us help you find your professional!  

Identify challenges 

When planning an outdoor project, it’s important to identify possible challenges that may prohibit you from achieving your vision. We recommend you do a walk-around and consider things that might threaten the installation of your chosen features. For example, want a pool but missing space? You may want to consider a dipping pool or other small water feature instead. Identify these challenges so you can be prepared. Our Backyard Planning Guide offers many alternatives to common problems so you can address them head-on and discuss solutions with your contractor.

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Pick your budget battles

There are many small tweaks that can be made to significantly reduce your budget, without compromising on your vision. For example, if a fireplace is on your wish list, we suggest opting for a fire pit instead. Fireplaces are significantly more expensive due to construction time and engineering requirements to comply with code, whereas fire pits are a great alternative to save space and construction time. We offer you many more suggestions like this one in our Backyard Planning Guide. We also offer financing options through our Techo-Pros. You no longer have to compromise your vision for your budget! Find a Techo-Pro in your area and ask him or her about our financing program!

Choose your products

Now the fun part: choosing your products! The first step in choosing a product is to select your color palette. Once you’ve decided on colors, you can make your way to our website to select products based on texture and scale. In light of the current circumstances regarding COVID-19, we suggest you take the virtual 360 tour of one of our dealer boutiques. This tour will allow you to have an in-store experience from the comfort of your living room! Your landscape professional can also drop off product samples for you to see and get a feel for. Take these samples to your outdoor space and begin to envision what your exterior will look like when complete! Can you see it?

Starting and overseeing your project

It’s finally time to break ground! Even though you’re not on-site heading the project, there are still actions you need to take along the way to avoid surprises. For example, we recommend you check in with your contractor daily to see if the materials are what you ordered. Be present to catch mistakes before installation! Remember, this is your investment. Stay close to verify the work being done and to answer any questions your contractor may have for you. You are your best quality control.

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Care and maintenance

The project is complete and you’re in love with your new outdoor space! Now how do you keep your exterior looking new throughout the seasons? Just the way you get your home and yards ready for winter and summer, the same applies to your paving stones. They too require cleaning and maintenance. However, many of us don’t know how to maintain this upkeep. For this reason, we’ve created a Care and Maintenance Guide that will walk you through the maintenance process, ensuring that your outdoor space remains impeccable for years to come!

 Featured products: Travertina Raw patio slab and Raffinato Smooth retaining wall 

Follow these steps and your outdoor project should go off without a hitch! Who said a renovation has to be stressful? We’re here to help you along the way! 

Check out our Estimation Tool to have a good idea of the cost of your future backyard renovation project!