Backyard Remodeling in Claremont
Backyard remodeling in Claremont typically begins with a single problem: a patio cover that never got built, an outdoor kitchen that exists only as a wish, a slab that has cracked and settled, or a lawn that simply stopped working. Claremont grew in two distinct eras, first as a college town after its 1907 incorporation and later as a mid-century residential spread where citrus groves once stood, and backyards in both waves carry the evidence, in old concrete, mature root systems, and drainage that was never properly planned. We work throughout the Village, Padua Hills, Claraboya, and Stone Canyon Preserve, handling everything from a full design-build yard to a targeted tear-out and rebuild, drawn as one coordinated plan and built by one licensed team.
Services We Offer
Covers & Outdoor Kitchens
Drainage & Landscape
Yard Tear-Out & Rebuild
Our Backyard Remodeling Process in Claremont
Backyard remodeling in Claremont starts with a site visit where we look at slope, side-yard access, existing structures, utility locations, and how water currently drains off the lot. Because many homes here date to the early 1900s or the mid-century ranch era, we also check for work that may have been done without permits, since unpermitted construction has to be addressed before new plans can move forward. We survey the lot, confirm setbacks and easements, then draw the full scope: decking, covered structures, outdoor kitchen, grading, drainage, and planting. You make finish selections before demolition begins, and we handle engineering coordination, HOA submittals where applicable, and permit filing with the City of Claremont Building Division.
Once permits are in hand, we proceed with demolition and excavation, then install underground gas, electrical, plumbing, drainage, and irrigation lines. Each underground system is inspected before it is covered. Claremont’s design guidelines and Preservation Ordinance can shape what is approvable near the Village or on a designated historic property, so we factor those requirements into the drawings from the start rather than discovering conflicts later. Structures and surfaces go up next, followed by planting, lighting, equipment start-up, final inspections, and a walk-through with you.
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Pulling a permit is not optional for most backyard work in Claremont. Pools and spas always require one. So do patio covers and California rooms, new gas lines running to a grill, fire pit or pool heater, new electrical circuits, and any retaining wall or grading that goes past the local thresholds. That paperwork moves through the City of Claremont Building Division, and we handle the submittal, the plan check responses and the inspections so you are not chasing it yourself.
Claremont adds two layers that not every city has. The Preservation Ordinance puts a review process in place before anyone alters, relocates or demolishes a designated or eligible historic resource, and the city’s design guidelines reach into the neighborhoods as well. If your property is near the early-1900s Craftsman and bungalow houses close to the Village, that review is worth accounting for early in the layout, not after drawings are done. Setbacks for pools, equipment pads, covers and fire features shift from one city to the next, so we confirm the numbers at the layout stage rather than waiting for plan check to flag them. Where an HOA is involved, its architectural committee typically reviews pools, covers, walls and visible landscape before the city does, and we build that sequence into the schedule.
Drainage shapes how long a yard holds up. Every patio slab, pool deck and solid cover roof takes ground that once absorbed rain and turns it into runoff. We set grades in the drawings so the yard falls away from the foundation on all sides, route downspouts into drain lines, and drop area or channel drains wherever hardscape meets the house. Permeable pavers, gravel and planted areas go in where the design allows. Water exits to a city-approved outlet, generally the street, and never over the fence onto a neighboring lot. Retaining walls holding back a slope, a driveway or a structure typically need a permit and engineered drainage behind them to stay in place over time.
A few state rules apply regardless of city. California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance covers new and rehabilitated landscapes, and larger permitted projects can require a water budget and an irrigation plan with the submittal. If your water agency offers a turf replacement rebate, approval has to come before any grass is removed, the replacement area has to stay permeable, and synthetic turf generally does not qualify. If the address falls within a CAL FIRE mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the first five feet around the house call for hardscape or gravel rather than bark mulch, fire pits need clear separation from structures and overhangs, and attached covers should be designed with ignition resistance in mind. Finally, state law requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features to be in place before a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home passes final inspection.
Other Remodeling Services We Offer
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than any other room in the house: layout, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and finishes. Horizon designs and builds kitchen remodels under one contract, from the measured layout to the final inspection.
Whether you envision a classic Southern California pool or a fully customized backyard oasis, Horizon Construction & Remodeling delivers the highest level of quality and service. Our comprehensive pool design and remodeling services cover everything from layout and decking to built-in BBQs and final touches like landscaping. Let Horizon be your trusted partner in transforming your backyard into the perfect outdoor retreat.
If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel or simply want to change your tub, shower, update your plumbing fixtures, or make the space more efficient, our team at Horizon will help you through the process with expert advice, professional craftsmanship, and affordable options with beautiful results. Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services.
Transform your space with our expert interior work services. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions — from space planning and custom design to the selection of high-quality finishes and materials. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with you to create a space that’s both functional and stylish, tailored to your unique needs, goals, and budget. Whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire interior, we bring precision, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project.
At Horizon, we believe your home is more than just four walls — it’s where life happens. It’s the place you relax, gather with family and friends, and create lasting memories. That’s why we offer a full range of exterior work services designed to elevate your outdoor living space. From patios and hardscaping to custom decks and exterior renovations, we help turn your vision into a dream yard that complements your lifestyle and enhances curb appeal.
