Just Closed on a New Build? Your Backyard Game Plan

You just got the keys. Here's how to plan the backyard so it's done once and done right.

New homes in Northeast Florida usually come with a small builder patio, a slab of grass and a lot of sun. Before you buy furniture or pour more concrete, it pays to plan the whole backyard at once, even if you build it in phases. This game plan walks through the order most of our new-build clients follow.

AY Luxury Designs LLC · Certified Building Contractor CBC1268168 · Amany Youssef: Registered Building Contractor RB29003947 · Registered Electrical Contractor ER13016631 · Registered Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor RU11066663

Book a Consultation · Call (904) 629-8803

Your New-Build Backyard Game Plan

Live in it for a few weeks. Notice where the sun hits in the afternoon, where you want shade, and where the neighbors can see in.
Get your HOA guidelines. Most new communities have architectural review. Ask for the current guidelines early. They shape what's possible.
Decide on the big pieces first. Shade (a covered patio, pergola or gazebo), screening, a kitchen, a fire feature and a possible future pool all affect each other.
Design it all in AutoCAD. A full-backyard design lets you build in phases without tearing out work later.
Plan power and conduit before pavers go down. Fans, lights, a TV or a hot tub need power, and it's easiest to plan it before the patio is built.
Build phase one. Most clients start with shade and an extended patio, then add the kitchen or fire feature later.

When designing an outdoor living space, UF/IFAS suggests planning power for cooking and lighting early.

A patio is one of the two most-wanted home features in NAHB's study of home buyers, rated essential or desirable by 86% of buyers.

Common First Projects for New Homes

Lanai extension or covered patio extension to turn the small builder patio into a real outdoor room.
Paver patio to extend the slab, with room for dining and lounging.
Screen enclosure to keep bugs out.
Pergola for filtered shade over a seating area.

Why AY Luxury Designs

You design it with the founder. Amany Youssef designs every project with you in person and stays involved through the final walkthrough.
We manage every step, from design to final inspection. We handle the AutoCAD design, the HOA paperwork, the engineering, the permits and the build. We handle electrical work with our licensed electrical partner, and gas and plumbing with our licensed trade partners.
Built for Florida. Every permitted structure gets its necessary engineered documents.
A Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite.

Our Design-Build Process

Design session with Amany. Your project starts at our Jacksonville design studio, where you sit down with founder Amany Youssef and watch your project take shape live on screen in AutoCAD.
Free AutoCAD design and a custom quote. You get to-scale 3D renderings and a fully itemized custom quote within 24 hours of your consultation, so you know exactly what you're getting.
In-home design visit. Amany comes to your home for an in-person walkthrough, so we look at the project together where you're most comfortable, finalize the details and choose your colors and finishes.
Engineering, HOA and permits handled. We get the necessary engineered documents for every permitted structure, prepare your HOA/ARB package and pull the permits.
Build. We can start most projects within two to four weeks. Our crews follow a build process we've refined over many projects, and you get daily updates.
The AY Advantage. You hold back the final 5% for seven days after completion, so we can take care of any touch-ups before you sign off.

Financing is available through Synchrony Bank, including 18 months of no-interest financing, and we have other financing options as well.

Related Projects

Screened lanai extension with new pavers, Cypress Trails (Nocatee) A screened lanai extension that pushes the living space out into the yard, finished with new pavers.

Cedar roof extension tied into the house with an outdoor kitchen, Seabrook (Nocatee) A roof extension tied into the house with a cedar ceiling and a ceiling fan, sheltering an outdoor kitchen on a new lanai floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

I just closed on a new build. What should I do with my backyard first? Start with how you want to use the space: shade, screening, cooking, fire or a future pool. We design the whole backyard in AutoCAD first, so you can build in phases without redoing work later.

My builder's lanai is too small. Can it be extended? Yes. Extending a builder lanai or patio is one of our most requested projects. We design the extension to look original to the home.

Should I plan for a pool before building a patio cover? If a pool is in your future, tell us. We design the cover, pavers and electrical so the pool can be added later without tearing anything out. We don't build pools, but we work alongside the pool builder of your choice.

How do I get privacy when the houses are close together? Well-placed structures, screens and seat walls can create privacy without feeling closed in. We plan this in your AutoCAD design.