With a mild climate, Bay Area homeowners can use their backyards most of the year, as long as the space is built for fog, wind and cool evenings. Here are our favorite outdoor living ideas.
1. Add a covered patio
Shelter is everything in the Bay Area. A patio cover tied into your roofline blocks the wind, protects furniture and lets you sit outside on a foggy evening. Add heaters and lighting to make it feel like a true outdoor room.
2. Upgrade to stamped concrete
Stamped concrete can look like flagstone, slate or wood planks at a fraction of the cost. It is durable, low maintenance and comes in colors that match your brick or siding.
3. Build an outdoor kitchen
A built-in grill, counter space and a small refrigerator turn your patio into the place everyone wants to gather. Keep the kitchen under cover so you can cook rain or shine.
4. Plan for drainage
Heavy rain is part of life here. Every patio should be sloped away from the house, and in some yards a French drain or extra downspout extensions keep water away from the foundation.
5. Create shade with pergolas
A pergola adds architectural style and partial shade. Add a retractable canopy or climbing plants for more coverage.
6. Light it up
String lights, low-voltage landscape lights and fans make the space usable well into the evening, when the temperature finally drops.
Let us build your outdoor space
From stamped concrete to fully covered outdoor kitchens, we design and build backyard spaces that fit your home and your budget. See our concrete, patios and driveways service or get a free estimate.