How should I prepare my yard before a deck or pergola project starts?
Short answer
Clear the work area and the path to it: move furniture, planters, grills and anything fragile, trim plants that overhang the footprint, and agree with your builder where materials will stage and the saw will sit. Mark or locate irrigation lines, low-voltage wiring and drain lines so they are not cut. Plan for pets and children to stay out of the work zone. Decide in advance what will be protected and how. A half day of preparation saves days of delay and damage.
Clear the footprint and the route
Remove everything that can be moved from the work area and from the path a crew will walk between the street and the site, usually a side gate and side yard. That includes patio furniture, umbrellas, pots, grills, hoses, hose reels, toys and garden art. Items that cannot move, like a built-in barbecue or a spa, should be identified so the builder can plan protection. Take photos of the yard before work begins; they are useful for everyone if a question comes up later.
Find what is underground
Most Carlsbad yards have irrigation lines, drip tubing, valve boxes, low-voltage lighting wire, downspout drains and sometimes gas lines to a barbecue or fire pit. Footings go where the design says they go, and a shovel does not negotiate with a pipe. Walk the yard with your builder, point out valve boxes and lighting transformers, and run the irrigation so heads and leaks show themselves. Shut off irrigation zones in the work area for the duration.
Utilities serving the house are a separate matter. Before any digging, California requires a call to 811 so public utility lines are marked; a responsible builder arranges this, but it is good to know it is happening.
Protect plants and hardscape
Trim back shrubs and tree limbs that hang into the footprint or the route. Mature plants you care about can be wrapped or fenced off, and a few can be dug and potted for the duration. Pavers and concrete along the route can be protected with plywood or heavy mats where wheelbarrows and lumber will travel. Discuss what is worth protecting and what is being replaced anyway; a bed that will be reworked after the deck is built does not need the same care.
Access, staging and power
Agree where lumber and hardware will be delivered and stored, ideally flat, off the ground and under cover. Agree where cutting happens, since sawdust travels, and where a dumpster or debris pile will sit. Confirm that the side gate is wide enough for long boards and a wheelbarrow, and clear it if not. Identify an exterior outlet and a hose bib the crew can use. If a concrete truck will deliver, check where it can park and how far the pour is from the street.
People and pets
A work site has open holes, exposed nails, stacked lumber and running saws. Decide how dogs will be kept out of the yard during the day, especially if the fence or gate is part of the work. Let children know the yard is off limits. Tell your builder about anyone who works from home, naps or has health concerns so loud work can be scheduled with that in mind, and tell your neighbors the start date.
Decisions to make before day one
Finalize every selection that affects the build order: decking color, railing style, stain color, post cap design, lighting locations. Confirm the exact footprint on the ground with stakes or paint and stand in it. Agree on working hours, how daily cleanup will go and who to call with questions. Once the first footing is dug, changes get expensive; the week before is when they are free.
Related questions
Do I need to remove the old deck myself?
No. Demolition is normally part of the project and should be in the proposal, including hauling. Removing old pressure-treated lumber and hardware properly is heavier work than it looks, and the builder will want to see the existing framing and ledger as it comes apart.
What if my irrigation runs right where a footing goes?
It gets rerouted, which is routine. Finding it before digging means a planned reroute with new fittings; finding it with a shovel means a repair and a wet hole. This is why we walk the yard with irrigation running before pricing footings.
Should I be home during the work?
Not necessarily, but be reachable. Questions come up at specific moments, such as when a wall is opened or a post location is being set, and a quick answer keeps the day moving. Agree on how decisions will be made if you are away.