“We can always add it later.”
It sounds reasonable when you’re planning a backyard project.
But some features are much easier—and often more practical—to think about from the beginning.
Homeowners often realize too late that the things they postponed were actually the features that would have made the space more comfortable, functional, and enjoyable. Below are the backyard planning mistakes we see most often.
1. Waiting Too Long to Add Shade
A beautiful backyard can still go unused if there’s nowhere to escape the sun.
A pergola or patio cover can make an outdoor area much more comfortable and give you more reasons to actually spend time outside.
Colorado’s high-altitude sun is intense, and a west-facing deck can be hard to use on summer afternoons. A pergola gives filtered shade and a sense of structure, while a patio cover is a solid roof that also handles rain and hail. You can compare the look of each in our custom pergola gallery and patio cover gallery.
Planning shade from the start also means the deck framing, posts, and footings can be designed to carry it, instead of being reworked later.
2. Building a Deck That’s Too Small
At first, a small deck may seem like enough.
Then you add furniture, a grill, family gatherings, and suddenly there’s barely room to move.
Thinking about how the space will be used long-term can help avoid wishing you had built a little bigger.
A simple test: set your actual table, chairs, and grill on the lawn, then walk around them. You’ll quickly see how much room people need to pull out a chair or get past the cook. Our custom deck projects show how different sizes and layouts work in real Colorado backyards.
3. Forgetting About Entertaining
If you enjoy having friends or family over, your backyard should be designed for it.
Dedicated seating, dining areas, and space around the grill can make the difference between a backyard that looks nice and one that actually works.
Think about the path from the kitchen door to the table, where people will gather after dark, and where lighting and outlets should go. Those details are much easier to plan before the boards go down.
4. Treating the Backyard Like an Afterthought
Sometimes homeowners focus entirely on the inside of the house and leave the backyard for “someday.”
The result? Valuable space sits unused for years.
A well-designed deck, pergola, or covered patio can turn that forgotten area into one of the most enjoyable parts of the home. If your yard already sits empty most of the year, our article on the reasons your backyard isn’t being used looks at that problem in more detail.
5. Waiting Until Problems Appear
Delaying repairs to an older deck, railing, or outdoor structure can also become expensive.
Small issues are often easier to correct before weather and time make them worse. If you’re planning an upgrade anyway, it’s the right moment to fix what’s underneath rather than building new features on top of a tired structure.
Why Backyard Planning Mistakes Cost More to Fix Later
Adding a feature after the fact is rarely as simple as it sounds. Here’s what “later” often involves:
- A second permit and a second round of inspections with your city or county
- Another HOA design review, if your neighborhood has one
- Removing finished work, such as railings, decking, or landscaping, to make room
- Reinforcing a frame that wasn’t designed for the extra weight of a roof or hot tub
- Trying to match materials and colors that have already weathered
None of these are reasons to build everything at once. They’re reasons to plan everything at once, even if you build in phases.
Build for How You’ll Live Tomorrow
A good backyard project shouldn’t only solve what you need today.
It should consider how you’ll use the space next year—and several years from now. A few questions worth asking:
- How many people do we realistically host, and how often?
- Will we want a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, or a fire feature someday?
- Would wider stairs, sturdy handrails, or fewer steps make the space easier to use as we get older?
At CA Carpentry, we help homeowners create outdoor spaces that are practical, comfortable, and designed for the way they actually live. That includes patio cover installation in Castle Rock. We also prepare the HOA design packets and handle permits for every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common backyard planning mistakes?
The big ones are skipping shade, building a deck too small for real furniture, ignoring how you’ll entertain, and putting off repairs. Most come from planning for today instead of the next several years.
Is it better to add a patio cover now or later?
If you think you’ll want one, it’s usually easier to plan it with the deck or patio so the structure, posts, and roofline tie-in are designed together. You can still build in phases once the plan is set.
Can a pergola be added to an existing deck?
Often, yes, as long as the deck is in good condition and the framing can support it. Sometimes the pergola posts need their own footings, which is something we evaluate on site.
How big should my deck be?
Start with the furniture you’ll actually use and add room to walk around it comfortably. A builder can help you balance size with your yard, your house, and your city or HOA requirements.
Still Saying “We’ll Add It Later”?
Contact CA Carpentry today and let’s plan your backyard the right way from the start—so you don’t have to rebuild it later.
Request a free on-site estimate (we usually come out within one business day) or call us at 720-628-0173, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm. Financing is available through Regions Bank, and most projects start within 3 to 8 weeks.
