Pergolas, patio covers and decks for Bay Area backyards.

Designing for Bay Area microclimates

The Bay Area does not have one climate. Inland towns like Brentwood, Antioch and Livermore get long, hot summer afternoons, so shade over the patio matters most. Closer to the coast and the bay, wind and fog keep things cooler, and a cover that blocks the breeze can make a yard more comfortable.

Almost everywhere, the rain arrives in winter. A patio cover needs a slight slope and gutters to move water away from the house, and a deck needs drainage below so the framing stays dry. Planning for both seasons is what lets you use the space most of the year.

Permits for pergolas, covers and decks

Cities in the Bay Area set their own rules, but some patterns repeat. A patio cover attached to the house usually needs a building permit, and so does any structure with electrical work for fans or lights. The California Residential Code exempts only small, low decks: 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the house and not serving the required exit.

Setbacks from the property line, height limits and HOA rules can also apply. Because we file the permit, its review time is built into your schedule rather than discovered halfway through. See our six-step process.

Building in a wildfire hazard zone

Parts of the East Bay hills, the Peninsula and the North Bay fall within designated fire hazard severity zones. In those areas, California’s wildland-urban interface rules (Section R337 of the Residential Code) require ignition-resistant materials and methods for decks, covers and other exterior construction.

That affects material choices from the start. Some composite boards and treated woods are rated for these zones and others are not. We check your address on the state’s fire hazard severity zone maps during design, so the plan meets the rules before it reaches the permit counter.

Gas, power and water for an outdoor kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is only as good as its utilities. A built-in grill needs a gas line sized for the appliance. A refrigerator, lights and outlets need weather-rated circuits with GFCI protection. A sink needs a water supply and a drain. Each of those is permitted work, and planning it early keeps trenches and conduits out of finished paving.

Placement matters too. Close to the house makes utilities and carrying food easier, while grills under a cover need the clearances and ventilation the manufacturer requires. We plan the layout around both before the first block is set.

Wood, composite, vinyl or aluminum

Wood brings warmth and is easy to customize, but it needs sealing or paint to last outdoors. Composite decking resists rot and splinters and needs little upkeep. Vinyl pergolas stay white without painting. Aluminum covers and pergolas do not rot or warp, and they come in solid and adjustable louvered roofs.

Many backyards mix them: an aluminum cover over the kitchen, composite boards on a wood frame and a vinyl pergola over the garden. The best mix depends on your budget, the look of the house and how much maintenance you want.

Backyards from Discovery Bay to San Jose

From our base in Brentwood we build outdoor living spaces across Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and the rest of the nine-county Bay Area, from waterfront lots in Discovery Bay to suburban yards in Walnut Creek, Concord and San Jose.

Every project follows the same steps: a free visit to the yard, a written estimate, permits handled and one crew from footings to the final walkthrough. Request your free outdoor living estimate and describe the project you have in mind.