Concept
A clear, build-ready plan you can take anywhere.
$1,350/ design
- Site analysis
- 2D site plan
- Concept moodboard
- 1 revision round
Service
Backyard Construction
Built once, built right.
What's included
Every project, every time.
- ✓
Patio & Deck Construction
Custom patios using pavers, natural stone, stamped concrete, or composite decking. Includes grading, drainage, and base preparation for lasting performance. - ✓
Pergola & Shade Structures
Wood, aluminum, and vinyl pergolas, patio covers, and shade sails. Engineered for wind loads and designed to complement your home's architecture. - ✓
Outdoor Kitchen & BBQ Islands
Custom-built outdoor kitchens with gas lines, electrical, plumbing, countertops, built-in grills, refrigerators, sinks, and storage. - ✓
Fire Pit & Fireplace
Gas and wood-burning fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and fire tables. Custom masonry or prefabricated units with safe, code-compliant gas connections. - ✓
Water Features & Pools
Fountains, waterfalls, ponds, and pool coordination. We design water features that integrate seamlessly and manage pool contractor collaboration. - ✓
Retaining Walls & Hardscaping
Engineered retaining walls, garden walls, walkways, steps, borders, and decorative hardscape elements built for structural integrity and visual appeal. - ✓
Landscape Lighting & Power
Path, accent, and dusk-to-dawn LED lighting with GFCI-protected exterior outlets for entertaining and security. - ✓
Specialty Builds
Sport courts, putting greens, artificial turf, outdoor showers, saunas & cold plunges, dog runs, raised-bed vegetable gardens, and outdoor audio — scoped into the same plan set and run by the same project manager as the rest of the yard. - ✓
Final Walkthrough & Punch List
Full project walkthrough with you on-site, deficiency punch list completed, manuals + warranty documents handed over.
Deliverables
What you actually receive.
Before / After
From bare site to finished build.
Drag the divider, swipe on touch, or use ←/→ keys when the handle is focused. Left: the same hillside lot before construction. Drag to reveal the finished pool and deck.
Before image: an AI visualization generated from the finished-project photo, for illustration only. After image: an actual NHG HOME project photo.
Three ways to start
Pick the package that fits your scope.
Fixed-fee design tiers. Build cost is separate (typical range $40K–$250K+).
Signature
The package most clients pick when they intend to build.
$2,800/ design
- All Concept deliverables
- 3D rendering (1 angle)
- Planting plan
- Lighting plan
- 2 revision rounds
Estate
Full architectural integration with HOA-ready package.
$5,200+/ design
- All Signature deliverables
- 3D rendering (2 angles)
- Full material specifications
- HOA submittal package
- Construction-ready docs
- Unlimited revisions
Design fees only. Permits, HOA filing fees, materials, and construction quoted separately.
Hardscape cost
What does hardscape cost in Orange County?
Patio and hardscape construction in Orange County runs $15,000 to $40,000 for a typical 400–600 square foot patio. Material choice is the largest single variable — poured or stamped concrete sits at the bottom of the range and natural stone at the top.
| Material | Installed / sq ft | 400–600 sq ft patio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamped or colored concrete | $18 – $32 | $8,000 – $19,000 | Fastest to install; will hairline crack over time |
| Concrete pavers | $25 – $45 | $12,000 – $27,000 | Individually replaceable; the county default |
| Porcelain pavers | $35 – $60 | $16,000 – $36,000 | Fade- and stain-resistant, popular for modern builds |
| Natural stone (bluestone, travertine) | $40 – $75 | $18,000 – $45,000 | Highest end; each piece is cut and set individually |
| Wood or composite deck | $40 – $80 | $18,000 – $45,000 | Required where grade change makes a slab impractical |
Against national figures from the National Association of Landscape Professionals, a 400–600 sq ft paver patio estimates at $10,500 nationally versus $15,000–$40,000 installed in Orange County — labor, permits and site access account for most of the gap.
Where the budget goes
How is a backyard build budget actually divided?
On a $120,000 Orange County backyard remodel, hardscape takes the largest single share at roughly a third, and the invisible work — demolition, grading, drainage, permits and utilities — consumes about a quarter before a single paver is set.
| Category | Budget | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hardscape | $40,000 | 33% |
| Shade structure | $18,000 | 15% |
| Outdoor kitchen and fire feature | $16,000 | 13% |
| Planting and turf | $13,000 | 11% |
| Site prep and drainage | $12,000 | 10% |
| Lighting and electrical | $7,000 | 6% |
| Irrigation | $5,000 | 4% |
| Design and project management | $5,000 | 4% |
Full breakdown with regional data sources is in our Orange County backyard remodel cost guide.
FAQ
What people ask about backyard construction.
How much does a patio cost in Orange County?
Patio and hardscape construction in Orange County typically costs $15,000-$40,000 depending on size, materials, and design complexity. Pavers, natural stone, and stamped concrete each carry different price points. NHG HOME provides free on-site estimates with transparent, itemized pricing so you know exactly what to expect.
How long does backyard construction take?
Backyard construction timelines range from 4-12 weeks depending on scope. A simple patio installation may take 4-6 weeks, while a complete backyard transformation with an outdoor kitchen, pergola, and hardscaping can take 8-12 weeks. Timelines depend on permit requirements, material lead times, and weather conditions. We provide a detailed project schedule during your consultation.
Do you handle permits for outdoor construction?
Yes, NHG HOME manages the entire permitting process for your outdoor construction project. This includes preparing plans, submitting applications to your local building department, coordinating with HOA architectural review boards, and scheduling all required inspections. We handle the paperwork so you can focus on enjoying the results.
Can you build an outdoor kitchen?
Absolutely. We design and build custom outdoor kitchens and BBQ islands complete with gas lines, electrical, plumbing, countertops, and storage. Options include built-in grills, side burners, refrigerators, sinks, and pizza ovens. Outdoor kitchen projects typically range from $20,000-$80,000 depending on size and features.
How does the design phase connect to construction?
Most clients start with our Backyard Design package ($1,350-$5,200+, design fees only). Once plans are approved, the same team transitions into construction with no handoff loss. If you already have plans from another designer, we'll review and price the build directly.
What about HOA approvals?
Most Orange County backyards fall under HOA architectural review. We prepare submittal packages — drawings, material samples, elevations — and respond to committee feedback so you don't have to. Most approvals close in 4-6 weeks; we plan around it from day one.
Why is Orange County hardscape more expensive than national averages?
Three reasons: licensed labor rates, permit and inspection requirements that many markets do not have, and site access. A national estimate of $10,500 for a 400 to 600 square foot paver patio assumes a truck can back up to the work area — on most Orange County lots material is wheeled through a side gate, which changes the labor math entirely.
What is the invisible quarter of the budget?
Demolition, grading, drainage, permits and utility rough-in. None of it shows in the finished photos, but skipping drainage is why patios heave and planting beds drown. On a $120,000 build this work is roughly $12,000 in site prep plus the permit and utility line items.
Can you build from another designer's plans?
Yes. We regularly price and build from plans drawn elsewhere. We do a constructability review first and flag anything that will not pass plan check or that prices unrealistically, which is better found before contract than during framing.
Your yard is the room you don't have yet.
Three minutes of questions. We come back with a recommended package, a build cost range, and a date to walk the lot.