Outdoor Living Cost Guides

Have you wanted a new deck or a swimming pool for those summer months? Turning your outdoor space into a comfortable, fun and safe place for the whole family can be less costly than you think. Think about how you want to use your outdoor space. The more prepared you are when you talk to your contractor, the easier it will be to transform the backyard into your paradise.
Patios and Pathways
Patios act as great spaces for dining, grilling, putting swimming pool furniture and holding outdoor parties. They are often made of concrete, tiles or stone and installed directly on the ground. They can be any shape and either attached to the home or a detached free-standing space in the middle of the yard. They are used for everything, from sitting and enjoying the view to holding an outdoor BBQ to surrounding a pool. These are less expensive than decks and easier to maintain in the long run.  Continue Reading
  • Install a Patio or Pathway Costs
    Most homeowners spent between:
    $1,657 - $4,320
    Average cost:
    $2,937
    Low cost:
    $830
     
    High cost:
    $7,000
  • Build a Deck Costs
    Most homeowners spent between:
    $4,087 - $9,896
    Average cost:
    $6,919
    Low cost:
    $2,000
     
    High cost:
    $15,000
  • Repair a Deck Costs
    Most homeowners spent between:
    $718 - $2,091
    Average cost:
    $1,379
    Low cost:
    $300
     
    High cost:
    $3,895

Select your Outdoor Living project

Outdoor Living
Install a Patio or Pathway
(10,697 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,937
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Deck
(7,689 projects)
Average National Cost:
$6,919
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Deck
(4,557 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,379
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Seal or Waterproof a Deck
(4,454 projects)
Average National Cost:
$791
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install or Repair Gas Pipes
(3,351 projects)
Average National Cost:
$480
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install a Hot Tub
(3,349 projects)
Average National Cost:
$320
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Maintain a Swimming Pool
(3,017 projects)
Average National Cost:
$254
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install Asphalt Paving
(2,470 projects)
Average National Cost:
$3,926
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Coat Concrete With Epoxy
(1,436 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,749
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair Asphalt Paving
(1,066 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,622
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Patio Enclosure
(985 projects)
Average National Cost:
$15,524
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Swimming Pool
(949 projects)
Average National Cost:
$17,546
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install an Awning
(911 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,378
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Remodel a Swimming Pool
(848 projects)
Average National Cost:
$8,122
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Swimming Pool Heater
(781 projects)
Average National Cost:
$393
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Patio or Pathway
(771 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,247
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair or Replace a Vinyl Pool Liner
(608 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,708
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Remove Concrete
(532 projects)
Average National Cost:
$935
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install a Swimming Pool Heater
(350 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,489
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build an Arbor, Pergola or Trellis
(265 projects)
Average National Cost:
$3,295
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair an Awning
(164 projects)
Average National Cost:
$548
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install a Playground or Swing Set
(128 projects)
Average National Cost:
$502
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install Swimming Pool Covers & Accessories
(99 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,214
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Deliver Concrete
(74 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,621
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Gazebo
(69 projects)
Average National Cost:
$7,210
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Gazebo
(69 projects)
Average National Cost:
$738
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install a Natural Gas BBQ
(66 projects)
Average National Cost:
$241
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build an Outdoor Kitchen
(65 projects)
Average National Cost:
$6,270
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Hot Tub
(61 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,023
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Boat Dock
(33 projects)
Average National Cost:
$737
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Install an Outdoor Misting System
(26 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,473
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Swimming Pool Enclosure
(20 projects)
Average National Cost:
$7,768
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Make and Install Signs
(18 projects)
Average National Cost:
$429
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Dock
(17 projects)
Average National Cost:
$2,877
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair an Outdoor Misting System
(17 projects)
Average National Cost:
$445
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build or Resurface a Tennis Court
(12 projects)
Average National Cost:
$6,433
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair Playground Equipment
(11 projects)
Average National Cost:
$275
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Greenhouse
(7 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,300
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Repair a Tennis Court
(6 projects)
Average National Cost:
$1,537
View Costs in Your Area
Outdoor Living
Build a Greenhouse
(4 projects)
Average National Cost:
$16,117
View Costs in Your Area
Pathways are useful when wanting to create a walking space in your yard. They can be made of various materials depending on the garden: pebbles, mulch, flagstone, ceramic tiles, etc. Asphalt is a very cost-effective option. It also provides a better surface for snow and ice removal in winter climates. It's easier to repair and additional layers can be added if necessary. Consider the square footage of your yard and if a pathway would be ideal for walking your garden area.
Decks
Unlike patios, decks are designed with wood, often enclosed and act as extensions of the home as an additional room. Building a deck can enhance the beauty of your home. Although a new deck could turn into an expensive investment, picking the best contractor for the job, planning and asking questions will make the difference in the end sum.
Choose your design, materials and location. You can have the coolest idea for a deck, and it will never look the way you anticipated if it isn't designed properly. If you have an especially great view from one part of your home, then position the new deck to take full advantage of it. If you are considering a hot tub, consider the optimal wood material for holding its weight. Sealing the deck is another way to help it last longer and shine. Flower boxes and benches are some options to consider to make your deck more beautiful.
Gazebo
A gazebo is a free-standing structure designed to provide shelter from the elements. Gazebos are normally situated in gardens or other places with beautiful views, and they are constructed in a wide range of styles and with an assortment of materials. These simple structures are relatively easy to build but have a multitude of uses. Think of adding decorative lattice or pillars, even a hot tub! There are really no design limitations - just your imagination and budget!
Swimming Pools
A swimming pool used to be a privilege of the rich, but today that isn't necessarily true. There are many options to fit within your budget. In-ground pools are more expensive than their above-ground counterparts, but both provide terrific aesthetic options and sound investments. Don't only think about the cost of the pool itself, but maintenance as well. Although modern equipment makes maintenance easy, weekly cleanings and seasonal closings are necessary to preserve the life of your pool. Be sure to check your local building restrictions to determine how far your pool needs to be from field lines and septic tanks. Talk to your insurance agent before construction to find out about additional coverage needed for a new pool, and you may also want to talk to your local taxing authorities about possible property tax assessment increases so that you'll know what to expect.

Share your cost experience

Help others plan and budget for their projects

Ric Ricard 6 months ago
You don't show "landscape design/installation"- like a front yard make-over, w/ the drought in mind ?? That's what I'm looking for!
Kathy Vosburg 7 months ago
As an experienced landscape designer and builder, what I have shared with my clients is the cost of the labor is based on the region they live in, what the fair market for the skills or trades are, and actually what season the work will be done in. That cost is fixed for the most part. The area where budgets fluctuate is in the size of the project and the material selection. The best analogy is a vehicle. For example, we have a choice of a stripped down, manual two-seat truck, an automatic four-seat truck, or a four-seat, long-bed, custom wheels, top of the line stereo, two-tone paint job with a leather interior, diesel truck. They're all trucks, but the criteria, amenities, and material choices make the price go up or down. It is the same within the design/build fields. And it is the design/build firm's job to ask the right questions to guide and direct a property owner to make the best decisions and choices that fulfill what they are hoping to achieve, within cost constraints and within the budget. Each homeowner, property, and project are unique, one cost, one budget, one design does not fit all. As a matter of policy, we do not provide quotes or prices during the initial client consultation. If anything, only price ranges, as the true and final costs are always dependent on the scope of work required and the material choices made by our clients.