Backyard & Landscape Design in Philadelphia
Expand your home’s livable space by creating an outdoor environment that’s designed around the way you live.
A thoughtfully planned backyard becomes more than just part of your property. It becomes a place to enjoy dinner outside, gather with friends around the fire, relax with your morning coffee, or spend more time with family.
Harth Builders creates custom backyard and landscape designs for homeowners throughout Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, South Jersey, and now the Jersey Shore. Every project is tailored to your home, your property, and the way you want to use your outdoor space.
Whether you’re envisioning a new deck, an outdoor kitchen, gardens, gathering spaces, or a complete backyard transformation, our design-build team brings every element together into one cohesive plan.
Backyard Design That Brings Everything Together
The best outdoor spaces don’t happen by accident. They start with a thoughtful plan.
Every property presents different opportunities and challenges. We consider how your home connects to the outdoors, existing grades, drainage, mature trees, privacy, sun exposure, and how you want to use the space throughout the year.
The goal isn’t simply to add more features. It’s to create an outdoor space that feels connected to your home and flows beautifully as a whole.
Outdoor Living Spaces
A well-designed backyard expands your home’s usable living space and creates new ways to enjoy your property.
Projects may include:
- Custom decks
- Outdoor kitchens with built-in grills or pizza ovens
- Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces
- Pergolas and shade structures
- Walkways and gathering spaces
- Landscape lighting
- Custom patio spaces
Looking for a patio-focused project? Explore our dedicated Patio Design & Installation services.
Backyard Transformations
Some projects focus on one part of the yard. Others rethink the entire property.
Whether you’re updating an existing backyard or starting with a blank slate, our team develops a comprehensive plan that balances beauty, function, and long-term enjoyment.
Why Choose Harth Builders?
Designing an outdoor living space is about more than selecting materials. It’s about understanding how every element works together.
Harth Builders brings designers and builders together from the very beginning, so the vision developed during the design process carries through to construction. You work with one team from the first conversation to the final walkthrough, with clear communication throughout the project.
Homeowners choose Harth because of:
- More than 30 years serving Philadelphia-area homeowners
- 4.9-star Google rating
- NARI-certified craftsmanship
- A complete design-build approach
- Experience with local site conditions and permitting requirements
Our Process
Harth Builders guides you through every stage of the design-build process.
- On-site consultation and property assessment
- Budget planning based on your goals and site conditions
- Design development and material selections
- Design review, project planning, and permitting
- Professional construction and installation
- Final walkthrough and punch list
- Warranty review and project completion
Serving the Philadelphia Area
Harth Builders provides backyard and landscape design services throughout Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, South Jersey, and the Jersey Shore.
Ready to expand your home’s livable space with a custom outdoor living environment? Our team is ready to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to add a patio, deck, or outdoor kitchen in the Philadelphia suburbs?
Costs vary widely by feature. A full outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, counter space, and utility hookups typically runs $80,000 to $100,000+. Fire features, accent lighting, technology, heaters, and pergolas are usually add-ons in the $100,000+ range depending on complexity. We build a detailed estimate around your specific combination of features following your at-home consultation.
Do I need a permit for a deck, patio, or outdoor kitchen in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, yes, especially for any project involving gas lines, electrical work, or plumbing. All permitted work falls under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and our process includes securing the necessary permits before construction begins.
Why do deck footings in this area need to go so deep?
Pennsylvania’s frost line sits at roughly 36 inches below grade, and in some areas it extends to 42 inches. Footings must be dug below that depth, because ground that freezes and thaws each winter expands and can heave a shallow footing upward, cracking or shifting the entire deck structure over time. This is one of the most common mistakes in DIY or unpermitted deck builds in our area, and it’s why proper footing depth is one of the first things inspected before we pour concrete.
Can outdoor living projects be built in the fall or winter?
Yes, though the schedule looks different than a spring or summer build. Site work and footing excavation can be more weather-dependent once the ground starts to freeze, and concrete curing takes longer in cold temperatures. Many homeowners use the fall and winter months for the design phase, material selection, and permitting, so construction is ready to begin as soon as the weather cooperates in spring. We can walk through what’s realistic for your timeline during your consultation.
What's the difference between a paver patio and a poured concrete patio?
A poured concrete patio is typically the lower-cost option upfront and requires less installation labor, but it can crack over time in freeze-thaw climates like ours unless it’s installed with proper base preparation and control joints. A paver patio costs more initially, but individual pavers can be replaced without redoing the whole surface, and it tends to handle our region’s freeze-thaw cycles better over the long term. We help you weigh the upfront cost against long-term maintenance based on how you plan to use the space.
Do outdoor living projects add resale value to my home?
It depends on the feature. Decks tend to return a solid share of their cost at resale, generally more than patios, since they add usable square footage and are often visible in listing photos. Outdoor kitchens and fire features add lifestyle value and can help a home stand out, but they return less of their cost dollar-for-dollar than a deck or basic patio. We can talk through which additions make sense if resale is a factor alongside how much you’ll actually use the space.
Do you handle both design and construction?
Yes. As a design-build firm, our in-house designers, architects, and craftsmen manage your project from concept through completion, including site assessment, permitting, and construction. This differs from hiring a landscape designer and a separate contractor and coordinating between them yourself. With Harth, you have one team and one point of accountability for the entire outdoor living space.
Do you build pools or can you integrate an outdoor living space around my existing pool?
We do not build pools, but we will work with your preferred pool vendor to coordinate the design and construction so your new pool and outdoor living space come together seamlessly.
If you already have a pool, we will design around it to make the entire backyard feel connected. That might include a new patio that ties the spaces together, a cabana positioned to create attractive sightlines from the house and throughout the backyard, or other features such as lighting or technology that make the most of your outdoor space.