We moved into our third (and perhaps final!) home in early summer 2023. The house is big, beautiful, and in an area and neighborhood we love.

But the backyard was crap.

We love spending time in our backyard. Our last house had an awesome, large, covered deck that we fully decorated, and added an above ground pool and an outdoor garden. It was our oasis, and when we moved, it was the one thing that not only didn’t get a big upgrade, but was a significant downgrade.

Our new backyard was a bit smaller, dominated by a giant rotting gazebo, multiple concrete slabs and paths, mostly destroyed flagstone paving, and lots of overgrown bushes and trees.

It was a mess (below are the before pics, long after cutting down the bushes).

In 2023 we had our hands full with the move, and various upgrades and changes to the house and appliances. Then the holidays rolled around.

Finally in Spring 2024, we were ready to tackle the backyard, to make it our own.

Here is the chronicle of our Backyard Renovation Project!

February 19

We have the day off for President’s Day, so we drop the kids off at my folks house and drive out to several not-so-local pool stores.

I grew up with a pool and it was one of my favorite parts of my childhood. Our kids love to swim and we knew we wanted a pool.

We had a 15-ft round, soft-sided Intex above ground pool at our last house that we set up ourselves (took us two tries to level it, of course).

We used that pool practically every day from May to September.

But we didn’t want a giant above ground pool sticking out in the middle of our compact, rectangular yard.

After weighing some options, we decided on getting a nice Doughboy, steel-wall above ground pool, and partially burying it halfway into the ground.

We went with Crown Pools in Dallas, one of the few carriers of nice above ground pools such as Doughboy (now owned by HII).

We didn’t buy the pool yet, knowing we first had to clear the yard, and figure out the exact measurements.

February 22

We start meeting with contractors to get a bid on demo work: getting rid of all the flagstone, the concrete slabs, the concrete sidewalk that connects them, the gazebo, and the concrete barrier that surrounds the trees.

February 25

In the meantime, I don’t want to sit around and do nothing. We were having a particularly gorgeous February in North Texas. My wife ran up to Home Depot and picked up a mattock, and I took out all the flagstone. It was so broken up I barely needed it, and could get most of it up with a hammer.

It was still pretty tiring, though.

February 27

Before doing any demo work with the gazebo, we have to hire a electrician to kill the power to the outdoor wire. The gazebo has an outlet, lights, and even a fan, all of it in nasty shape.

The electrician charges almost $400 just to cut the wire. We probably should’ve shopped around. Lesson learned.

With the power gone, we take out the light fixtures and fan, and pull up the wiring.

March 5

By now we’ve met with at least half a dozen contractors, with a huge range of quotes, including up to $6,000, just for the demolition work!

We settled on a company, Keathley Landscaping, who offered to do the work for about $3000, and wouldn’t have to tear down our fence.

On March 5, a team of about four guys came out in the morning and began taking out the piles of flagstone, and breaking up the slabs with a jackhammer.

They also took out the gazebo, which was very fun to watch come down.

At the end of the day, they had about 75% of the demo work done, with half the big slab remaining, and the entire gazebo lying in pieces.

They came back about mid-morning the following day and finished the work in a few hours.

It was surreal to see it all gone. We’re committed now!

March 9

I’ve got more work to do! We know we’re going to need a hole for the pool, and we have a damn sprinkler system that runs throughout the backyard.

So I get to spend a really not fun time digging through the backyard, taking out pipes and trying to find where the main pipe is to cap it off.

I also take out the two small-ish trees down to the stumps, and bag all the branches.

Thankfully it’s still very nice outside.

We also used a garden hose to more accurately see where our pool was going to go.

We took a week off for Spring Break vacation, then got back to it.

March 18

We had to go back out to Crown Pools to formally purchase the pool.

After doing several measurements (using a tape measure and a garden hose) we decide on the Doughboy Silver Dollar 24’x16′, 52″ pool, or about 9,500 gallons.

The pool kit (which we pick and choose) from Crown Pools comes with the liner, the 2-speed, 19″, 1.5HP sand filter (with fancy glass media), pool cove and “Happy Bottom” and sand for the bottom layer, Antigua steps with optional step light, step mat, filter timer, and some starting chemicals.

Total is about $9,000.

That does not include installation.

Crown Pools uses a single contractor, Mendez Pool and Deck, for above ground pool installation. We contacted them and had them come out to the house, as our means of entry to our yard is extremely limited thanks to a retaining wall running the length of our fence.

Partial bury installation from Crown (and other pool stores) was estimated around $4,000, but after seeing the backyard situation, they quoted the job for $5,600 to pick up the pool, dig the hole, level it, and install the pool and filter.

