Step out on bare concrete around two o’clock on an August afternoon. You’ll feel it right through the soles of your work boots. It’s flat-out miserable. We all know how punishing the heat gets around here, but staying locked up inside with the air conditioner humming all weekend gets old real fast.
People want to be out in the yard. They want to smoke ribs, drink cold beer, and watch ball games with buddies. Over at Basey Construction Services, we tackle Texas outdoor remodeling with zero fluff. No fragile junk that warps after three months. Just heavy-duty, honest upgrades built to take a beating from hail, flash floods, and brutal direct sun.
1. Real Patio Covers and Roof Tie-Ins
An umbrella from a big box store won’t save you. One decent thunderstorm blows through and tosses it into your neighbor’s fence.
If you plan to sit outside past nine in the morning, you need timber and shingles over your head. We tie new rooflines right into the existing house rafters. That way water drains away cleanly, and the add-on doesn’t look like some clumsy shed you slapped together over a weekend.
- Cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling boards: Cedar has a nice smell, it deals with changes in moisture without warping, and it does not push heat straight down onto your head.
- Wet-rated ceiling fans for businesses: Low-cost indoor fans can droop when they get damp. Go with large aluminum blades so the fan actually moves air.
- Recessed can lights with dimmers: You can dim them to look at the grill grates without shining bright light at everyone at the table.
- Motorized roll-down drop shades: When the west sun gets harsh, pull the shades down around 4 o’clock. Then raise them again before evening.
Start your outdoor remodeling Texas plans with shade. If you skip this part, your backyard is basically useless half the year.
2. Outdoor Kitchens That Don’t Rust Out
Cooking burgers inside during the dog days of summer is a mistake. It heats up your house, and your AC runs nonstop for three hours trying to catch up.
Moving your cook setup outdoors solves that problem completely. But you can’t just drop any cheap grill in a stone box and call it a day. The wind, grease, and rain eat low-grade metal alive out here.
- Marine-grade 304 stainless steel: Skip the 430 stuff they sell cheap. It pits and shows surface rust before your first winter ends.
- Drop-in gas grills with dedicated sear zones: High heat gets your steaks done fast without you sweating over a slow flame.
- Under-counter outdoor drink coolers: Save your living room floors from muddy kid footprints running inside for juice boxes.
- Honed granite or sealed poured concrete: Marble looks fancy in magazines, but lemon juice, lime juice, or BBQ sauce will ruin it fast.
Leave breathing room between the fridge box and your grill. Trapping all that heat next to a compressor will burn the motor out before the season is even over.
3. Smarter Layouts for Texas Outdoor Living Spaces
Most yards we see are plain and boxy. People set a table in the center. Then they bring out a few plastic chairs. After that, they act surprised when the area feels off for real life.
Picture your kitchen and dining area. You do not cram the table right next to the stove. In the same way, make the yard work in sections. Each spot should have a job. That is what keeps it comfortable.
- Travertine and light stone pavers help a lot. Plain gray concrete can feel harsh on bare feet. Stone stays more bearable when the sun hits hard.
- Use low native limestone walls. They give guests a spot to sit or rest a drink. No need to add more bulky seating.
- Make dining nooks a bit off to one side. Move the table toward the edge. That way, chairs are less in the way. Carrying hot food from the grill also feels safer.
- Pick open pergolas with native vines. Crossvine or purple passionflower can take off and cover the frame. You end up with shade that cools the area a bit.
Good Texas outdoor living is mainly about layout. Leave space around the grill so people can work and move. Also set aside a corner where the kids can play without bumping into everyone else.
4. Fire Pits for Those Random Winter Cold Snaps
Yes, we complain that it is too hot for six months in the year. Then in January when an arctic cold front passes southward over the plains, it cuts right through you.
With a dependable heat source out back, you don’t have to pack up your patio furniture in October. Transforms a summer-only patio into a place to sit year-round.
- Natural gas fire tables in nature with a fire valve: No smoke in your eyes, no flying ash, and you stop the fire.
- Dry stacked stone wood pits: No better way to enjoy a clear Friday night with the kids than to pop mesquite or oak wood logs.
- Large stone fireplaces: Act as a big windbreak against the north wind and return a lot of radiant heat to seats.
- Hanging up radiant electric heaters: Attach them to patio beams, high above the patio, to blow up heat during windy nights at eating areas.
Do not have a wood fire in an open yard. If you wish to have a fire under your covered roof, ensure you have a gas pipe or construct a vented chimney with a spark arrestor.
