FULL REMODELING & CUSTOM DESIGN
Backyard & Outdoor Living in South Florida
The room with no roof.
What a backyard project with LIVARK involves
LIVARK plans and builds backyards across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach: turf and landscaping, pavers, shade structures, outdoor kitchens and lighting. It can be a project on its own or part of a larger remodel, planned alongside the work inside so the two match. It starts with a 30-minute call about the yard and how you want to use it.
What’s included in a LIVARK backyard project
Artificial turf and landscaping
Turf, planting and ground cover, laid over a base built to drain.
Pavers and patios
Paver and stone surfaces set on a compacted base and sloped to shed water.
Pergolas and shade
Pergolas and covers designed for hurricane wind loads and permitted.
Outdoor kitchens
Grills, counters and storage, with gas, water and power planned in.
Outdoor lighting
Path, step and landscape lighting for using the yard after dark.
Drainage
Grading and drains that move water away from the house.
Turf and landscaping, on its own or as part of a remodel
Turf and landscaping can be a project on their own or part of a larger remodel. What goes underneath decides how long they last.
On its own. A tired lawn or a bare side yard can be replaced without touching the house.
With a remodel. Doing the yard at the same time lets the design carry from inside to out, and the heavy equipment finishes before the new surface goes down.
What’s under turf. Artificial turf sits on a compacted stone base that lets water drain through. A poor base shows up as dips, puddles and seams that pull apart.
Heat. Artificial turf gets much hotter than natural grass in full sun, and studies have measured it tens of degrees hotter. Where it goes in the yard, and how much shade it gets, make a difference.
Designing outdoor space for South Florida heat and rain
In South Florida, shade and drainage matter as much as looks.
Rain. South Florida’s rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October. A yard needs to be graded so water moves away from the house, with drains where it collects.
Shade. A pergola, a solid cover or trees on the west side make a patio usable on summer afternoons.
Surfaces in full sun. Dark pavers and artificial turf get hot underfoot. Lighter pavers stay cooler, and turf does better where it gets some shade.
Materials. Sun and salt air wear on anything left outside. Near the coast, 316 stainless steel resists corrosion better than the more common 304, and outdoor-rated fabrics resist fading.
We plan the yard for the way it gets used here, not only for how it looks on the first day.
Outdoor kitchens
We design and build outdoor kitchens the same way we do indoor ones: measured, drawn and priced before anything is built. The difference is that everything has to stand up to sun, rain and salt air.
Layout. A grill, a prep counter, a sink and a fridge, with room to work between them and a place for people to sit out of the cook’s way.
Materials. Cabinets and appliances rated for outdoor use, and stone or concrete counters that handle heat and rain.
Cover. A roof or pergola over the cooking area keeps the cook out of the afternoon sun and the appliances out of the rain.
Gas, water and power. An outdoor kitchen usually needs at least one of them, and each is permitted and inspected. More on that below.
Permits, HOAs and setbacks for outdoor structures
Pergolas, patio covers, outdoor kitchens and other structures usually need a permit, and many HOAs review them as well. We handle the permits and the inspections.
Wind loads. In Miami-Dade and Broward, outdoor structures are designed for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which typically means engineered drawings for the posts, footings and connections.
Setbacks. Each city sets how close a structure can sit to the property lines and how much of the yard it can cover. Those rules shape the design before anything is drawn.
Gas, water and power. An outdoor kitchen with a gas line, a sink or new circuits needs those trades permitted and inspected like any other.
HOA review. Many HOAs review exterior changes. Since July 1, 2026, Florida law says an HOA can’t require a building permit as a condition of reviewing your plans. Florida law also bars an HOA from banning Florida-friendly landscaping, though it can still set reasonable standards.
What drives the cost of a backyard project
Size and structures move the price of a backyard project more than anything else.
Structures. Pergolas, covers and outdoor kitchens bring engineering, footings and permits.
Materials. Turf, pavers and stone vary widely, and the base under them is part of the cost.
Drainage. Regrading and drains depend on how water moves across the lot today.
Utilities and access. Gas, water and power for an outdoor kitchen or lighting, and how easily equipment and materials can reach the back of the lot.
Before any work starts, you get a written scope and a price, so you know the number before the first shovel goes in.
How a backyard project runs, step by step
Four steps, with the same team from the first call to the final walkthrough.
1. Planning
We walk the yard with you, take measurements and talk through how you want to use it and your budget.
2. Design
We draw the layout, the structures and the lighting, and you choose materials. You approve the design and the written price.
3. Permitting
The plans go to your city’s building department for review. On contracts over $5,000, you sign the Notice of Commencement. Our team helps you with it, so you know what you’re signing and when.
4. Build
Grading and drainage first, then structures, utilities and surfaces, then the final inspection and a walkthrough with you.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Backyard and outdoor living questions
Can you do turf and landscaping on their own?
Yes. Turf and landscaping can be a project on their own or part of a larger remodel.
Do I need a permit for a pergola?
In most cases, yes. In Miami-Dade and Broward, outdoor structures are designed for hurricane wind loads, and each city sets setbacks from the property lines.
Do you build outdoor kitchens?
Yes. We design and build outdoor kitchens, including the gas, water and power they need, with the permits and inspections that go with them.
How do you handle drainage in a backyard?
The yard is graded so water moves away from the house, with drains where it collects, and turf and pavers sit on a base that lets water through.
How do you handle budget and change orders?
You get a detailed scope and price before we start. Any change is priced and approved in writing before the work happens, so the number you agreed to is the number you pay.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. LIVARK is a Florida Certified General Contractor, license CGC1538621, and is insured. You can verify the license at MyFloridaLicense.com. We’re also a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).
Which areas do you serve?
South Florida: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
Tell us about your project.
Book a call, call us, or send a message. Whichever is easiest for you.
Service area
South Florida: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach
What happens next
Someone from our team will get back to you to talk through the project and the next step.
Pick a time that works for you. We’ll call you.
Call (954) 835-4175
Mon–Fri, 9 am – 6 pm
Message us on WhatsApp
Send a message and photos of the space.
info@livarkconstructiongroup.com
For plans, drawings and documents.