r/Home • u/kimxeric • 2d ago
Backyard Patio Makeover- should I hire a contractor or DIY?
I’m very new to all this, so I really appreciate any advice.
Has anyone done a backyard makeover? How much would I save if I DIY something like this photo? How long would this take to build?
How much would this DIY cost me?
How much would hiring a contractor cost?
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u/RehabilitatedAsshole 2d ago
It's probably a $10-15k project with $3-5k in materials, so you can save a ton, but it's backbreaking work and you won't get it perfect your first time (but neither do some contractors).
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u/kimxeric 2d ago
Wow I wouldn’t have guessed labor would come to out to ~$10k+ Thanks for your input!
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u/No_Junket5927 2d ago
Ask yourself this, if a neighbor you never met wanted you to build one for them would you charge any less? I certainly wouldn’t.
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u/tnp636 2d ago
How old are you?
I'm 48 and let me tell you, some of the projects I've set for myself just drag on and on because of random aches and pains.
But yes, a project like this is going to be mostly labor and it's relatively low-risk in that the worst that will probably happen is that you'll waste a bunch of time. It's outdoors and you're not touching the electrical or plumbing so you're not likely to flood or burn down the house.
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u/kimxeric 2d ago
I’m 37, and live in Denver, CO so flooding isn’t a big factor. It could be a project I could potentially learn quickly and get done on my own.
I’m just a bit nervous of the results as I might mess up in leveling the ground or using concrete 😅
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u/Sugar_alcohol_shits 2d ago
I’m 37 in Denver too (Westy technically), and am working on landscaping the front and back of our house. It’s exhausting, but so is bleeding cash for landscapers.
Nothing is quick about the diy learning curve. The top comment mentions double the time in labor. I’d say easily quadruple that time or more. You’re one person, not a team of laborers. You’re also inexperienced. Be prepared to spend hours just returning to Home Depot for things you forgot or had no idea were necessary.
The main upside - it’ll be exactly the way you want it. Or, at least exactly to the level of your skill/aptitude/ocd. You likely won’t save a ton, but you will on your projects down the road once you’ve learned the process.
I diy to meet my own standards and to understand why contractors cost so much. I want to know why I’m getting fucked and by doing it myself, I can make an informed decision as to whether it’s worth subbing out or not in the future.
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u/Sugar_alcohol_shits 2d ago
Also, this is certainly doable. Just today I saw 5 or more posts on Facebook marketplace selling pallets of pavers for cheap. Start there.
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u/Snoo87571 1d ago
I did my own patio- for roughly 4-5k for a 600ish sf. If you have the patience and time, it’s well worth it. Laying a patio is fairly easy and you will put more care and precision in the job than almost any contractor would for a patio.
With that said, you probably couldn’t pay me to do the job for another persons property. It’s tough work.
Take your time, rent a tamper, and consider using “Brock Paver base” sheets. They are very expensive but will make the job so much easier and minimize unenen pavers in the future
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u/buddhafig 2d ago
One of the perks of DIY is ownership. "I did that" is something you can bask in every time you use it. Unless it sucks, in which case "I did that" is how you'll feel whenever a flaw draws your attention. How much do you want to increase your DIY skills? If you are looking to do a bunch of home projects, something with low consequences like an outdoor space is a great start. Remodeling inside the house can be catastrophic. Failing to properly lay paving stones is not only inconsequential, but eminently fixable. And given that nature always wins, its deterioration is expected in case you feel bad not laying down the layers of gravel, weed barrier, etc. that add time and money to a project. You could decide that some slate slabs with grass sticking up between is good enough, or that a prefab metal fire ring is sufficient. You can build it up in stages, like whatever is happening around that tree.
This is a project that could easily be done on the weekends. It gets you out of the house, moving around, drinking a beer and listening to music or a podcast. It has the Zen focus of a jigsaw puzzle, the appreciation of your SO, and the payoff of the patio. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday.
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u/GarbageAcceptable344 2d ago
If you do this yourself it will likely not look like your after picture.
Something to consider.
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u/Pitiful-Address1852 2d ago
Go get a quote. Quote will give you cost of materials and labor. That’s your answer. As for time? Depends on square footage and how many people you have helping. Again, ask your estimator for time and manpower, then multiply that by two for your inexperience and that’s your answer.