Patio and Deck Checklist
Outdoor work is the one category where the biggest schedule factor is something nobody controls. We can work in cold and we can work in wind, but we cannot set pavers in standing water, we cannot pour concrete into mud, and polymeric sand needs a dry window to set. A week of rain is a week.
Download the printable PDFWe do not start until your materials are here
Every finish material on this list has to be physically at your home before we begin. Not ordered. Not shipped. Not out for delivery. Delivered, and checked by us.
We give you a completion timeframe and we hold to it. The only way we can do that is to control what is in the house on day one. A material that is still in transit has too many ways to fail — backorder, freight delay, shipping damage, wrong color, wrong quantity, wrong dye lot — and every one of those lands on your finish date instead of the supplier's.
So if the materials are not here, we do not start. Your project does not become a slower job. It becomes a later start. That is exactly what protects the timeframe we promised you.
There are no exceptions on an outdoor project. Every paver, board, rail and fixture is at the house before we dig.
The second factor is approval. If you are in an HOA neighborhood, the architectural committee is often the longest single item on this list, and it costs nothing to start. Submit before you have picked a paver.
How to use this checklist
- Tick the box once the item is bought and the spec sheet or model number is sent to us — not when you have decided on it. A decision we cannot see is not a decision we can build from.
- Send specs to Tony.KVIConstruction@gmail.com. A photo of the model sticker or a link to the product page is enough.
- Anything marked "On site before we start" has to be at the house before day one. Anything marked "Before we start" is a decision we need from you by then, not something you deliver.
- If a line does not apply to your scope, cross it off with us at the pre-construction walkthrough so nothing is left looking unanswered.
What you purchase, and when it is due
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Approvals first
Free to start, and the thing most likely to hold up a spring project. Do this the week the job is booked.
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your submission with a drawing and material selections. Two to eight weeks in many Columbus-area neighborhoods | Immediately | ||
| Needed if the work is near a setback, easement, or property line | Before permit | ||
| We call this in to OUPS. It takes 48 business hours and it is not optional | Before excavation | ||
| Required for decks over 30 inches above grade, roofed structures, and any gas or electric. We handle the filing | Before construction |
Your submission with a drawing and material selections. Two to eight weeks in many Columbus-area neighborhoods
Due by: Immediately
Needed if the work is near a setback, easement, or property line
Due by: Before permit
We call this in to OUPS. It takes 48 business hours and it is not optional
Due by: Before excavation
Required for decks over 30 inches above grade, roofed structures, and any gas or electric. We handle the filing
Due by: Before construction
Surface material
Order all of it at once, from the same production lot. Two lots of the same paver are not the same color.
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand, style, color, and the laying pattern you want. Plus the border or soldier course, usually in a contrasting color | On site before we start | ||
| Broom, exposed aggregate, or stamped, plus the color and where you want the control joints | Before we start | ||
| Composite brand, line and color, or pressure-treated versus cedar. Composite decking commonly runs two to six weeks | On site before we start | ||
| Color, usually a contrast to the deck boards | On site before we start | ||
| Hidden fasteners or face screws. Hidden costs more and looks better | On site before we start | ||
| Sand color, matched to your paver | On site before we start |
Brand, style, color, and the laying pattern you want. Plus the border or soldier course, usually in a contrasting color
Due by: On site before we start
Broom, exposed aggregate, or stamped, plus the color and where you want the control joints
Due by: Before we start
Composite brand, line and color, or pressure-treated versus cedar. Composite decking commonly runs two to six weeks
Due by: On site before we start
Color, usually a contrast to the deck boards
Due by: On site before we start
Hidden fasteners or face screws. Hidden costs more and looks better
Due by: On site before we start
Sand color, matched to your paver
Due by: On site before we start
Railing, steps and structure
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand, style (cable, aluminum, composite, glass), color, and top rail material. Often a four to eight week lead | On site before we start | ||
