At Creative Concepts and Design, we are deck design experts in KC. We look for ways to bring our deck customers more value than they expect. One of the most rewarding things in this business is surprising customers with a plan for a backyard makeover on the same (or very similar) budget they gave us for just a deck. How do we do it? Because we’ve been building decks in Kansas City for the last 15 years, we know the ins and outs of materials, construction, budgets, and more. We use this knowledge and experience to create backyard plans that blow our customers away.
Pop on a Patio
Here’s how we do it. Let’s say a customer wants to build a deck. Decks cost, on average, $75 sq. ft. and $350 per step to enter the market for a capped composite deck with metal railing. Most homeowners want a usable space below their deck but don’t realize a patio is an affordable option. A concrete patio with a brush finish only costs $14 sq. ft. We can easily add a patio for much less than most people realize. Now, a stamped and stained patio will increase the price, but keeping things simple gets you a lot more usable space for less. Sometimes, we can reduce the size of the deck by just a bit to keep the whole project within budget and create almost double the usable space. We have many ways we can value engineer a backyard makeover.
Pergolas Aren’t Pricey
Our customers are often quite surprised at how affordable pergolas are to build. Pergolas are structures that provide partial shelter and shade over a deck. They feature slatted roofs that allow sunlight to shine through. Their simple structure is their secret. Other backyard structures like gazebos have solid roofs adding much more to the cost of construction. We think pergolas are the most misunderstood and underappreciated additions when it comes to deck design. They also work great over a garden, patio, or near a pool. The best material to use on a pergola in the Midwest is western red cedar due to its decay and bug resistance. Cedar is also less prone to shrinking and twisting than treated lumber.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of pergolas:
- Cost – Pergolas are a fraction (⅓-½) of the cost of an enclosure like a gazebo or sunroom but provide many of the same benefits.
- Shade – Pergolas offer protection from the sun (You can easily and affordably add a fabric roof to make it convertible for when you want sun or when you don’t).
- Enchanting Spot – Pergolas soften a hardscape and create a warmer more organic ambience than an enclosed space. Pergolas provide a great space for so many activities. Privacy walls make them even cozier.
- Upgrade Your Space – Add outdoor furniture, lighting, ceiling fans, chandeliers, speakers, swoosh shades, fireplaces, outdoor bar/grill, curtains, etc. Create the vibe you want from fun and playful, to upscale, to quiet and romantic …the choice is yours. A pergola will take your space to a whole new level.
Landscaping and Hardscaping Complete the Puzzle
Landscaping is the last piece of the backyard puzzle. Carefully designing the way a backyard flows can make all the difference in the way it functions and feels. With a solid design from the beginning, your backyard will become everything you want it to be. From pathways and garden spaces, to retaining walls and water features, landscaping is the secret to connecting all the spaces and making them flow like one cohesive design.
The Backyard with More Bang for Your Buck
We know how to build a deck and stay on budget. Once we share these budget-friendly solutions with our customers, they are thrilled. Some even increase their budget when they realize how much more they can get just by adding a bit more. Our goal is to maximize the enjoyment, create a backyard that really wows, and stay within a reasonable budget. From decks to patios to pergolas to landscaping, we can turn your backyard into an oasis.
Creative Deck Concepts
There’s no hard sell here. We can suggest working these elements into your backyard plan, but the goal is not to increase your budget. It is to give you more bang for your buck with your deck plan and to show you some options that you may not have realized were so affordable. Exceeding expectations isn’t easy, but we’ve got the knowledge and the experience to get it done. All it takes is some imagination and the right team of people. Our name is Creative Concepts and Design and that’s exactly what we provide.
