ICR exterior & outdoor project
Services

Exterior & Outdoor in Pittsburgh

Driveways, decks, patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens — exterior work built for Pittsburgh weather.

Our Approach

How we think about exterior & outdoor.

Your home’s exterior is the first thing people see, and the right upgrades can dramatically improve both curb appeal and functionality. Exterior projects require careful planning, proper installation, and materials built to last in Pittsburgh’s freeze-thaw cycles. The details that matter aren’t the ones you see — they’re the sub-base compaction under the driveway, the ledger flashing behind the deck, the drainage behind the retaining wall.

Investment Range
$10K – $45K+
Typical Duration
2–8 weeks on site
Investment by Scope

What it costs, by how deep we go.

Three real cost tiers for a exterior & outdoor project of typical size at mid-range finish level. Use the investment range tool to refine for your specific size and selections — every project is different, and so is every quote we issue.

Same layout, new finishes.

Cosmetic Refresh

$7K $21K
Medium / Mid-Range

Paint, fixtures, hardware, light cabinetry updates. The fastest path to an updated exterior & outdoor without a structural project.

  • Paint, hardware, fixtures
  • Lighting and plumbing fixture swap
  • Existing cabinetry kept or refaced
  • Minimal disruption — typically 2–4 weeks
Refine the range
New cabinetry and finishes, existing footprint.

Standard Remodel

$13K $39K
Medium / Mid-Range

New cabinetry, counters, tile, and fixtures within the current footprint. Light electrical and plumbing updates as required by code. The most common scope we run for exterior & outdoor.

  • New cabinetry, counters, tile, fixtures
  • Code-compliant electrical and plumbing updates
  • Lighting plan and ventilation upgrade
  • Same footprint — no structural work
Refine the range
Walls moved, plumbing relocated, structural rework.

Full Gut & Reconfigure

$20K $58K
Medium / Mid-Range

Down to studs. Walls relocated, plumbing rerouted, structural changes engineered and permitted. The deepest renovation — and the highest ceiling on what the room can become.

  • Structural drawings + permits
  • Walls moved, plumbing relocated
  • Full electrical re-run and panel upgrade if needed
  • All-new cabinetry, surfaces, mechanicals
Refine the range

Ranges shown are planning numbers — not quotes. The actual number for your home depends on what we find behind the walls, your specific selections, and the geometry of the existing space. The conversation starts with a 30-minute walk-through.

What’s Included

Everything labor
and material.

  • Driveway installation and replacement — concrete, asphalt, or paver
  • Deck design and engineering (Trex, Ipe, or pressure-treated)
  • Patio installation — stamped concrete, flagstone, or paver
  • Retaining walls (segmental block or poured concrete)
  • Outdoor kitchen and fire feature integration
  • Drainage, grading, and sub-base preparation
  • Permit pulls and municipal inspections
Where We Work

Exterior & Outdoor in your
neighborhood.

We’ve built exterior & outdoor across the South Hills and greater Pittsburgh. Click any area for the full local guide — housing stock, permitting, common challenges, and recent projects.

Frequently Asked

Questions we hear
every week.

Concrete or asphalt for a driveway?+
Concrete lasts 30+ years with proper sub-base and control joints, and reads as higher-end. Asphalt is cheaper upfront, needs sealcoating every 2–3 years, and typically lasts 15–20. In Pittsburgh freeze-thaw, the sub-base matters more than the surface material — we spec 6" of compacted 2A modified stone either way.
Trex or real wood?+
Depends on your plans. Trex is maintenance-free for 25 years and warrants for 30. Real wood (Ipe, cedar, pressure-treated) is cheaper upfront but needs refinishing every 2–3 years. We’ll walk through the math with you.
What about permits for a simple patio or driveway?+
Most municipalities require a permit for any impervious surface over 200 sqft, and driveway work that changes grade or affects right-of-way almost always needs one. We handle it. Retaining walls over 4’ also require engineering and permits — we handle that too.
Can you integrate with my existing landscaping?+
Yes. We coordinate with your landscaper if you have one, or recommend a partner for softscape work we don’t do in-house.
What’s the right base for a paver patio?+
4–6 inches of compacted 2A modified stone, graded for drainage, with a 1" sand bed. Anything less and the patio will settle within five years. This is where cheap contractors cut.

Ready to talk about
your exterior & outdoor?