Backyard Remodeling in El Segundo
Backyard remodeling in El Segundo typically begins with a single problem: a patio cover that was never built, an outdoor kitchen that keeps getting postponed, or a yard that simply stopped functioning. The compact residential grid west of Sepulveda Boulevard and along streets like Richmond Street dates largely from the city’s 1917 incorporation through the postwar aerospace decades, and that age shows up in the backyard first, through old slabs, mature tree roots, and drainage nobody planned for. Sitting directly beside LAX also means glazing, venting, and insulation choices carry real weight here. We cover both full design-build yards and targeted tear-out-and-rebuild scopes, drawn as one plan and built by one licensed team.
Services We Offer
Covers & Outdoor Kitchens
Drainage & Landscape
Yard Tear-Out & Rebuild
Our Backyard Remodeling Process in El Segundo
How We Approach Backyard Remodeling in El Segundo
Backyard remodeling in El Segundo starts with a site visit, because the compact residential lots on this tight grid leave little room for surprises once work begins. We look at slope, side-yard access, where utilities land, and how water currently drains. On older homes, many built during the city’s early decades, we also check for structures that may never have been permitted, since unpermitted work has to be resolved before new permits can move forward. From there we survey the lot, confirm setbacks and easements, and produce a full drawing that covers every element: decking, cover structures, outdoor kitchen, planting, grades and drains. You make finish selections before demolition starts, coordinating engineering and permit submissions to the City of El Segundo Building and Safety Division along the way.
Once permits are approved, demolition and excavation begin. Underground runs for gas, electrical, plumbing, drainage and irrigation are each inspected before they are covered. Structures and hard surfaces follow, then planting, lighting and equipment start-up. We close with final inspections and a walk-through so you understand everything that was built and why.
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Permits, Drainage, and Local Rules for Backyard Remodeling in El Segundo
Backyard remodeling in El Segundo moves through the City of El Segundo Building and Safety Division, and most of the work that changes the yard in a meaningful way requires a permit before construction starts. Pools and spas always need one. So do patio covers and California rooms, retaining walls or grading past local thresholds, new gas lines running to a grill, fire pit or pool heater, and new electrical circuits. The residential grid here sits on compact lots that were platted generations ago, and the city checks setbacks for pools, equipment pads, covers and fire features individually, so we verify those dimensions during layout rather than discovering a conflict at plan check. Where an HOA is in place, its architectural committee typically reviews pools, covers, walls and visible landscape before the city does, and we build that review window into the schedule from the start.
Drainage deserves serious attention on tight older lots. Every new patio, pool deck or solid-roof cover converts ground that once absorbed water into hard surface that sheds it. We set grades in the drawings so water falls away from the house on all sides, route downspouts into drain lines, and place area or channel drains where hardscape meets the foundation. Permeable pavers, gravel or planting beds go in wherever the layout allows. The outlet for that water has to be one the city accepts, which is generally the street. Water running over the property line onto a neighbor’s lot is not an option.
El Segundo’s residential area sits directly beside LAX, and aircraft noise is a real and documented condition there. That affects more than just windows. When a backyard addition connects to the house, the glazing, venting and insulation choices in the new structure matter more than they would in a quieter location. A poorly detailed California room or patio enclosure lets noise in through every gap, so we think about those details during design rather than after framing is done. Retaining walls are another item that comes up often on older lots with uneven grade. A wall over roughly four feet from the bottom of the footing, or one that holds back a slope, driveway or structure, typically requires a permit and engineered drainage behind it to remain stable over time.
Landscape scope affects compliance requirements in a few other ways. California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes, and every city adopts it or a stricter local version. Smaller backyard projects often fall below the thresholds, while larger permitted landscapes can require a water budget and irrigation plan as part of the submittal. If the plan includes lawn removal and the local water agency offers a turf replacement rebate, approval has to happen before any grass comes out, the replacement area has to stay permeable, and synthetic turf does not qualify. Pool work carries a separate state requirement: when a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home, at least two of seven drowning-prevention features must be in place before final inspection. We cover all of this in the initial consultation so nothing surfaces as a surprise during construction.
