If you want a new deck, patio cover, screened porch, pergola, or other outdoor living upgrade this year, March is the time to get moving. Starting early gives you time to make good design decisions, work through permits, and lock in materials before peak-season demand tightens everything up. It also means you’re not rushing choices you’ll live with for years — and you’re ready to enjoy your new space the moment St. Louis weather turns.
Spring always feels like the moment St. Louis homeowners start dreaming about outdoor living. The weather turns, you picture summer evenings on a new deck, a shaded porch, a screened space where the kids can actually hang out without fighting mosquitoes — and suddenly it’s the only thing you want to talk about. That energy is real. The trick is not letting it slip into late May when everyone else has the same idea and the season is already half gone.
March is the sweet spot. Starting now means you get the space you actually want, built the right way, ready to use when it matters.
There’s More to Plan Than Most People Expect
A great outdoor living project isn’t just square footage — it’s deciding how you want to live outside. Do you need room to grill and host? Shade so you’re not baking by noon? A screened porch so humid Missouri evenings don’t drive you back inside? A multi-level deck that actually works with your yard’s grade? These decisions affect layout, materials, traffic flow, comfort, and budget. And they’re worth thinking through carefully rather than making quick calls just to keep a project moving.
The right answer looks different for every household, and we build all of it:
Decks — Open-air entertaining, yard access, and room to breathe. Great for homeowners who want a flexible outdoor space without a lot of enclosure. We work with composite decking brands including TimberTech by AZEK and DuraLife, along with aluminum railing systems and specialty finishing details that reduce maintenance and hold up over time.
Covered porches and patio covers — Shade that actually makes your outdoor space usable on hot afternoons, plus protection when summer storms roll through. These are especially popular for homes where the back of the house takes full afternoon sun.
Screened porches — Fresh air without the bugs. A favorite for Missouri summers when humidity and mosquitoes make an open deck far less appealing by evening.
Pergolas — Flexible light, visual structure, and a defined outdoor room without full enclosure. We work with smart-tech PERGOLAM systems by Anchor Industries, which offer more control and longevity than standard pergola builds.
Combination layouts — Multi-zone setups for homes that want a deck for entertaining, a covered area for dining, and a screened space for relaxing — all connected. These take the most planning but often deliver the most usable outdoor space.
Whatever direction fits your family, details like deck grade, shade coverage, traffic flow, integrated lighting, and how the whole thing connects back to your home all shape how much you’ll actually use the space once it’s done. Starting early gives you time to work through those decisions on paper before anything gets built.
Permits and Materials Take Time
Permitting is one of the biggest reasons early planning matters. In the City of St. Louis, a residential building permit is required for any structural change, major alteration, or new construction, and construction plans have to be submitted at the time of application. That applies to new decks, covered porches, pergolas with structural components, and patio covers attached to the home. Even when the process goes smoothly, permit review still has to happen before construction starts. Building that into the schedule now is much easier than scrambling once the weather turns and you’re ready to be outside.
Material choices add another layer. When you want a specific composite decking color, railing profile, or pergola system, availability shapes the timeline more than most homeowners expect. Starting in March gives you a better chance to make those selections thoughtfully rather than settling for whatever ships fastest.
Here’s What Working with Us on Your Outdoor Living Space Looks Like
We keep it straightforward:
1. We listen.
Every project starts with a conversation about how you use your home and what you want to feel when you walk outside. No pressure, no assumptions — just a clear picture of what you’re looking for and what will actually work for your space and budget.
2. We build a plan.
Clear scope, clear pricing. You know exactly what you’re getting before anything starts, so there are no surprises once work begins.
3. We execute and keep you in the loop.
You’re updated throughout the process, and when it’s done, the space feels like it was always supposed to be there — backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
The free consultation is genuinely just a conversation and the fastest way to turn a backyard idea into something with a real plan behind it.
The Best Time to Start Is Right Now
Peak season fills fast, and the homeowners who end up happiest with their outdoor spaces are the ones who gave themselves enough time to make good decisions — on design, on materials, on the details that make a project feel finished instead of just functional. A well-planned outdoor living space gives you more than a nicer backyard. It gives you a place you actually want to be when St. Louis weather turns comfortable and everyone wants to be outside.
If a deck, porch, pergola, or covered outdoor space is on your list for this year, let’s talk. At Lakeside Renovation & Design, we’ve been helping St. Louis homeowners since 1997 and we’d love to help you build something you’ll actually use. Book your free consultation and let’s get started.