Any thought on converting grass backyard to hard surface(Concrete). (Richardson: buying a home, buying)

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Way, way, way too hot. Not to mention it would be a resale issue for most potential buyers. I wouldn't even consider it unless the yard was huge and the hard surface was say 20% of the total and far away from the house.

Also, hard covering will often kill existing trees nearby and you will create an instant drainage problem for yourself.

This, all of it.

[BeanyMalone]

I was considering (long range) doing flower/shrub beds (mostly natives) and decomposed granite paths and patio areas. I have a mature elm in the backyard, and the lot is average/small for west Richardson. Same concerns? I am just sick and tired of paying to maintain and water the grass, nor is it my favorite look.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by BeanyMalone

I was considering (long range) doing flower/shrub beds (mostly natives) and decomposed granite paths and patio areas. I have a mature elm in the backyard, and the lot is average/small for west Richardson. Same concerns? I am just sick and tired of paying to maintain and water the grass, nor is it my favorite look.

That is infinitely more desirable than a huge slab of concrete. It wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me; I have claimed some of my lawn for hard landscaping too, though not concrete.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by BeanyMalone

I was considering (long range) doing flower/shrub beds (mostly natives) and decomposed granite paths and patio areas. I have a mature elm in the backyard, and the lot is average/small for west Richardson. Same concerns? I am just sick and tired of paying to maintain and water the grass, nor is it my favorite look.

That would be a lot better. If a future owner wanted to try and change the yard back to grass (such as if the tree dies), it wouldn't be that difficult.

[rantanamo]

Originally Posted by Indyguy_2011

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]We have a backyard of size 30*50 feet in our north dallas home. I would like to convert this to hard surface(concrete slabs or some other material) which makes backyard more usable.

My plan is to leave around 5 feets of grass all around and convert the rest to hard surface. I will be using the hard surface mainly as play area(badminton court/ kids bike area ..etc).

I want to know if anyone has done this and what's the thought on this??.

Will this bring down the property value?.

Will we have to careful about the under ground utility pipes(I am leaving 5 feet all around).

Also what is the best material you suggest to use for this...

Thank You in advance for your response....
[/SIZE][/SIZE]

This is more common than you think. Especially with people that have pools. I have a friend that had a beautiful yard like this. Large slate pavers next to the house, with some planter boxes. Pergula covering it with growing Wisteria. Pebbled concrete around the pool. On one side, there's all soil with various drought tolerant plants. Large planter boxes on at the back. And play space with trees and grass on the other side. I laugh at anyone that thinks this brought their property value down. They had the pool already. But adding the extra hardscape put their home in a whole other price bracket when they were selling. I remember them having to relocated the electric. But much had to be moved because of the pool before. Their house was in the 300s before this project and in the mid 400s afterward. It might be more than most would do, but its certainly not too hot. If anything, they added a ton of shade and rediscovered their front yard as a place to play and front porch as a place to sit and relax.

[MurphyPl1]

The difference there is the pool. Not essentially a parking lot in the back yard.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

This is more common than you think. Especially with people that have pools. I have a friend that had a beautiful yard like this. Large slate pavers next to the house, with some planter boxes. Pergula covering it with growing Wisteria. Pebbled concrete around the pool. On one side, there's all soil with various drought tolerant plants. Large planter boxes on at the back. And play space with trees and grass on the other side. I laugh at anyone that thinks this brought their property value down. They had the pool already. But adding the extra hardscape put their home in a whole other price bracket when they were selling. I remember them having to relocated the electric. But much had to be moved because of the pool before. Their house was in the 300s before this project and in the mid 400s afterward. It might be more than most would do, but its certainly not too hot. If anything, they added a ton of shade and rediscovered their front yard as a place to play and front porch as a place to sit and relax.

Key difference: pool pool pool!

Originally Posted by MurphyPl1

The difference there is the pool. Not essentially a parking lot in the back yard.

This.

[jcl_cls02]

Having the whole concrete backyard can turn off potential buyers with kids when it comes to resell. (Unless you make it a full court basketball area. I've see some houses with those in my area.)

[binkyman]

Originally Posted by Indyguy_2011

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]We have a backyard of size 30*50 feet in our north dallas home. I would like to convert this to hard surface(concrete slabs or some other material) which makes backyard more usable.

My plan is to leave around 5 feets of grass all around and convert the rest to hard surface. I will be using the hard surface mainly as play area(badminton court/ kids bike area ..etc).

I want to know if anyone has done this and what's the thought on this??.

Will this bring down the property value?.

Will we have to careful about the under ground utility pipes(I am leaving 5 feet all around).

Also what is the best material you suggest to use for this...

Thank You in advance for your response....
[/SIZE][/SIZE]

The idea sounds pretty cool and outside the box to me. I would paint a part of the concrete blue so that it would look like a swimming pool and that would help maintain the resale value of the property. The rest of the concrete would be painted ultra white and reflective of the heat helping to stave off global warming. Also, just consider how one wouldn't have to poison the earth any more by using toxic insecticides on insects as there wouldn't be any. After all, yards of green grass have proven to attracts pests like insects. Indeed, plastic plants and yards of concrete could help us stop the threat of global warming and save the environment from pollutants like insecticides.

Thank you, sir! It is people like you that continue making this nation great!

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by binkyman

The idea sounds pretty cool and outside the box to me. I would paint a part of the concrete blue so that it would look like a swimming pool and that would help maintain the resale value of the property.

WTH?!?! No, painting concrete blue to "look like a pool" absolutely, 110% will NOT "help maintain the resale value". We have a pool and having a giant slab of blue concrete in the backyard would in no way be the same as having a pool. Where do people come up with these crazy ideas.....