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 El Segundo
Horizon Construction and Remodeling Inc. is a licensed and bonded Class B general building contractor, and that classification matters on a backyard project. A typical El Segundo lot is compact and older, and a backyard remodel on that kind of property usually pulls together framing, electrical, plumbing, and drainage on a single job, which is exactly the multi-trade scope a Class B license covers. Specialty trade portions are performed by appropriately licensed subcontractors we coordinate directly.
We work design-build, meaning design, engineering coordination, permitting, and construction all move under one contract with one project manager. Permits for residential work in El Segundo go through the City of El Segundo Building and Safety Division, and we handle that submission and inspection process on your behalf so nothing stalls mid-project.
Because the residential grid here sits directly beside LAX, material choices around glazing, venting, and insulation carry real consequences for how livable your finished backyard space feels. We account for those conditions during design. Horizon has been doing this work since 2009, and you can reach us at (714) 449-9035 to schedule a site visit and free estimate.
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Backyard Remodeling FAQ
Do I need a permit for a backyard remodel in El Segundo?
Most backyard remodeling work in El Segundo does require a permit. Pools and spas, patio covers, California rooms, taller retaining walls, significant grading, new gas lines and new electrical circuits all go through the City of El Segundo Building and Safety Division, while replacing plants or resurfacing a small patio typically does not. On compact grid lots west of Sepulveda, where older homes sit close together and yard space is limited, getting the drawings right the first time matters. Gas, electrical and plumbing runs are inspected before burial, and pool work must include state-required drowning-prevention features to reach final approval. We review the local rules during layout, prepare the permit drawings, submit every application the project requires and respond to plan-check comments until permits are in hand.
How long does a backyard remodel take?
How long a backyard remodeling project in El Segundo takes depends on its scope, permit timing, and how quickly material selections get made. Straightforward hardscape and planting work can take a few weeks of construction once permits are in hand, while a project combining a patio cover, outdoor kitchen, and pool commonly runs a few months, with design and permitting sometimes taking as long as the build itself. Drainage work or engineered retaining walls adds time at the front end. You receive a project-specific schedule with your proposal.
What drives the cost of a backyard remodel?
Backyard remodeling costs in El Segundo vary based on a combination of site conditions and project scope. On the compact grid lots that make up most of the city’s residential area, access is often the first constraint: a narrow side gate limits equipment size and increases hand labor. Soil conditions and slope determine whether excavation and retaining walls are needed. Pool work is priced differently depending on whether you are building new or remodeling an existing shell, and an older pool may require plumbing replacement once it is opened. From there, distance from the gas meter and electrical panel, panel capacity, patio cover type, material selections, demolition volume, and any required landscape or fire-zone submittals all affect the final number. Because the residential neighborhoods here sit directly beside LAX, glazing, venting, and insulation choices carry more weight than they might elsewhere, and those selections factor into both design and budget from the start.
What's the difference between a backyard remodel and a backyard renovation?
Backyard remodeling in El Segundo works best when drainage and underground work are planned before any surface goes in, and that principle holds whether you are starting fresh or fixing what has already failed. On the compact grid lots that make up most of the residential area west of Sepulveda Boulevard, the two often overlap: cracked concrete, a rotting deck, dead lawn, poor drainage, or unpermitted structures may all need to come out before a new hardscape, outdoor cover, or exterior kitchen can go in. We treat both as one coordinated plan.
Can we build the backyard in phases?
Yes, phasing a backyard remodel over time is common and workable. The approach that holds up best is mapping the full yard on paper first, then running underground lines for gas, drainage, irrigation, and conduit during the earliest phase before any concrete is poured. In El Segundo, where residential lots on the compact grid west of Sepulveda tend to run small, that early rough-in matters even more because finished hardscape leaves little room to trench later. If an outdoor kitchen, cover, or fire pit is on the horizon, stubbing the gas line or conduit under new concrete now avoids cutting into finished work down the road. The trade-off is honest: phasing typically means paying for mobilization and separate inspections more than once.
Can you keep my pool and replace everything around it?
In most cases, yes, you can keep the pool. Many older pools have a cracked or lifted deck, loose coping, and a failed expansion joint that lets water work its way under the slab, but the shell itself is sound. On the compact grid lots that define El Segundo’s residential neighborhoods, we replace the deck and correct the underlying drainage problem without removing the pool. If resurfacing, tile, or equipment work is also needed, we schedule everything together so the concrete isn’t poured twice.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving El Segundo and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.