Thoughtfully Designed Outdoor Spaces, Built for Real Life
Complete outdoor construction for Carmichael homes and properties, bringing together hardscape, structures, landscaping, lighting, drainage, recreation spaces, and the features that make the outdoors an extension of home.
DESIGNED FOR CARMICHAEL PROPERTIES
Carmichael properties can offer a very different starting point from one home to the next—from established neighborhoods with mature trees and landscaping to larger lots, custom homes, and properties with outdoor spaces that have evolved over many years.
Sometimes the opportunity is to start fresh. Other times, it is about understanding what is already there and deciding what should stay, what should change, and how new improvements can work naturally with the home and property.
Existing patios, mature landscaping, drainage, elevations, trees, structures, utilities, access, and older improvements can all influence the plan.
For properties with more open space, we can also think ahead—considering how patios, structures, outdoor kitchens, landscape areas, pools, recreation spaces, lighting, drainage, and future improvements should relate before permanent elements are built.
We start with the property and how you want to use it, then determine what belongs in the plan.
Additional custom outdoor living features and options are available upon request.
COMPLETE OUTDOOR LIVING
A complete backyard is not about fitting as many features as possible into the available space. It is about understanding which features matter to your family and planning the relationship between them so the finished property feels natural and easy to use.
An outdoor kitchen should support the gathering happening around it—not become an obstacle in the middle of it. We consider cooking space, seating, circulation, proximity to the home, shade, utilities, dining areas, and how the kitchen relates to the rest of the backyard.
Shade can dramatically change how often an outdoor area gets used. Structures should be positioned around sun exposure, views, gathering areas, architecture, and the activities happening underneath them.
When a pool is part of the larger outdoor plan, we consider it in relation to patios, structures, landscape, gathering spaces, views, access, and the home rather than designing it in isolation.
Planting, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and landscape areas help soften the hardscape and connect the finished project to the surrounding property. For CJR, these elements are primarily incorporated into larger outdoor construction projects so they can be coordinated with the rest of the work.
Recreation areas should be placed where they can actually be used without disrupting the rest of the backyard. Turf, putting greens, sport areas, and open lawn can provide valuable usable space when incorporated intentionally.
Not every part of an outdoor project has to be built at once. But if future phases are likely, we want to understand them before the first phase begins. Utilities, drainage, access, elevations, sleeves, structures, and future connections can often be planned ahead. Good phasing begins with planning the later phases before the first one starts.
CONCEPT TO COMPLETION
Complete outdoor construction involves a lot of moving pieces.
Instead of asking homeowners to coordinate separate pool, concrete, landscape, drainage, lighting, and outdoor-living contractors themselves, CJR can plan and manage the major elements of the project through one team.
That creates clearer communication, better sequencing, and accountability for how the individual pieces come together.
Coordination isn't something homeowners should have to figure out between multiple contractors after the project starts.
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BUILT FOR REAL LIFE
Outdoor living looks different for every family, which is why we spend time understanding how you want to use your space before deciding what belongs in it.
For some homeowners, the priority is creating a backyard centered around family, swimming, and summer days at home. Others want more room for entertaining, an outdoor kitchen for hosting, a comfortable place to gather under a pavilion, or quieter areas to relax at the end of the day.
Those priorities help guide the layout and relationship between each part of the project.
A well-planned outdoor space should feel natural to your home, your property, and the way your family lives.
From complete backyard construction to outdoor kitchens, pavilions, concrete, pools, landscape installations, lighting, and recreation spaces, explore some of the outdoor environments CJR has built for local homeowners.
Outdoor projects become much easier to manage when the company planning them understands more than one trade. Here's what sets the CJR experience apart.
We design and build pools, concrete, hardscape, outdoor living, landscape, drainage, and more—so every element works together from the beginning.
CJR is a family-owned and owner-operated company. You work directly with owner Colton Ray from the initial consultation through construction—there isn't a salesperson between you and the person responsible for the work.
Our background in concrete, excavation, pools, and complete outdoor construction helps us anticipate challenges, plan properly, and consider how each part of the project affects the next.
We want our clients to understand what they are building, what is included, how the project will be approached, and who is accountable for bringing it together.
Carmichael's established homes can come with mature landscaping, existing hardscape, older outdoor improvements, established trees, drainage considerations, and spaces that have changed over time. Our construction-first approach helps us understand how new improvements should work with the property that's already there—not simply design around an empty canvas.
Our focus is thoughtful planning, proper preparation, quality craftsmanship, and doing the work correctly—not taking shortcuts to move a project along.
Colton and his team were EXCEPTIONAL in their work at our home. We had a big backyard of flat dirt and he helped turn it into a beautiful resort like feel.
— Heather A. · CJR client, via Google
The Details That Matter
Outdoor living can include much more than a patio or a single backyard feature.
