The ACE Journal

Backyard guides for Los Angeles homeowners

Plain answers about planning a backyard here, and how the rules change from city to city.

  • 5guides
  • 3topics
  • Written for yards in LA County and the Conejo Valley
Phase 1Drainage and walls Phase 2Patio and outdoor kitchen Phase 3Planting and lighting
Start here
Planning

How to plan a whole backyard and build it in phases

One plan for the whole yard doesn't have to mean one big project.

In this guide
  1. Why the order matters
  2. What goes in the first phase
  3. Ways to split a yard into phases
  4. What to bring to the site visit
Read the guide 8 min read
The library

Every guide, by topic

Pick a topic, or read them in the order the work happens. Each guide is short and written for yards here.

Before you hire

What to check before you hire anyone for your backyard

A license you can check, real work near you, and a proposal you can read.

7 min readRead the guide
Before you hire

What a written backyard proposal should include

If you can read it area by area, you can compare it, question it and hold it up against the work.

7 min readRead the guide
Drainage

Fix the drainage before you build the patio

Water decides how a patio holds up, so the drainage gets planned first.

8 min readRead the guide
Planning

Living at home while your backyard is built

Most families stay home during backyard work. A little planning makes it easier.

5 min readRead the guide
Free site visit

Rather walk the yard than read about it?

The lead contractor comes to your address, looks at the ground, the slope and where the water goes, and you get a written proposal. Both are free.

Call (310) 596-5266
Reading path

Read them in the order the work happens

The questions that come up at each stage, from the first call to the last wall.

First, on paper

Before you hire

Who you are talking to, and what the proposal should show.

Planning

One plan for the whole yard, built in the order it makes sense.

Water off the house

What are you planning?

Free site visit and written proposal for homes in Los Angeles County and the Conejo Valley. Where we work

Call