Do I need a landscape designer and a hardscaper, or can one crew do both?

Many hardscape and design firms in Austin handle both scopes together, especially on combined patio and planting projects. Ask upfront rather than assuming.

Do outdoor kitchens need a permit in Austin?

Gas lines, electrical for outdoor kitchens, and some structural elements often require permits. A reputable contractor will handle or flag this rather than skip it.

How long does an outdoor kitchen and patio build take?

It depends on scope, but combined patio, masonry, and planting projects typically run longer than a standalone patio because of sequencing between trades.

Outdoor kitchen and patio builds in Austin

An outdoor kitchen or patio build usually isn't a single-category job. It combines hardscape work (patio surface, seating walls, a grill island or masonry counter) with landscape design elements (plantings, lighting, layout that ties the space to the rest of the yard), and sometimes irrigation adjustments around the new hardscape footprint. This page is for homeowners planning that kind of combined project rather than one isolated task.

Patio or paver surface sized for a kitchen island, seating, and traffic flow
Built-in grill islands, counters, or pizza ovens set on a masonry base
Fire pits or fireplaces integrated into the patio design
Planting beds, screening, and lighting layout around the new structure

Because this spans hardscaping and design, ask any crew whether they handle both scopes in-house or bring in a design partner, so plumbing, gas lines for a grill, and drainage around the new patio all get planned together instead of as an afterthought.

What it costs

Cost varies enormously with scope: a simple paver patio with a prefab grill cart is a much smaller job than a full masonry kitchen island with a built-in grill, counter, and fire feature. Get itemized quotes that separate hardscape, any gas or electrical work, and planting/design so you can see where the budget is going.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for hardscaping & masonry.

1. Southern Love Landscaping & Design
5.0★ · 280 reviews

94
2. RcTex Pavers
5.0★ · 101 reviews

91
3. G’s Landscaping & More
4.6★ · 283 reviews

88

See the full ranking → · Browse all providers

FAQ

Do I need a landscape designer and a hardscaper, or can one crew do both?: Many hardscape and design firms in Austin handle both scopes together, especially on combined patio and planting projects. Ask upfront rather than assuming.
Do outdoor kitchens need a permit in Austin?: Gas lines, electrical for outdoor kitchens, and some structural elements often require permits. A reputable contractor will handle or flag this rather than skip it.
How long does an outdoor kitchen and patio build take?: It depends on scope, but combined patio, masonry, and planting projects typically run longer than a standalone patio because of sequencing between trades.