If you are interested in a great Atlanta outdoor living space and what it might cost, you will want to read this. A great outdoor living space starts with a great landscape design and requires an experienced landscape contractor like Artistic Landscapes. The living space should be cool and comfortable and create a great atmosphere that you would want to spend time in morning, noon or night. The hardscape elements should be seamlessly blended into a beautiful landscape that is relaxing and enjoyable.
A great outdoor living space is available for you to enjoy 7 days a week from April to November. I enjoy having parties and sharing my outdoor living space with my friends, neighbors and my family. If you are living in a starter home or planning on moving soon, this may not be for you. If you plan on staying put for many years, this is a lifestyle investment. We only live once. I believe that the more spectacular your yard, the more you will get for it when you sell. A poorly designed and constructed outdoor living space may be a waste of money. Saving money on cheaper quotes and lesser designs may cost you more money in the long run. Here are popular outdoor living features and there costs. Costs may vary depending on ease of access, soil conditions and terrain.
Swimming Pool
Interested in an Atlanta Pool? Liner pools start at about $ 20,000 and Shotcrete saltwater pools start at about $ 50,000, including a tanning shelf. A Spa feature costs roughly $ 10,000. You can add a waterfall, slide, LED lighting, stone walls, gas heaters, remote control, beach entry and more. Large pools with many features can exceed $ 150,000. The liners on a liner pool will need to be periodically replaced. The exterior walls are not that sturdy so don’t place heavy features on them like large waterfalls or stone spas. We recommend a saltwater filtration system with two or more skimmers and all 2” dedicated plumbing lines. If you have a spa the heater should be located closer to the spa. We prefer paver or stamped concrete decking. As for all the items listed here, you can see many examples of our work on this site.
Outdoor Kitchen
The best elements of an Outdoor Kitchen are a grill and a refrigerator. You should have counter space for cooking and placing things. A Komodo Joe or Green Egg grill costs $ 500 to $ 1,300 depending on size and if you can find them on sale in the winter. They are great for grilling and slow cooking tender chicken and meat. My favorite is Cedar Plank Wild Alaskan Salmon. A gas grill starts at $ 1,300 and can exceed $ 5,000. Then add the cost of running a gas line and the permit fee. Refrigerators are great for cold drinks. They start at $ 400. They don’t last as long as interior refrigerator’s. We have installed Beer keg coolers as well. Other items to consider are drawers and storage cabinets. There are icemakers and sinks. A more expensive option is a pizza oven. You can have granite counter tops or stone. Cabinets can be stone or real wood if under shelter like a pavilion. No pressboard in the rain and humidity. Total kitchen packages start at $ 2,500 and can exceed $ 50,000. Photos of our outdoor kitchens are on the outdoor kitchens page and in our photo galleries.
Outdoor Fireplace
Fireplaces are great to look at whether there is a fire or not. They are a great focal point. Masonry fireplaces typically cost $ 6,000 to $ 15,000. We recommend a gas fire starter kit installation. You’ll need a place to store the wood in a dry place. I buy split firewood for $ 15 that is enough to make 3 to five fires. For a beautiful fire I like the waxy starter logs purchased at a store for about $ 5 each. You can add specialty fire wood such as Mesquite, hickory or apple for aroma.
Fire Pits
Great for roasting marsh mellows or grilling hot dogs and seating several friends around the fire. A Stone fire pit with fire bricks and drainage is about $ 2,600. Modular block kits are much cheaper but the blocks are not fire rated. The cheapest option is a fire pit table from Costco. Pictures of our fire-pits are on our photo galleries page.
Patios
A patio provides a place to gather. We recommend a minimum size of 12 feet by 12 feet. For a simple coffee table and two chairs, you could do a 6 x 8 patio. We prefer paver or stamped concrete patios. They cost $ 10 to $ 15 per foot. There are a large number of different pavers available and the costs vary. Stone patios are $ 20 per foot or more if on a concrete base. The cost can vary depending on the quality and thickness of the stone used. The mortar in the stone joints will decay over time and require rejointing. Natural stones are not perfectly flat and hold small areas of thin puddles after a rain.
Arbors
Arbors are either pressure treated or Cedar. Cedar is more expensive. They should be stained every three years. The posts can be 6×6 or 8×8. The bottom of the posts can be surrounded by stone. Some arbors are painted white and have manufactured columns. Arbors can cost from $2,000 to $ 10,000 depending on size and the materials used.
Pond-less Waterfalls
If you like a waterfall but don’t want fish or additional maintenance, we recommend a pond-less waterfall. The water is recirculated from a storage tank covered by river slick stones. Costs range from $ 2,500 to $ 10,000.
Fountains
Stained concrete fountains may be purchased and installed. They are attractive, provide a focal point and add the sound of moving water. They cost $ 400 to a few thousand dollars.
Koi Ponds
My favorite. Koi make colorful pets, they can eat out of your hand and can live 50 years or more. They grow to 30” in length or more. They provide constant movement to watch and the waterfall feature provides great background noise. Waterfall sounds help drown out unwelcome noise from your surroundings. A good Koi pond requires a good filtration system and adequate space. You are providing a home for beautiful fish. Do it right or don’t do it at all. Koi costs $ 45 for very small Koi. Larger show fish cost $ 4,000 or more. Quality fish can be purchased from $ 100 to $ 800 each. A 10 by 16 Koi pond with a high quality filtration system and ultraviolet sterilizer should start at $ 15,000. You can find inexperienced landscapers to do it for less. You will get what you pay for. This site has photos of some of great Koi ponds view the Koi Ponds page or the galleries for more photos.
Pavilions
Open air pavilions are 10 to fifteen degrees cooler than the outside air. The air flow can be restricted by attaching the structure to the house. Pavilions can range in price from $ 10,000 to $ 35,000.
Outdoor Lighting
Low voltage lighting systems allow you to enjoy your outdoor living space in the evening. You can accent your focal points to add great beauty. Lighting systems can be KED or Halogen. You need a low voltage transformer. The LED systems use a lot less electricity and the bulbs lasts more than 20 times longer. That’s important if you’re putting lights in high places to serve as moonlights.
Sound System and Televisions
These items provide atmosphere and entertainment. Televisions need to be out of the rain. Each item could be $ 400 to several thousand.
Landscaping
A critical component to add beauty and color. We like lots of flowers, Japanese Maples, Shade trees, Pathways to the various garden rooms and living spaces.
Sport Courts
Bocce ball, Basketball, Tennis and Putting greens. Costs vary depending on the Quality and surface used.
Irrigation
Your landscape needs water to maintain its beauty. A zone of irrigation can run $ 600 or more.
Retaining Walls
Stone walls cost approximately $ 40 per square foot and modular block walls cost $ 20 to $ 35 per square foot. Walls over 30 inches to 4 feet in height may require a permit.
Decks
We build our decks using Azek Flooring, a composite, and Cedar rails and aluminum balusters. This is more expensive than wood decks but much more attractive and much longer lasting. All flooring is screwed in, no nail pops or splinters and warping.
