Are you planning your first outdoor living project?

Think about the seasons you want to use it for. As an example, if you aren’t sure about cool weather use, don’t purchase all your heating appliances yet.

Will the area need excavation? If so, I advise installing enough underground-rated electrical, audio/data and gas lines for future use. In coming seasons you may wish for better capability, or expansion. You won’t be sorry for the minor effort of setting the infrastructure in place for future use.

Better planning means better cost control. In our projects we always ask our clients ‘why’, before starting the plans for the project that they propose. We get to the right design answers as soon as the ‘needs, wants and wishes’ list is agreed. You should design for your long-term needs, but for the sake of your wallet only build what you need for now.

By: Ralph Belisle