We were disappointed and talked to several more contractors, and were shocked that everyone else’s prices were about twice as much, and many did not want to touch the pool at all (like $10k just to dig a dang hole).

We came back to Mendez and accepted their bid for installation. The only catch was we would have to take out a fence panel, gate, and fence post to allow room for their skid steer (six foot clearance). Even then, it would be a tight fit.

April 2

Getting the pool installation scheduled took about two weeks, even though our pool was in stock. That gave us some time to make sure the backyard was completely clear.

I dig up all the pipes, and make sure the area was as clear as possible.

We wait until the day before the install to take out our fence, since we have dogs. Taking a fence down is way easier than putting one up, even though it’s an 8-ft, angled fence built on a slope.

Taking out the post is the tricky part. I dig out as much as I can. The wooden post is rotting at the bottom, so I simply break it off. I’d deal with it later.

My wife cleverly purchases some lattice and ties them together to create a makeshift barrier to keep the dogs in. It could be zip-tied to the remaining fence when we need it up.

April 3

Pool day!

The pool installers show up promptly at 7:30 am to get started. We were very impressed with their speed and efficiency. The have the hole dug by lunch and by 2pm they put up the walls and finish leveling.

By the time I picked up my oldest kid from school at 3pm, the liner is installed and the pool is filling up!

They leave for the day shortly after, returning tomorrow after the pool was filled to backfill the surrounding area with dirt, and clean up.

We couldn’t resist jumping in the nearly empty pool and playing around!

April 5-7

My wife finds an electrician local to our neighborhood to get a quote for installing a dedicated electrical line and buried conduit for our pool filter.

He offers to do it all for $1,500, OR if we build the trench for the conduit ourselves, he would do it for $500.

I readily accept the lower price, despite also having to put our fence back together the same weekend.

This ended up being the worst, more exhausting stretch of the entire project.

On Saturday, April 6, I get up and go to work on the fence.

I spend hours trying to get the concrete from the original post out of the hole. Shovel, mattock, chainsaw, repeat.

It’s grueling, awful work. I end up getting sunburned on the back of my arms and parts of my back, and at one point ricocheted the mattock into my shinbone, which hurt like hell.

I never could get the last chunk out, but it was low enough that we said “F it” and could install a new post right next to it.

We go to the hardware store and pick up a new metal fence post and brackets. Then spend way too long trying to make everything line up with the old gate and panel.

Nothing lined up correctly, as the entire ground around the area had been churned up, and partially destroyed, by the skid steer.

After spending literally all day on this project, we said “good enough,” and the fence is back up.

Then on Sunday, I spend half the day digging a 30-40 ft trench, 1 ft deep, across my backyard.

Thankfully I could use the recently filled backfill near the pool to make it easier. Still, a tiring project, especially after Sunday.

I really need a weekend from my weekend.

April 9

The electrician installs the new line, with a dedicated breaker and exterior GFCI. We mount the timer to the newly buried steel bar near the filter.

We thought we were going to get our new concrete installed this coming weekend, but the weather had other plans.

Wait, concrete? Didn’t we just pay thousands to have concrete removed?

Well, yes.

But it wasn’t in the right spot!

With the pool fitting in the middle of the yard, we want nice new concrete forming in an “L” shape around it (with our backdoor at the bottom left of the “L”), extending our existing patio space and leading right into the pool.

(we originally were thinking of a wood deck like our old house, but wood is still ridiculously expensive, making concrete the cheaper option – with far less maintenance!).

Unfortunately it rains later that week, scuttling our plans, and turning our yard into a mud pit disaster.

As soon as it dries out, I bury the conduit.

April 12-24

What followed is two weeks of trying to get the dang concrete installed, while fighting the Texas Spring weather in April.

We go with the same contractor who did the demo work earlier, Keathley Landscaping. For nicely stamped and stained concrete, they quoted us at $14 a sq ft, which was reasonable.

It was a LOT of concrete, though — over 700 sq ft! They suggest putting the new stuff over our old existing slab, which we agreed.

But every time we schedule the concrete pour, the skies would unleash several inches of rain around that date. Our mostly dirt yard turned completely muddy, which was tracked inside by our dogs, leaving my wife and I incredibly stressed out and cranky.

At one point we did enjoy being in the path of 2024 total solar eclipse, though!

I felt like I was missing out on enjoying my backyard in the Spring, even though we had started this process back in February.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t be sitting outside during all the downpouring thunderstorms either. During one weekend we jumped in the pool on a Friday when it was 80 degrees outside, and after a big storm on Saturday the low dropped to the 40s!

April 25

The weather is looking terrible again next weekend, and pretty much all of next week. And it’s almost May!

