Outdoor Living · McLennan County, TX
Outdoor Living in Waco, Texas
Outdoor kitchens, pergolas, patio covers, and pool deck hardscape, built for real Texas heat and real Texas evenings. Most projects run $6,000 to $60,000+.
Built for Real Texas Evenings
An outdoor kitchen or a pergola only earns its cost if you actually use it. Here's what we plan for so it gets used, not just admired for a season.
A Long, Hot Season
Central Texas gets usable outdoor evenings most of the year, and 100-degree afternoons for a good stretch of summer. That combination is why shade and shelter aren't optional extras here. They're the reason people actually use the space once it's built.
Gas and Electrical, Planned First
A grill island needs a properly sized gas line and a shutoff in the right spot. A fridge, string lights, and speakers need weatherproof circuits run before the concrete goes down. We rough in gas and electrical before any hardscape is poured, so you're never trenching a finished patio to fix an afterthought.
Materials That Don't Warp or Fade
Texas UV bleaches cheap composite and cracks unsealed wood within a few summers. We spec stone, stucco over block, powder-coated aluminum, and exterior-rated cedar: materials chosen to hold their color and structure after five Augusts, not just look good on install day.
Pool Decks & Surrounds
We build the hardscape around a pool: the deck, the surround, and the coping. We don't build pools. If you already have a pool, or you've got one going in with a pool contractor, we design and pour the deck to work with it.
Broom-finished or stamped concrete, travertine-look pavers, or natural stone coping, graded to drain away from the water and textured so it doesn't turn into a skating rink barefoot in July. If your pool is still in the planning stage, we can coordinate directly with your pool contractor on timing and layout.
Ways We Build the Rest of the Yard
Outdoor living rarely stands alone. Here's what usually gets built alongside it.
Outdoor Kitchens
A deep dive on grill islands, full kitchens, and premium builds with stone veneer and pizza ovens. See outdoor kitchens.
Pergolas & Patio Covers
Cedar, aluminum, and steel structures compared, plus footing depth and shade design for real Texas summers. See pergolas & patio covers.
Concrete Patios
A kitchen or pergola needs a real slab underneath it, not bare dirt or old cracked concrete. See our concrete patio services.
Retaining Walls
Sloped lot? A wall levels the ground before an outdoor kitchen or covered patio makes sense to build. See our retaining wall services.
One Project Manager, Real Trade Crews
Every project is run by a dedicated Pro Landscaping project manager and built by our vetted, insured Waco-area crews. An outdoor living build touches more trades than almost anything else we do: stone crews for the island, licensed electricians for circuits and lighting, and gas techs for the line and shutoff.
Your project manager sequences all of it so the gas guy isn't waiting on the stone guy who's waiting on a permit that should've been pulled two weeks earlier. That coordination is most of what you're actually paying for on a multi-trade build like this.
What Outdoor Living Actually Costs
Typical Waco-area ranges — your itemized estimate is free.
| Project | Typical Range | What Drives the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Kitchens | $12,000-$60,000+ | Grill island alone at the low end, full kitchen with sink and fridge in the middle, stone veneer and a pizza oven at the top. |
| Pergolas & Patio Covers | $6,000-$25,000+ | Cedar open-lattice pergola at the low end, insulated aluminum or motorized louvered roof at the top. |
| Pool Decks & Surrounds | $14-$22/sq ft | Concrete or paver deck plus coping around a pool you already have or have planned. Does not include pool construction. |
Pool deck and surround pricing is for the deck and hardscape only. We build the deck; a licensed pool contractor builds the pool. Text us photos of your space for a rough range.
Outdoor Living Questions Waco Homeowners Actually Ask
How much does an outdoor living project cost in Waco?
Outdoor kitchens typically run $12,000 to $60,000 or more, pergolas and patio covers run $6,000 to $25,000 or more, and pool deck and surround hardscape runs $14 to $22 per square foot. Every estimate is itemized and free.
Do outdoor kitchens need a permit?
Most outdoor kitchens need an electrical permit, and a gas line to a grill or fireplace usually needs a plumbing or gas permit too. We pull the permits and coordinate inspections as part of the build, not as a surprise later.
Do you build pools?
No. We build the hardscape around a pool: the deck, the surround, and the coping. If you need a pool built, we can coordinate with a pool contractor and design your deck to match once the pool shell is set.
What's the difference between a pergola and a patio cover?
A pergola has an open or slatted roof that filters light and lets air through. A patio cover, insulated aluminum or a solid roof, blocks sun and rain completely. Central Texas summers push most clients toward at least partial solid coverage.
How long does an outdoor living project take?
A pergola or patio cover usually takes 1 to 3 weeks. A full outdoor kitchen with gas, water, and electrical rough-in runs 3 to 6 weeks depending on stone work and appliance lead times.
Will an outdoor kitchen or pergola hold up in Texas heat?
If it's built right. We spec stainless or outdoor-rated appliances, stone or stucco over block instead of wood-frame veneer that traps moisture, and structural materials chosen for how they perform under UV and heat, not just how they look on install day.
How much maintenance does an outdoor kitchen or pergola need?
Stainless appliances need periodic cleaning to avoid rust in humidity. Stone and stucco need almost none. Cedar structures need a fresh sealant coat every 2 to 3 years for UV protection. Aluminum and steel need the least upkeep of any structural option.