What is the Golden Yards Cost Index?
The Golden Yards Cost Index is a California outdoor living planning dataset that organizes 2026 project ranges by category, scope, materials, timeline, and site-risk drivers.
Golden Yards Data Desk
Cost Index 2026
California outdoor projects in the Golden Yards Cost Index range from $7,000-$420,000 depending on category, scope, site access, drainage, utilities, fire exposure, materials, and local review.
Categories
15
Outdoor living, hardscape, envelope, ADU, and water-smart projects.
Planning range
$7,000-$420,000
Broad project-level benchmark before itemized bids.
Use case
Budget first
Compare scope and risk before calling contractors.
Project cost ranges
Start with the outdoor decision you are really making
Each index page turns a broad project type into scope, budget tier, materials, timeline, and site-risk questions.
Architecture
01ADU Guide
$150,000-$420,000
California ADU, garage conversion, detached unit, rental, and site planning ranges.
Hardscape
02Driveways & Pavers
$8,000-$65,000
Driveways, pavers, concrete, asphalt, base prep, drainage, and curb-appeal planning for California homes.
Structure
03Hardscaping
$15,000-$90,000
Patios, walkways, retaining walls, steps, drainage, and structural outdoor surfaces.
Water + Yard
04Pools
$65,000-$250,000
Pool construction and backyard remodel planning, including excavation, finishes, equipment, and surrounding hardscape.
Outdoor Rooms
05Outdoor Kitchens
$18,000-$125,000
Built-in grills, counters, utilities, shade, storage, refrigeration, and entertainment layouts.
Patios
06Patios
$10,000-$70,000
Patio covers, pergolas, shade structures, surfaces, drainage, furniture zones, and outdoor-room planning.
Outdoor Rooms
07Decks
$18,000-$95,000
Deck construction, composite vs wood, elevated structures, railing, waterproofing, and engineering.
Spa
08Jacuzzi
$7,000-$55,000
Hot tubs, in-ground spas, slab prep, electrical, privacy, equipment access, and operating costs.
Envelope
09Roofing
$14,000-$75,000
Roof replacement planning for cool roof rules, fire zones, underlayment, materials, and insurance pressure.
Envelope
10Siding
$18,000-$90,000
Exterior cladding, stucco alternatives, fiber cement, fire exposure, water intrusion, and color planning.
Planting
11Landscaping
$12,000-$85,000
California landscape design, native planting, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and drought-tolerant yard planning.
Water Smart
12Artificial Turf
$9,000-$35,000
Synthetic lawn planning for heat, pets, drainage, rebates, infill, and long-term water savings.
Outdoor Rooms
13Outdoor Entertaining
$12,000-$110,000
Outdoor entertaining systems: fire features, lighting, seating, shade, audio, and connected backyard zones.
Architecture
14Garage Conversion
$85,000-$240,000
Garage conversion planning for living space, rental use, insulation, fire separation, utilities, and permits.
Envelope
15Exterior Painting
$7,000-$35,000
Exterior paint planning for prep, stucco repair, trim, color, fire/weather exposure, and coating systems.
Bid language
Terms that change the number
Hardscape
Base prep
Base prep is the excavation, grading, compaction, and aggregate layer under pavers, turf, concrete, or other outdoor surfaces.
Permits
Permit pull
A permit pull is the process of applying for, receiving, and posting the local building permit required before regulated construction work begins.
Contracts
Change order
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
Allowance
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
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
Utility run
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
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
Slope drainage is the grading, drain, swale, wall, pipe, or discharge strategy used to move water safely across or away from sloped property.
Methodology
How Golden Yards builds the index
The index combines Golden Yards project guides, market guides, editorial article research, public permit and code signals, material pricing, and contractor quote patterns. It is normalized by scope, site conditions, and California climate constraints.
See the Golden Yards Methodology for source handling, review cadence, and limits.
Answered for search
Cost Index FAQ
Are these outdoor project costs final quotes?
No. The Cost Index is a planning benchmark. Final bids depend on scope, site access, demolition, drainage, utilities, permits, fire exposure, materials, and contractor availability.
Which California outdoor projects does the index cover?
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.