Depending on the project, CJR can coordinate concrete and hardscape, outdoor kitchens, pavilions and shade structures, fire features, pools and spas, landscape installations, irrigation, drainage, low-voltage lighting, artificial turf, putting greens, retaining elements, and other outdoor improvements.
Our focus is primarily on larger outdoor construction projects where those elements benefit from being planned and built together.
Yes.
Established properties are often some of the most interesting projects because we are not necessarily starting with a blank space.
Existing patios, concrete, landscaping, trees, structures, drainage, utilities, access, and other improvements can all be evaluated as part of the new plan.
Some elements may make sense to preserve. Others may need to be removed, redesigned, or incorporated differently.
The goal isn't to erase everything that already works. It's to understand the property first and determine what will make the finished space work better.
Yes, for projects that are a good fit for our Design + Pre-Construction process.
Looking at the entire property can be valuable even when every part of the project will not be constructed immediately.
It allows us to consider layout, elevations, drainage, utilities, structures, hardscape, landscape areas, circulation, access, and future improvements together rather than making permanent decisions one feature at a time.
Potentially, yes.
On established Carmichael properties, mature trees and landscaping can be an important part of what gives the property its character.
Whether a particular tree or landscape area can or should remain depends on its location, condition, root system, proposed construction, elevations, drainage, access, and the overall design.
When existing features are important to you, we want to understand that early so they can be considered during planning rather than after the design is already developed.
Yes.
Phased construction can make sense when the phases are planned together from the beginning.
If you know you eventually want a pavilion, pool, outdoor kitchen, additional concrete, landscape improvements, lighting, or another feature, understanding that future plan can help us account for utilities, drainage, access, elevations, sleeves, structural requirements, and connections during earlier work.
Good phasing isn't simply deciding what to build first. It's making sure the first phase doesn't create unnecessary problems for the next one.
There isn't one meaningful price for an outdoor living project because the scope can range considerably.
The size of the project, demolition, access, grading, drainage, concrete and hardscape, structures, utilities, outdoor kitchens, pools, landscape installations, lighting, retaining conditions, materials, and site-specific construction requirements can all affect the investment.
For larger projects, we discuss your targeted comfort zone of investment early so the design and scope can be developed with an understanding of what you are comfortable investing in the property.
Because the finished concept may sound similar while the actual construction scope is very different.
Site preparation, demolition, drainage, concrete specifications, utilities, materials, structures, irrigation, lighting, landscape quantities, access assumptions, exclusions, allowances, project management, and the responsibility for coordinating different trades can all vary between proposals.
A lower number isn't necessarily the same project for less money if the scopes aren't actually equivalent.
Your initial project consultation is directly with CJR owner Colton Ray, not a salesperson.
Colton can walk the property with you, learn how you want to use the space, evaluate existing conditions, discuss your priorities and targeted comfort zone of investment, and look at how the different parts of the project may need to work together.
There isn't a salesperson between you and the person responsible for the work.
Planning an outdoor project comes with a lot of questions. We’re here to help you understand your options, what may make sense for your property, and the right next step.
More than just your average outdoor living contractor. We specialize in complete outdoor construction, including decorative concrete, structural concrete foundations, landscape installations, artificial turf, outdoor living, and more. One point of contact. One seamless experience thoughtfully designed and built by one experienced team.
Explore All ServicesBuilding your dream backyard may be more attainable than you think. Through our trusted financing partners, Lyon Financial and HFS Financial, we offer flexible financing options for custom pools and outdoor living projects. Get pre-approved today with a soft credit inquiry and explore financing that fits your budget and goals.
Explore FinancingTrusted Partners & Suppliers
Take a look at a few of the trusted suppliers and local businesses we rely on for quality products and professional services.
Local Suppliers & Partners →CJR's Local Picks
A Carmichael coffee shop with a personality all its own. Fast Cat combines specialty coffee and gourmet grilled cheese with a vintage motorsports-inspired atmosphere. A fun local stop when you’re looking for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or somewhere a little different from the usual coffee shop.
Visit
Located in Carmichael’s Crestview Village Shopping Center, Twisted Mac puts a fun spin on familiar comfort food with customizable mac and cheese, gourmet subs, and brick-oven pizzas. It’s an easy local pick for a casual lunch or dinner when comfort food sounds just right.
Visit
The Char Market is a locally owned Carmichael restaurant known for its MexaCali-style menu, grilled meats, tacos, and especially its bone marrow dishes. It has earned attention well beyond Carmichael while still feeling like the kind of neighborhood spot locals are lucky to have nearby.
Visit
Tell us a little about your property, how you want to use your outdoor space, and what you would like the finished project to make possible.
We'll start with a conversation about your project, property, priorities, and targeted comfort zone of investment to determine the right next step.
