Complete Backyard Renovations

One contractor for your entire backyard

Most backyard renovations turn into a juggling act. You hire a fence company, a patio contractor, a landscaper, and a painter — then spend weeks managing conflicting schedules and hoping they don’t damage each other’s work.

Ryan does it differently. He handles your entire backyard renovation himself:

• Demolition and grading
• Drainage and hardscape
• Fencing and structures
• Landscaping and irrigation
• Painting and finishing

One person, one timeline, one standard of quality. No subcontractors, no finger-pointing, no scheduling headaches.

This is our flagship service because it’s what Ryan does best: take a backyard that isn’t working and turn it into an outdoor space that actually gets used.

What a complete renovation includes

Every backyard is different, but here’s what Ryan typically handles in a full renovation:

Demolition and site prep

Old concrete, rotting fences, overgrown landscaping, broken irrigation — it all gets removed. Ryan grades the site for proper drainage, compacts the base, and sets the foundation for everything that follows.

Hardscape and patios

The patio is the anchor of your outdoor space. Ryan installs concrete, pavers, flagstone, and decomposed granite to create functional outdoor living areas. Every patio is graded for drainage and built on a compacted base that won’t shift or settle.

Fencing and gates

New perimeter fencing in wood, wrought iron, vinyl, or chain link — whatever suits your property and privacy needs. Custom gates built to match. Every post set in concrete and built for the long haul.

Retaining walls

Altadena is hillside country. Many backyards need retaining walls to create usable flat space, manage drainage, or prevent erosion. Ryan builds with concrete block, natural stone, and interlocking systems engineered for the slope.

Pergolas and shade structures

A pergola turns a patio into a room. Ryan builds custom pergolas in wood or composite, sized and positioned for your specific yard — from footings to the final coat of stain.

Decks

Raised decks, ground-level platforms, or multi-level designs. Pressure-treated lumber, cedar, redwood, or composite materials, depending on your preference and budget.

Landscaping and irrigation

Drought-tolerant plants, ornamental trees, ground cover, and sod where it makes sense. New irrigation lines and drip systems keep everything alive without wasting water.

Painting and finishing

Fences get stained or painted. Walls get finished. Trim gets touched up. Ryan handles the details that make the whole project look complete — not like five separate jobs stitched together.

Why one contractor matters

When one person builds the retaining wall, the patio, and the fence, they all fit together. Drainage flows the right direction. Transitions between materials are clean. The fence doesn’t end up three inches off from the wall because two different crews measured on different days.

Ryan doesn’t bounce between jobs. He’s on your property every day until the project is done. Questions about the patio material? Ask Ryan. Want to change the fence height? Tell Ryan. You never relay messages between contractors or wonder who’s responsible for a problem.

And you’re not paying markup on markup. Ryan does the work himself — materials and one person’s labor. That’s it.

Built for Altadena properties

Ryan has renovated backyards across the San Gabriel Valley foothills. These properties have their own realities:

• Hillside lots that need retaining walls before flat work can happen
• Clay-heavy soil that floods without proper drainage planning
• Mature oaks with root systems that dictate placement
• Fire zones that limit material choices
• LA County permit requirements that differ from neighboring cities

He builds with all of that in mind from day one — not as afterthoughts that blow up the budget halfway through.

How Ryan approaches your project

The process starts with a phone call. Tell Ryan what you want your backyard to become. He’ll walk the property, take measurements, and talk through options. Within a few days, you’ll have a detailed written estimate with line items, material options, and a realistic timeline.

If budget is a factor, Ryan designs with phasing in mind. Do the hardscape and fencing now. Add the pergola and landscaping next spring. Everything is planned so phase two connects seamlessly to phase one.

Once you say go, Ryan is on your property every morning. He personally picks up materials, builds every structure, and does the finish work. That’s the Built to Last difference.

See what’s possible

Visit our work gallery to see completed backyard renovations in Altadena, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and surrounding communities. Every project shown was built by Ryan — not a crew, not a subcontractor.