Downtown · Clayton Valley · Ygnacio Valley · Lime Ridge · Monument Corridor
Schedule a Discovery ConsultationConcord is the most populous city in Contra Costa County, and its backyards come in every shape, from homes near downtown to neighborhoods out toward Clayton Valley and the foothills by Lime Ridge Open Space. What they share is heat. Concord averages about 45 days a year at 90 degrees or above.
We design and build outdoor living spaces for Concord homeowners who want a yard that works in July, not just in April. Shade, durable hardscape and planting chosen for this valley come first.
Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord. Photo: Geraoma, CC BY 3.0
Downtown Concord centers on Todos Santos Plaza, a full city block of lawn and shade trees ringed by restaurants. It hosts a farmers market and summer concerts, and on a warm evening it is about as close to a classic town square as the East Bay gets.
Beyond downtown, Mount Diablo State Park and Lime Ridge Open Space are close by, and the Frank Gehry-designed outdoor amphitheater that opened in 1975 as the Concord Pavilion still brings big shows to town. It is a city that spends a lot of time outside, which is exactly why we like building here.
Concord was founded in 1869 as Todos Santos by Don Salvio Pacheco II, a Californio rancher, and was later renamed. The plaza downtown still carries the original name. The city incorporated in 1905.
Some of that early history still stands. The Don Francisco Galindo House on Amador Avenue was built in 1856 by Francisco Galindo and his wife, Maria Dolores Manuela Pacheco Galindo, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The Concord Historical Society now cares for the house and its gardens.
Many Concord homeowners come to us wanting the whole yard rethought at once instead of one piece at a time. That is what design and planning is for: one plan, built in the right order.
Answer five quick questions and see the features and projects built for the way you live.
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The Don Francisco Galindo House, built in 1856. Photo: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
Concord's average July high is close to 88°F, with roughly 45 days a year at 90°F or more. That drives material choices, plant selection and where structures go. We place shade where it does the most good and zone irrigation by exposure.
Permits for structures, gas, electrical and taller retaining walls typically go through the City of Concord. We confirm requirements during planning and build review time into the schedule.
Homes near Lime Ridge, the Mount Diablo foothills or other open space may sit in or near state-mapped fire hazard severity zones, which can add requirements. We check the current maps for your address before a design is final. Many Concord neighborhoods also have HOAs with their own design review.
Every project begins with a discovery consultation. We learn about your home, your goals and how you want to live outside, then recommend the right next step.
Schedule a Discovery ConsultationIt can be. Turf stays green without summer watering, but it gets hot in direct afternoon sun, so we usually pair it with shade or place it where it gets relief later in the day. We walk through the tradeoffs against sod during design.
It depends on where the sun hits. Solid patio covers give the most relief, while cantilever pergolas keep posts out of the way. We model the sun on your lot before recommending either.
Yes. We design and build for homeowners throughout Concord, including both.
Smaller yards often benefit the most, because every square foot has to earn its place. A good plan can fit dining, lounging and planting into a compact space.
If your neighborhood has an HOA, it may need to approve the design before work starts. We prepare plans that make that review straightforward and account for it in the schedule.
