Renovating Your Outdoor Space - What To Expect
As temperatures warm up around here, we are spending more and more time outside. We love to grill out, sit outside with friends, swim, and dine alfresco. We’ve been looking at renovating our outdoor kitchen area for some time now. I’ve been gathering information and photos and thinking about what that includes. A grill, counterspace with storage and granite countertops for prepping, a sink…it can all add up in a hurry! When renovating your outdoor space, think about how you will use it, the amount of time you will spend, as well as the ability to maintain the area. Here is a list of what some of those outdoor projects might involve and an estimate of costs involved.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are great for entertaining, and they keep you from having to heat up the kitchen inside your home. One way to keep costs down is to purchase a grill that is not built in. Creating a space in the cabinet for you grill, versus purchasing a built-in grill is definitely a cost saver! Another alternative to granite countertops is concrete counters, which comes in at a lower price point. According to Fixr, the national average is $13,000! Lowering your costs can bring it to around $4,500.
Courtesy of Villa Landscapes
Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits
Firepits and fireplaces are great areas to sit outside and visit with friends, roast marshmallows with the kids, or just enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day. Make sure you are using the proper materials under a firepit so your small flame doesn’t turn into a bonfire or worse! Using material such as concrete, clay, ceramic, or stone tiles will give you the necessary peace of mind and protect bottom of the firepit. Firepits at home improvement stores like Lowes can run anywhere from $100 to $500. Fixr states that costs run anywhere from $200 to $5,000 depending on the materials used.
Outdoor Movie Night
Setting up an outdoor movie theatre has grown increasingly in popularity. Prices on Amazon have really dropped since I checked into them last year. I will definitely be adding this to my outdoor renovation budget this year. You can expect to spend anywhere from $70 to $500 depending on features and sizes. Not a bad price for hours of together time with kiddos.
Pergolas and Decks
Outdoor seating spaces are great to cuddle up and read, to watch a movie on that projector you just purchased, or just to catch up on family time. Average cost to build a pergola is $4,500 on Fixr’s site. The lower end comes in at $1,000.00. Back patios can range anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 on average. For a simple gravel patio, approximately $500 is what you can expect.
Swimming Pools
Probably one of the pricier items when it comes to outdoor space renovations, adding an inground swimming pool can be on average $35,000 according to Homeguide. An upgrade in materials and size can cost $60,000 or more. Contractors have seen an uptick in recent years for pool installations. You will definitely want to consider your home value before installing a swimming pool, especially if you are considering a move a some point. Be sure you can get out of it the cost you put into it should you decide to sell your home, but swimming pools are wonderful for families and exercise.