At Horizon Construction & Remodeling, our expert team includes a dedicated design and planning division that works hand-in-hand with licensed architects and structural engineers. We take care of everything — from detailed plans and blueprints to securing city permits — so you don’t have to deal with delays or red tape. Our goal is to streamline the process and provide a fully approved set of documents that aligns with both your vision and city regulations, saving you time and stress.
Why Choose Horizon Remodeling For Backyard Remodeling in Claremont
Horizon Construction and Remodeling is a licensed Class B general building contractor, bonded, and has been active in Southern California since 2009. That Class B license covers the range of trades a backyard remodel brings together, including framing, concrete work, gas lines, electrical, and plumbing, with specialty trade portions coordinated through appropriately licensed subcontractors under our management.
Claremont’s permit process runs through the City of Claremont Building Division, and properties near the Village, many of them early Craftsman bungalows, may also fall under the city’s Preservation Ordinance review procedures before work begins. We handle permitting as part of our design-build contract, so one project manager carries the job from plans through inspections. Design, engineering coordination, and construction stay under one agreement rather than spread across a pool company, a mason, and a patio cover builder who each see only their slice of the job.
Before anything is ordered, you can review coping, tile, pavers, counters, and finish materials in person at our office at 614 South Euclid Street in Fullerton. Call us at (714) 449-9035 to schedule a site visit and start a conversation about your backyard remodel in Claremont.
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Backyard Remodeling FAQ
Do I need a permit for a backyard remodel in Claremont?
Most backyard remodeling work in Claremont does require a permit, though minor jobs like replacing plants or resurfacing a small patio typically do not. Patio covers, California rooms, pools and spas, taller retaining walls, significant grading, new gas lines, and new electrical circuits all go through the City of Claremont Building Division. Inspectors review gas, electrical, and plumbing runs before they are buried, and pool projects must include state-required drowning-prevention features to pass final. For homes near the Village or in areas covered by the city’s Preservation Ordinance, additional design review may apply. We check all applicable local rules during layout, prepare the drawings, pull every permit the project requires, and work through plan-check comments until permits are issued.
How long does a backyard remodel take?
How long a backyard remodeling project in Claremont takes depends on scope, permit timing, HOA review, and how quickly material selections are made. A straightforward hardscape-and-planting job can run a few weeks of construction once permits are in hand, while a yard combining a patio cover, outdoor kitchen, and new pool commonly runs a few months, with design and permitting often taking as long as the build itself. Projects involving drainage work or engineered retaining walls add time up front, and because Claremont’s design guidelines apply citywide, any work near a designated or eligible historic resource goes through an additional review process. A project-specific schedule comes with your proposal.
What drives the cost of a backyard remodel?
Backyard remodeling costs in Claremont vary based on a range of site and project factors that are worth understanding before you request an estimate. Access comes first: a yard reachable only through a narrow side gate means smaller equipment and more hand labor. Slope and soil conditions drive excavation costs and retaining wall needs. Pool work depends on whether you are building new or remodeling an existing one, and an older pool may require plumbing work once opened. Distance from the gas meter and electrical panel, panel capacity, patio cover type, material selections, demolition and haul-off volume, and any submittals related to HOA rules, fire-zone requirements, or landscape review all affect the final number. In Claremont specifically, projects touching a designated or eligible historic resource move through the city’s Preservation Ordinance review process, and citywide design guidelines apply across neighborhoods, so permit coordination with the City of Claremont Building Division is part of the planning from the start.
What's the difference between a backyard remodel and a backyard renovation?
Backyard remodeling in Claremont can mean building something new, fixing what has failed, or doing both at once. Some projects start with a goal, adding hardscape, a covered patio, an outdoor kitchen, or landscaping brought together under a single plan. Others start with a problem: cracked or heaved concrete, a rotting deck, dead lawn, poor drainage, or unpermitted structures that have to be removed before rebuilding can begin. In Claremont’s older neighborhoods near the Village, where lots and original layouts vary, we design drainage and underground work first so the finished surfaces hold up correctly.
Can we build the backyard in phases?
Yes, phasing a backyard remodeling project in Claremont is common and very workable. The approach that holds up best is mapping the entire yard before any ground is broken, then running underground lines for gas, drainage, irrigation, and electrical conduit in that first phase so a future covered structure, outdoor kitchen, or fire pit does not require cutting through finished concrete later. Claremont permits go through the City Building Division, so phased projects will typically mean separate inspections and mobilization costs for each stage.
Can you keep my pool and replace everything around it?
In many cases, yes. Pools in older Claremont backyards frequently have a structurally sound shell paired with a failing surround: cracked or heaved decking, loose coping, and expansion joints that have let water migrate beneath the slab. We can replace the deck and correct the underlying drainage problem without disturbing the pool itself. When resurfacing, new tile, or equipment upgrades are also needed, we schedule that work alongside the deck so the concrete is not poured twice.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Claremont and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.