| Style and whether you want them lit. Lit caps need wire run during framing | On site before we start | ||
| Material, matched or contrasted to the main surface | On site before we start | ||
| Style, color, and cap. Confirm the height — walls over four feet need engineering | On site before we start | ||
| Material, color, and whether it is freestanding or attached to the house | On site before we start |
Brand, style (cable, aluminum, composite, glass), color, and top rail material. Often a four to eight week lead
Due by: On site before we start
Style and whether you want them lit. Lit caps need wire run during framing
Due by: On site before we start
Material, matched or contrasted to the main surface
Due by: On site before we start
Style, color, and cap. Confirm the height — walls over four feet need engineering
Due by: On site before we start
Material, color, and whether it is freestanding or attached to the house
Due by: On site before we start
Features
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit model or a custom design, and gas or wood burning | On site before we start | ||
| Confirm whether you want gas to a grill or fire feature. It is a trench and a permit item, so it has to be decided before we build over the route | Before we start | ||
| Grill model with cutout dimensions, side burner, fridge, sink, and the countertop material | On site before we start | ||
| Model, mount type, and whether you want a weatherproof enclosure. Power and data run before the surface goes down | On site before we start | ||
| Model, dry weight, filled weight, and the electrical requirement — usually 50 amp at 240 volts. The pad has to be built for the filled weight | On site before we start |
Kit model or a custom design, and gas or wood burning
Due by: On site before we start
Confirm whether you want gas to a grill or fire feature. It is a trench and a permit item, so it has to be decided before we build over the route
Due by: Before we start
Grill model with cutout dimensions, side burner, fridge, sink, and the countertop material
Due by: On site before we start
Model, mount type, and whether you want a weatherproof enclosure. Power and data run before the surface goes down
Due by: On site before we start
Model, dry weight, filled weight, and the electrical requirement — usually 50 amp at 240 volts. The pad has to be built for the filled weight
Due by: On site before we start
Lighting and electrical
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Count, style, and where the low-voltage transformer can be mounted | On site before we start | ||
| Model and count, if you are lighting the railing | On site before we start | ||
| How many and where. All exterior outlets need GFCI protection and in-use covers | Before we start | ||
| Whether the lights are switched from inside the house, outside, or on a timer | Before we start |
Count, style, and where the low-voltage transformer can be mounted
Due by: On site before we start
Model and count, if you are lighting the railing
Due by: On site before we start
How many and where. All exterior outlets need GFCI protection and in-use covers
Due by: Before we start
Whether the lights are switched from inside the house, outside, or on a timer
Due by: Before we start
Drainage and finishing
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you want roof water to go. Discharging it under a new patio is a lot easier than retrofitting it later | Before we start | ||
| Seed or sod for the disturbed areas around the work | Before we start | ||
| Whether you want the surface sealed, and matte or wet-look if so | After install |
Where you want roof water to go. Discharging it under a new patio is a lot easier than retrofitting it later
Due by: Before we start
Seed or sod for the disturbed areas around the work
Due by: Before we start
Whether you want the surface sealed, and matte or wet-look if so
Due by: After install
Order these first, they decide when we can start
- HOA approval. It costs nothing and it can cost you two months. Submit the week the job is booked.
- Composite decking and railing. Both commonly run two to eight weeks, and railing is often the longer of the two.
- Pavers, ordered as one lot. A second order weeks later is frequently a visibly different color.
- The gas line decision. Once we have built over that route, adding it later means taking part of your new patio back up.
The order the work actually runs in
Outdoor projects run in a sequence that depends heavily on weather and on cure times. Concrete footings need time before we load them, polymeric sand needs a dry window, and none of it can be compressed by adding people.
The phase nobody sees is the one that decides whether the work lasts: base preparation and compaction. It is the least interesting part of the project and the reason your patio is still flat in ten years.
Every phase below assumes your materials were already at the house on day one. That assumption is what the whole schedule rests on.
