Golden Yards Data Desk
Compare the scope, materials and site work behind an outdoor project budget. The table below lists editorial planning inputs; it does not establish current California market prices.
Categories
15
Outdoor living, hardscape, envelope, ADU, and water-smart projects.
Evidence status
Unverified
Ranges and durations are editorial inputs without a documented price sample.
Use case
Budget first
Compare scope and risk before calling contractors.
Project planning inputs
Each category links scope and quote questions to an unverified editorial range. The numbers are not demonstrated prices for a defined project.
Architecture
01Unverified planning input
$150,000-$420,000
California ADU, garage conversion, detached unit, rental, and site planning ranges.
Hardscape
02Unverified planning input
$8,000-$65,000
Driveways, pavers, concrete, asphalt, base prep, drainage, and curb-appeal planning for California homes.
Structure
03Unverified planning input
$15,000-$90,000
Patios, walkways, retaining walls, steps, drainage, and structural outdoor surfaces.
Water + Yard
04Unverified planning input
$65,000-$250,000
Pool construction and backyard remodel planning, including excavation, finishes, equipment, and surrounding hardscape.
Outdoor Rooms
05Unverified planning input
$18,000-$125,000
Built-in grills, counters, utilities, shade, storage, refrigeration, and entertainment layouts.
Patios
06Unverified planning input
$10,000-$70,000
Patio covers, pergolas, shade structures, surfaces, drainage, furniture zones, and outdoor-room planning.
Outdoor Rooms
07Unverified planning input
$18,000-$95,000
Deck construction, composite vs wood, elevated structures, railing, waterproofing, and engineering.
Spa
08Unverified planning input
$7,000-$55,000
Hot tubs, in-ground spas, slab prep, electrical, privacy, equipment access, and operating costs.
Envelope
09Unverified planning input
$14,000-$75,000
Roof replacement planning for cool roof rules, fire zones, underlayment, materials, and insurance pressure.
Envelope
10Unverified planning input
$18,000-$90,000
Exterior cladding, stucco alternatives, fiber cement, fire exposure, water intrusion, and color planning.
Planting
11Unverified planning input
$12,000-$85,000
California landscape design, native planting, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and drought-tolerant yard planning.
Water Smart
12Unverified planning input
$9,000-$35,000
Synthetic lawn planning for heat, pets, drainage, rebates, infill, and long-term water savings.
Outdoor Rooms
13Unverified planning input
$12,000-$110,000
Outdoor entertaining systems: fire features, lighting, seating, shade, audio, and connected backyard zones.
Architecture
14Unverified planning input
$85,000-$240,000
Garage conversion planning for living space, rental use, insulation, fire separation, utilities, and permits.
Envelope
15Unverified planning input
$7,000-$35,000
Exterior paint planning for prep, stucco repair, trim, color, fire/weather exposure, and coating systems.
Bid language
Hardscape
Base prep is the excavation, grading, compaction, and aggregate layer under pavers, turf, concrete, or other outdoor surfaces.
Permits
A permit pull is the process of applying for, receiving, and posting the local building permit required before regulated construction work begins.
Contracts
A change order is a written update to a construction contract that changes scope, price, materials, timeline, or responsibilities after the original agreement is signed.
Budgets
An allowance is a placeholder budget in a contractor bid for an item that has not been fully selected or priced yet.
Site Work
Drainage is the system of grading, slopes, drains, pipes, permeable surfaces, and discharge paths that moves water away from the home and usable outdoor areas.
Utilities
A utility run is the path, trenching, conduit, pipe, wiring, or connection work needed to bring gas, electrical, water, sewer, or data service to a project.
Site Work
Soil compaction is the process of mechanically densifying soil or base material so it can support hardscape, turf, slabs, driveways, walls, or structures.
Site Work
Slope drainage is the grading, drain, swale, wall, pipe, or discharge strategy used to move water safely across or away from sloped property.
The CSV includes the same 15 categories, ranges, durations and evidence limits shown on this site. It is an editorial input table, not a contractor-price survey.
Download the CSVEvidence labels reviewed . This is not a new price survey.
Methodology
The current table stores editorial ranges and durations without a documented set of source quotes, quantities or market adjustments. A range should not be described as a current market benchmark merely because it appears beside a location or project category.
Unverified planning duration; the included phases are not established. Confirm design, permits, procurement and construction separately. See the Golden Yards Methodology for source handling, review cadence, and limits.
Planning questions
The Cost Index organizes outdoor project categories, cost drivers and editorial planning inputs. Unverified editorial planning inputs. These ranges are not established California market prices, observed price distributions or contractor quotes.
No. The table does not document a verified sample of contractor prices or complete project specifications. Use it to identify questions, then obtain itemized proposals for the dimensions, materials, site work and approvals your project needs.
The index covers driveways and pavers, artificial turf, hardscaping, outdoor kitchens, pools, ADUs, roofing, siding, landscaping, decks, patios, jacuzzis, garage conversions, exterior painting, and outdoor entertaining.