Greetings! I had to laugh at the sign I passed yesterday. Lately it feels like many of the projects we take on are centered around making life more comfortable and safer for our dogs. It sounds funny, but it’s true. Our side patio and backyard updates are no exception — much of what we started outside was driven by their needs.
Yesterday I began a series to catch you up on the timeline and progress of our outdoor work — the before, during, and after stages of projects we started soon after we moved in. If you missed the first post about the painted brick, that covers the initial phase and what kicked everything off.
We’re finally approaching what I’m calling the “finish line.” That doesn’t mean everything is perfect or that I’ve completed every idea that’s crossed my mind — I always have more ideas than time. To me, finished means we’ve accomplished the core goals we set out to complete. I’ll share more about one big project I haven’t detailed yet further down.
Projects tend to stretch out. Around here, a completed project can already be nudging toward needing a refresh. For example, our dogs scratched up the Dutch door paint all winter because it was too cold to leave the door open for them, so this summer we’ll do touch-ups. Maintaining a home — and pets — keeps you busy.
One of the first outdoor improvements we tackled after moving in nearly three years ago was replacing the sewer. Not glamorous, and not something worth detailing with pretty before-and-after shots, but necessary. Owning an older house often means paying for repairs you don’t want to write about. We also replaced a leaky water heater last year — another boring but unavoidable job.
Although the sewer replacement was a big job, it finished relatively quickly. It was the only major outdoor work we planned at first, because I wanted to redo the kitchen and bathroom before expanding into outdoor spaces. The kitchen got done, the bathroom did not — but at least we have a new sewer!
So what prompted more outdoor work? It was the classic “while you’re at it” moment. Since the driveway had to be torn up to access the sewer, it made sense to re-pour it rather than patch it. Once we decided to redo the driveway, it snowballed — one decision led to another, and the list of connected projects grew. If you own a house, you’ve likely experienced this domino effect: one repair reveals several additional improvements that make sense to tackle while the work is underway.
We’re both perfectionists and creatives, so one project often sparks another bright idea or a sensible “while we’re at it” fix. Nearly three years later we’re still deciding where to stop.
Honestly, our main goal after the sewer work was simple: make the yard safer and cleaner for the dogs. It really has been about the dogs. They love spending time outside now, and once the final gate is installed we’ll have reached our safety goals. What began as a safety-first update for the side yard turned into usable outdoor spaces the whole family enjoys — people and pups included.
Here’s a concise rundown of how the projects unfolded and what led to our newest backyard update.
When the sewer was upgraded, the driveway had to be torn up because the sewer line ran beneath it. Since it was already being excavated, we decided to re-pour the entire driveway rather than patch it. That decision led to adding a side parking area next to the house where there had been patchy grass and mud. A side parking pad seemed practical for guests and for bringing items into the backyard, and it would keep us out of the mud.
But behind that new parking spot was a hazardous side yard right by our kitchen door — an area that worried me for our dogs and for family members walking around at night. It was a safety issue that needed addressing.
The existing conditions were treacherous, and most of the original fence had already been removed for a neighbor’s construction. At the time we were told the neighbor’s new fence would be installed quickly; it ultimately took much longer. Because the area sits right outside the kitchen, we felt creating a level patio and solid steps while the driveway work was happening made sense to give us a safer, more functional side entry.
In January 2016 the side yard project began. By February the framework for steps and the patio was in place and progress looked promising.
By April 2016 there was concrete in place and a neighboring house nearby, but various unexpected mishaps during the pour stalled progress. The lack of a finished fence, porch posts, railings, and step lights left things incomplete for months.
By September 2016, nine months after starting, the neighbor had made some progress and our house had fresh paint, but the gate and railings to secure the dogs were still missing. March 2018 — two years after the initial work — we finally had the fence in place, though gates, railings, lights, and wrapped porch posts were still incomplete.
Waiting became the most frustrating part: waiting for contractors, for suitable weather, for problem resolution, and for budget or time to finish details. We even hired a new contractor this spring to complete the gate, and we’re told it will be done shortly. All of this has taken much longer than planned, but we’re finally on the brink of calling these projects complete.
Since we’d been waiting anyway, we decided to add one more outdoor project: a low-profile Trex deck around the back of the house. The deck was planned this winter and has been installed, finishing off our outdoor spaces in a way that ties everything together. The deck project was completed in partnership with Trex and Lowe’s and has transformed our backyard into a welcoming, low-maintenance area ready for summer gatherings.
We’re excited to host a summer party this year, and most importantly, the dogs are loving the updates. Over the next few weeks I’ll share the deck’s design and installation process along with before-and-after photos. I’ll also post final updates on the side patio — it’s already looking much safer and more finished with new handrails, and (knock on wood) that final gate should be installed very soon.
Are you working on outdoor spaces right now? I’d love to hear what you’re doing. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway!