Sometimes, it’s just not feasible to build your dream outdoor living space all at once in Warsaw, IN or Syracuse, IN. When building one phase at a time, proper upfront planning can save time, money and headaches.
Tip #1: Choose a qualified design/build contractor
A large outdoor living brick paver patio for your Warsaw, Culver, Ft. Wayne, Columbia City, Syracuse, Winona Lake, or Leesburg home is an important investment. Don’t trust that investments to just anyone. With a smaller job, an installation contractor is fine, but in order to properly plan a job that will be built in phased, you’ll need someone with design skills. For more information about how to choose the right Landscape Contractor, visit this blog site from Belgard Hardscapes, Tips for Choosing a Hardscape Contractor.
Tip #2: Design your complete dream outdoor space upfront
You can always scale it back, but it can be much less costly to design something that is never built than to retrofit a space later. This is especially true if future footings or underground utilities will be needed. Many contractors charge a fee for the design, but often credit back that fee when the work is done. WLM, Inc. does charge for their designs and also credits that fee back. WLM, Inc. also has the ability to create 3-D renderings and Fly-Through Videos that will allow you to virtually walk through the design so you can truly get a feel for how you would live in that space. This can help you catch potential issues with the layout prior to construction. This service is only available to Belgard Authorized Contractors. Check out some of our Fly-Through Videos.
Tip #3: Pre-plan for future phases
When you’re planning an outdoor living space for your home in Warsaw, Winona Lake or Syracuse, think of what you would plan for an indoor living space. Think of lighting, music, televisions, cooking needs, and gas or electric appliances. Consider the local climate in Warsaw and Syracuse and at the lake and about keeping warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Running utilities all at once, including those that you won’t need until later, can be a huge cost savings. Also, if you plan to add other elements like a fire pit, fire place, outdoor bar, pergola, hot tub, etc., it’s good to plan those things out now rather than later.
Tip #4: Consider your lifestyle
When planning out the phases, discuss your lifestyle with your contractor so that you can plan the phases that will work best with your budget. For example, if a design includes alot of elements it could look like this: 1. Patio 2. Kitchen 3. Fireplace 4. Seating Walls 5. Lighting and Sound.
Tip #5: Look for opportunities to reduce the number of phases
Efficiency can be achieved by building in fewer phases. We offer the Belgard Preferred Payment Program, which can help you build more at one time and spread the cost out over several months with same as cash financing options.