Thankfully Keathley Landscaping squeezed us in on April 25, doing the framing and pouring all in one day!

They end up working from 8:30am to 6:30pm. It’s very fun to watch.

There’s a kerfuffle when a second concrete mixer shows up — nobody knew the concrete was split in two trucks (weight limit on a nearby bridge under going construction). They had put all the dye into the first truck, so they had to go out and pick up more dye to add to the second, before they could use any of the second truck’s concrete.

Thankfully the color still turns out great.

Despite this delay, they get it all done, and come back the next morning to wash and remove the framing.

They also took the fence gate and panel down themselves, and put it back up, and didn’t jack with my nice new metal fence post. Huzzah!

Unfortunately we had to wait about two weeks until they can seal it, preventing us from furnishing our new patio, or building the outer pool steps.

But, the new stamped concrete looks freaking’ amazing!

April 27

While waiting for the concrete seal, I still had at least one big project I could do: the rocks surrounding the pool.

Decorative river or landscape rocks would look nice, help with drainage, and help prevent grass growing near the pool.

It would take about 80 bags (0.5 cu ft each) to fill the entire area.

Surprisingly, Home Depot had the best deal over actual rock or landscaping places. We also asked our contractor on his price to do it, and he quoted it at about $1500.

A chance to save money by doing manual labor myself? You know that means!

We ordered the bags from Home Depot for $600, including delivery.

We also picked up some rubber edging for the far side of the pool, where there wasn’t any concrete. The Vigoro Landscape Edging was easy to work with and worked great.

Still, moving 80 bags of concrete from a pallet in the driveway to my backyard, then dumping the bags around the pool, and installing the edging, is long, grueling work that took my entire Saturday. Not as awful as the weekend of fence + trench, but probably the second most exhausting task of the project.

Shout-out to the dude who invented the wheel. Good on ya, mate!

We’re happy with the results, even though Home Depot shorted us two bags, and gave us two different kinds of rock brands (they would end up refunding the delivery charge).

Thankfully the weather cooperated and it never rained Saturday, letting me get the entire project done.

It storms half the day Sunday, a much needed day of relaxation, and not nearly as muddy!

May 4

On Star Wars Day, we hung the lights. We bought a second 24ft string (our original was over 30, I think?) to the full length around the concrete perimeter.

The plastic gate shows were our steps will be.

May 14

After a bit of a delay, we finally got our concrete seal put in. Mostly painless, but we had to stay off of it for 24 hours, which means we had to keep the dogs off!

The seal made the concrete a bit darker, which we really like.

May 17-19

Here it is, the last major work-weekend of this entire project! 

With the sealant in place, we have one final task: building the outer stairs for the pool.

Our design was to create platform steps, open on three sides. Also known as “pyramid steps.” We’d need four total steps to reach the rails and mount for the inner steps.

Our contractor quoted us at $4,000 with composite pieces. We declined, opting to DIY it.

My brother used to frame houses before working for a major home improvement corporation, my retired dad has gotten big into woodworking.

So I called in the family cavalry to help!

We pick up all the lumber on Friday. After comparing options, we go with pressure treated pine instead of the way more expensive composite, even for such a small area. 

We purchase 17 2x8x8s and 4 2x10x8s, which comes out to about $400 (plus some screws). My wife would go back later the next day after we started framing to pick up the top boards (I think like 10 2x8x6s?), for around $100 (plus snacks).

Honestly, my brother makes the whole project so dang easy, swiftly measuring, cutting, and framing. And my dad has a big table saw for easy big cuts.

By the end of Saturday (around 4pm), we have the entire frame done, and the bottom two levels of the treads.

My dad comes back early Sunday morning, and he and I finish up the final two levels, and are finished around lunch time!

It is now Sunday afternoon, May 19. Temperatures climbed up to the 90s today, and we were downing water and seeking the shade.

I’ve spent the last three months working on this backyard in some capacity, and I’m very glad to be done with it, and enjoy our first amazing summer.

We still want to buy some outdoor furniture (and put all her potted plants back out), but for now, the actual projects-part of this backyard renovation is complete.

Here’s the total cost breakdown:

Activity	Cost	Date
Remove existing electrical	$391.23	2/27/24
Demolition: concrete slabs & gazebo	$3,085.13	3/05/24
Doughboy 24×16 pool	$9,065.76	3/18/24
Pool installation (2ft bury)	$5,600.00	4/03/24
New electrical line + conduit	$550.00	4/09/24
New concrete patio, stamped and stained	$10,780.00	4/25/24
Bags of landscape rocks	$601.24	4/26/24
Lumber for wooden steps	$482.89	5/17/24
Other assorted tools/pieces	$84.95
Total Cost:	$30,641.20