Backyard ideas

[twinmomma]

We have a weird back yard area that I don't know what to do with. I think this is the year I want to actually make some progress on it. We're going to be selling this house in the next year or two, so I feel like we need to do something to make the space useable and more attractive to potential buyers. 

It's a narrow, long space between our house and the neighbor's tall white vinyl privacy fence. It's about 10-12 feet wide and is currently just dirt. I've tried my hardest to get grass to grow back there and it just won't. There's one huge shade tree in the corner that prevents any grass from surviving. The tree also drops a TON of leaves every fall. We spend no time back there because all our kid play space is in the front yard, so it has always seemed weird to hang out in this little alley way of sorts behind the house. 

Right now it's just empty and dirt and not used. There's a door and some concrete stairs from the kitchen that leads out to this area, so it feels like prime patio space to fix up and put some seating out there. 

I'm torn on between actual patio stone (I feel like that will be $$$ to level the area and install), or something like crushed rock or mulch. I'd love to do the cheaper rock/mulch option, but I think it will be tough to do fall leaf clean up effectively if we do that. I've also thought of just buying some fake grass to roll out because I'm sick of the dirt/mud. LOL

[deadwing]

Maybe a stamped concrete patio? My neighbors put one in a year or so ago and it's very nice. I think it was cost-effective as well. I did a paver stone patio last year and I think your narrow space will make excavation a pain. My patio is roughly 20x25 and excavation took two days with a massive machine in my yard. I'm sure there are smaller machines, or it could be dug out by hand, but that will take more time and effect the cost.

[definitelyO]

what about an elevated trex deck with a fire pit, loungers, and rock accent around. not sure if this image works - but like this?

if it's big enough you could have a few conversation areas - do you grill? is that out there? or make one area a "game" area - stage it with corn hole, etc... before you sell.

[simpsongal]

Can you pip the space? In your real estate market how much would an upgrade increase the price or attractiveness of your house?

We had an area like that at a rental and we just laid some large pavers from Home Depot. Like $2 each. It made the area usable for a grill and a table.

[sandandsea]

Since you are moving I’d do something affordable to define the space but low maintenance. I’d probably do a less expensive crushed granite or cheap paver patio with fake grass around it to fill the space. It will look nice and finished but not cost too much.

[dr.girlfriend]

I would definitely check your zoning first. In my area only a certain percentage of the lot can be covered with nonpermeable surface, and I would hate to put money into something and then have to undo it to sell.

[twinmomma]

Our grill is currently out on the small front porch, since we've had our seating out there by the driveway to keep an eye on the kids. They're old enough now that I would feel comfortable moving the grill and the seating to this backyard area as more of an "adult" hang out space, especially since it's off the kitchen.

simpsongal, I'll try to do a picture, but it's a snowy mess right now.

definitelyO, The raised deck would be really nice! I wonder how that would compare cost-wise.

[nicolewi]

Do you like the tree? Is it a good kind of tree? I would consider having an arborist look at it before you design around it if it's a huge old tree. It could be dangerous near your house or towards the end of it's lifetime anyway. Before you design everything around it, I'd want to know more about it.

Maybe this isn't the case at all. Just saying you may want to look into the health of the tree before you work around it.

[af1212]

If you did small stones and used a leaf blower instead of rakes I think you would be ok.

[Roc A Bee]

How do you envision using it? Honestly I’d do the cheapest option since it sounds like you are selling. Maybe some gravel and patio chairs around a fire pit?

[twinmomma]

I don't think it would really help or hurt with selling the house. Houses here sell in less than 24 hours with multiple offers. That's a big part of why we haven't sold yet - we're not confident we'd be able to find a new place! I'd like to fix it up so we can get some better use out of it this summer and to just help with some "curb appeal" for people looking at the house when we do decide to sell.

[ellipses84]

With a long skinny space, it can help to break it up into two more square areas like the fire pit post someone else posted. I was thinking of posting a similar question, but our spaces are even narrower. All the houses in our neighborhood have 4-7 feet wide between each house/fence that create side yards. The best solution I’ve seen is to have giant pavers we with direct or gavel around them, level with the pavers. You could do that but you might need 2-4 rows of giant pavers. For clean up it seems easier because you can sweep it, sweep the gravel into the big cracks between pavers, and pick up big leaves. If you don’t want to do gravel, I’d do a square of decent quality turf.

[twinmomma]

Random update, in case anyone cares!

We decided to take the money we would have spent on this weird back yard area and put it into expanding the deck on the front of the house that we actually use. It's currently a tiny 6x8 deck with just our grill on it and the front door to the house. We'll be adding another 8x8 section to make it even bigger. I'm really excited about it, since it'll give us a much nicer spot to put our patio furniture and the kids play in the front yard so we'll be able to hang with them more while relaxing outside.

I've been joking with my boyfriend that I might just go to Job Lots and buy a discounted piece of fake turf to lay out back to at least cut down on the dust and dirt tracking everywhere. It wouldn't look like, but it would do the job.