| # | Phase | Typical time | What must be settled or on site first |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design, HOA approval and selections | 2–8 weeks | HOA approved, and every material on page 1 delivered to the house |
| 2 | Permit, where required | 1–4 weeks | Decks over 30 inches, roofed structures, gas and electric |
| 3 | Utility locate | 48 business hours | Called in by us. It cannot be skipped or rushed |
| 4 | Layout and excavation | 1–3 days | Access to the yard and dry enough ground to dig |
| 5 | Footings, piers and inspection | 2–5 days | Concrete cure time before we build on it. Inspector availability |
| 6 | Base preparation and compaction | 2–4 days | The part nobody sees and the part that decides whether it stays flat |
| 7 | Deck framing | 3–7 days | Framing lumber and structural hardware on site |
| 8 | Surface install: pavers, stone or decking | 3–10 days | All surface material on site from a single production lot |
| 9 | Steps and landings | 1–3 days | Tread material on site |
| 10 | Railing install | 1–3 days | Railing delivered. This is frequently the item everyone is waiting on |
| 11 | Walls, fire feature and outdoor kitchen | 2–8 days | Block, kit, grill and appliances on site with cutout dimensions |
| 12 | Electrical and lighting | 1–3 days | Fixtures, transformer and outlet locations confirmed |
| 13 | Polymeric sand, grout or sealer | 1–2 days | A 24 to 48 hour dry window. We will not do this ahead of rain |
| 14 | Final grade, seed or sod, and cleanup | 1–2 days | Seed or sod decision made |
| 15 | Final inspection and walkthrough | 1–2 days | You available to walk the job with us |
1. Design, HOA approval and selections
Typical time: 2–8 weeks
HOA approved, and every material on page 1 delivered to the house
2. Permit, where required
Typical time: 1–4 weeks
Decks over 30 inches, roofed structures, gas and electric
3. Utility locate
Typical time: 48 business hours
Called in by us. It cannot be skipped or rushed
4. Layout and excavation
Typical time: 1–3 days
Access to the yard and dry enough ground to dig
5. Footings, piers and inspection
Typical time: 2–5 days
Concrete cure time before we build on it. Inspector availability
6. Base preparation and compaction
Typical time: 2–4 days
The part nobody sees and the part that decides whether it stays flat
7. Deck framing
Typical time: 3–7 days
Framing lumber and structural hardware on site
8. Surface install: pavers, stone or decking
Typical time: 3–10 days
All surface material on site from a single production lot
9. Steps and landings
Typical time: 1–3 days
Tread material on site
10. Railing install
Typical time: 1–3 days
Railing delivered. This is frequently the item everyone is waiting on
11. Walls, fire feature and outdoor kitchen
Typical time: 2–8 days
Block, kit, grill and appliances on site with cutout dimensions
12. Electrical and lighting
Typical time: 1–3 days
Fixtures, transformer and outlet locations confirmed
13. Polymeric sand, grout or sealer
Typical time: 1–2 days
A 24 to 48 hour dry window. We will not do this ahead of rain
14. Final grade, seed or sod, and cleanup
Typical time: 1–2 days
Seed or sod decision made
15. Final inspection and walkthrough
Typical time: 1–2 days
You available to walk the job with us
Shaded rows are stretches where little or nothing happens on site. They are part of the schedule, not a sign the job has stalled.
The three most common delays on a patio or deck
- Weather. It is the biggest factor on any outdoor project and nobody controls it. Wet ground cannot be excavated or compacted, and polymeric sand needs a dry window on both sides of install.
- HOA approval. Boards that meet monthly can add six weeks to a project that takes three. Submit immediately, not after you have finalized selections.
- Composite decking and railing lead times. Railing in particular is often what keeps a finished-looking deck from being usable.
Typical lead times
These are ranges we see in the Columbus market. Confirm the real number with your supplier when you buy, and tell us if it is longer than what is shown here.
| Item | Typical lead time | Order it by |
|---|---|---|
| Composite decking | 2–6 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Railing system | 4–8 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Pavers, in-stock styles | 1–2 weeks | 2 weeks before base prep |
| Pavers, special order | 3–8 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Natural stone | 2–6 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Outdoor kitchen appliances | 2–10 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| HOA architectural approval | 2–8 weeks | The week the job is booked |
| Utility locate (OUPS) | 48 business hours | Before any digging |
Composite decking
Typical lead time: 2–6 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Railing system
Typical lead time: 4–8 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Pavers, in-stock styles
Typical lead time: 1–2 weeks
Order it by: 2 weeks before base prep
Pavers, special order
Typical lead time: 3–8 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Natural stone
Typical lead time: 2–6 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Outdoor kitchen appliances
Typical lead time: 2–10 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
HOA architectural approval
Typical lead time: 2–8 weeks
Order it by: The week the job is booked
Utility locate (OUPS)
Typical lead time: 48 business hours
Order it by: Before any digging
The other planning checklists
Lead times and durations on this page are typical ranges for the central Ohio market and are not a quote. Your project is scheduled from your own scope, selections and supplier confirmations.