9 Backyard Renovation Mistakes, According To Southern Experts

Here’s how to avoid renovator’s regret.

A big home project is exciting, but not to be taken lightly. It’s a large undertaking, and it's not so easy to roll back if you have regrets. Renovation mistakes can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst, and the solutions guarantee to be costly and time-consuming. That’s why it’s important to get it right the first time. Thanks to landscape architects Josh Myers from Myers + Co. and Garrett Mattes from Ink + Moss, there’s no need to panic about everything that could possibly go wrong. Before embarking on a backyard renovation, heed this advice from two Southern experts. Here’s what not to do when renovating your backyard.

Meet The Experts

• Garrett Mattes is a landscape architect for Ink + Moss in Charleston, South Carolina with over 15 years of experience.

• Josh Myers is a landscape architect and owner of Myers + Co in Louisville, Kentucky with over 20 years in the business.

Rushing Into It

“Try not to put the cart before the horse when it comes to a project,” says Mattes. “Take the time to think about what you really want and come up with a plan or find a professional that is highly recommended by a friend or neighbor to get you started on the right foot.”

Myers agrees that having a plan in place is a must. “It's important to have a plan in place so your contractors can properly budget the project and then ultimately build the project in a timely manner and on budget,” he says.

Discounting Needs

Even if you’ve done your homework by figuring out what style and design you like for backyards, remember that every home and family is different. No matter how much pretty inspiration you gather, a typical layout or check list may not suit yours and your family’s practical backyard dreams. So, don’t just come up with a plan, but find the right plan that works for you. To do so, Myers and Mattes recommend considering your specific needs. What do you need and want from your backyard?

“There are numerous things you must consider when renovating your backyard but it’s always good to start with the basics: what elements do I want in my backyard? Am I looking for a space to use actively or passively or both? Am I wanting it to be really functional and easy to maintain or am I willing to spend time with upkeep?  What am I trying to accomplish as an end result,”  questions Mattes. “There are plenty of details you’ll need to consider as you get started, but if you can begin with a big picture to clearly define what you want, it’ll make it easier as you move through the process to answer the other questions.”

Myers also reminds us not to forget about important elements like installing opportunities for shade, full-sun spots for gardens, storage, and drainage.

Bypassing The Law

Remember that you and your contractors aren’t the only ones with stake in your renovation. The city cares too. Be cognizant of zoning codes and get your permits in order ahead of time. These permits can take weeks or months to process, Myers reveals, so secure what you need in advance.

“Zoning and codes are important as well as any neighborhood design boards you might need to be aware of. Knowing what you can and can’t do is a great place to start,” says Mattes. “I’ve seen a number of clients get started on something without thinking about the big picture and it makes the future phases of the project much more difficult, or they do something that isn’t allowed and have issues with neighborhood boards or municipalities.”

Under-Budgeting

Set a budget, but more than that, Myers stresses the importance of truly understanding what goes into a renovation budget and how cost allocations may shift throughout the process. Some wiggle room in the budget then, is essential so that changing costs aren't devastating.

“It is common to have to make changes and adjustments to your original plan after you have started the project,” Myers says. “Changes can sometimes affect and increase the budget. An example would be changing the type of patio material that you had originally planned on using or increasing the size of the patio will also potentially increase the budget.”

Working With Wrong Team

Renovations require many skilled people. Both Myers and Mattes recommend finding trust-worthy contractors to provide a range of support that will lead to the outcome you want. Mattes strongly advises using a professional that a friend or neighbor has used, trusts, and can vouch for. Myers suggests employing contractors with a variety of skills, as well as a manager to hold all the moving pieces together.

“Hiring the wrong contractors can create a lot of issues, and ultimately cost time and money. Make sure your contractor or contractors have done a similar type of project. It's great if you can hire a contractor who might do everything your project requires in-house. If you don't, I would recommend hiring contractors who have collaborated on projects together so they have a familiarity with each other's work. This will make the project go smoother,” says Myers.

“It's also important to have someone overseeing the project to manage the various contractors so the project moves smoothly,” Myers adds. “Depending on the project there can be needed coordination and communication between contractors. If there is a breakdown in communication this can slow down the construction process.”

Going Out Of Order

The order in which a renovation occurs is critical, Myers says. If you have multiple different contractors coming to do a range of different things, be careful to schedule them in an order that works logistically. Poor planning can jeopardize access to space, materials, and equipment, leading to obstacles that drain time and money.

“When renovating your backyard, you want to make sure that you implement the project in the appropriate sequence. This is especially important on challenging sites where space and access are limited,” says Myers. “When you don't sequence or build the project in the appropriate order, it can potentially make it more difficult to do the work, slowing down productivity. There can be situations where materials can get damaged or ruined because certain parts of the project were done out of order.”

Misplacing Materials

Not all materials are created equal, and it goes beyond straightforward quality rankings. Just like plants have USDA zones in which they will better blossom, materials too can be better suited for some climates over others. For your garden, choose plants that will bloom in your climate and for the rest of the yard, likewise opt for materials made for your location.

“If you end up using a material not suited to your particular climate, you may have to spend additional money to tear out what you installed and replace it with a more suitable material,” says Myers. “For example, there may be certain paving materials that work great in California that will not hold up to winter weather in colder parts of the country.”

Creating Danger Zones

“Try to avoid things that might be harmful to you, your family, guests, and pets. It’s something I don’t think a lot of people consider when doing certain projects,” says Mattes. “Luckily, I haven’t made mistakes with this, but I’ve heard a number of examples of slippery or super hot pool decks from using the wrong stone/decking, pets getting sick from poisonous plants, and children being poked in the eye by sharp plants planted too close to a walkway.”

“Try to avoid creating areas that could be tripping hazards (like a random step up in the yard that is not clearly identifiable or stairs that aren’t to code height) or angles and corners you can bump into or have a child accidentally run into,” he advises. “Also research plants and make sure they are safe for your pets and children.”

Living Only In The Now

A renovation is a commitment, Myers reminds us. Before beginning a backyard renovation, he advises homeowners to think about how long they plan on staying in the home and considering if the desired renovation is a good investment. The right plan can serve the homeowners well, get enough use to be worth the money put into it, and ultimately add value to the home.

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