5. Ditching Thirsty Lawns for Low-Upkeep Hardscape
Routine dead-dry grass trimming every Saturday morning is not so sweet. With water restrictions in place and bills soaring, it’s like throwing money in the trash can when you have a patch of St. Augustine grass.
Smart homeowners are removing thirsty yards and replacing them with beds of stone, gravel and native plants that are sharp without watering morning, noon or night.
- Heavy-duty artificial turf runs: Dog- and kid-friendly. No mud tracked into the house after a rain, no fertilizer was required, and no dead yellow spots.
- Compacted decomposed granite paths: Absorbs rainwater quickly in an instant of a thunderstorm and creates that classic “Hill Country” appearance to your yard.
- Native plant rock gardens: Yucca, red yucca, and Texas sage don’t care about drought. They simply get bigger, bloom, and remain green.
- Buried drip irrigation lines: Instead of watering by spraying onto the soil that evaporates in the dry air, water is pushed directly into the roots under mulch.
The key to creating outdoor living spaces that Texas families can keep up with is to keep it simple. Don’t fight Mother Nature and plant what belongs here.
6. Composite Decking and Screened Porches
Treated pine holds up for a while. About half a year, then the hot Texas sun warps the boards. Fasteners loosen. Screws pop up. Soon, you step down and get little splinters in your feet.
If you are doing outdoor work at home, cheap lumber will not last. Texas heat and storms beat it down. Pay more for composite boards, or hire a crew to build a screened room. Then you can actually use the space.
- Capped composite deck boards: Less twisting, less splitting, and no rot. You also skip the long Saturday routine with a pressure washer and stain brush.
- Hidden track clip fasteners: The screw heads sit under the board. No sharp bits to trip on. No hot metal to worry about when you walk barefoot.
- Full screened-in porches: You can sit outside at night without swarms in your face. Mosquitoes stay out, and you do not have to slap at June bugs on your food.
- Powder-coated aluminum deck railings: The metal is tough. It will not peel like some coatings. It does not rust the way bare steel can. Thin posts also let you see the yard clearly.
A screened porch gives you back your evenings. Take off your boots. Set down a cold drink. Listen to the rain. You do not have to put up with bugs while you relax.
How We Build at Basey Construction Services
Building things out back in this part of the country is tricky. The black clay dirt we have here swells like a sponge when wet, and when dry it makes a hard rock.
By next spring, that nice new patio could crack in the middle if the contractor doesn’t install the proper piers or pours the concrete too thin. At Basey Construction Services, our goal is to create structures that stand the test of time. With over 30 years of experience in the Austin area, we bring quality craftsmanship to every project, including new home construction in Austin TX. We handle the work you don’t want to do, from digging deep footings and obtaining engineering stamps to securing city permits and completing clean, custom carpentry. We deliver straightforward service, clean job sites, and lasting craftsmanship you can trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular outdoor remodeling ideas in Texas?
The homeowner’s favorite investments are deep covered patio additions, outdoor kitchens, and stone fire pits. Here at Basey Construction Services, we notice people leaning on large shade covers, powerful ceiling fans, and light stone paving for their outdoor remodeling in Texas. People only want a place to escape the sun and cook outside without burning up.
What is the cost of an outdoor living area remodel in Texas?
A patio made with stone pavers usually costs around $8,000 to $15,000. The exact price depends on your yard layout. In many cases, total costs run closer to $40,000 to $100,000 or more after you include roof tie-ins, electrical and plumbing work, and built-in grill features.
What materials work best outside in Texas?
You want products that handle long sun days and heavy downpours. Look at travertine pavers, local limestone tile, marine-grade 304 stainless steel, and capped composite boards. If you seal Western Red Cedar well, it holds up better against moisture rot and insect damage than plain pressure-treated pine, especially for patio posts and overhead rafters.
Is it possible to remodel an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, and it will save you a lot of money if you do it early enough. The best answer to this is to trench first for water, gas, and power lines before pouring any concrete or laying any stone pavers. If you will be placing a grill under a covered roof, you also need to install an overhead vent hood to avoid smoke removing the people, too.
How can an outdoor living space add value to a Texas home?
It provides you with square footage that you will be able to use without the expense of framing and cooling the interior of the rooms. Among the top features Texas homebuyers seek are: shade, outdoor kitchen, and clean patio. A sturdy construction will attract your purchasers straight away, make your home sell faster, and typically recoup for you a significant portion of your investment.
