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Outdoor kitchen and bar with stone-faced counter, green patio umbrellas and a tiered fountain

Patio Covers, Outdoor Kitchens and Outdoor Living

Shade for the afternoon sun, a place to cook outside and a patio that drains the right way. We build covered patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, decks and fire features, and pour the concrete under them.

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Licensed CSLB #920095 · Free estimates

Outdoor Living Spaces with LE Construction

Ventura County weather lets you use a backyard for most of the year, but the conditions change a lot depending on where you live. Inland in Santa Paula, Fillmore, Moorpark and Simi Valley, summer afternoons get hot and a solid patio cover can make the yard usable after lunch. Near the coast, the issue is wind, salt air and the marine layer, which favor hardware and finishes that resist corrosion. We design for the yard you actually have.

Outdoor projects tend to combine several trades: a concrete slab or pavers, a structure attached to the house, a gas line for a grill or fire pit, an electrical circuit for lights and a refrigerator, and drainage so water moves away from the foundation. We are licensed in General Building and Concrete, so the slab, the structure and the utilities are one job with one schedule. One longtime client has had us build a back yard patio for them along with other projects since 2007.

Many outdoor structures need a permit, especially patio covers attached to the house, outdoor kitchens with gas or electrical work, and anything in a fire hazard zone, where materials and clearances are regulated. We sort that out at the estimate so the project you design is one the city or county will approve.

What our outdoor living include

  • Patio covers

    Solid or lattice covers in wood or aluminum, attached to the house or freestanding, with footings and connections sized for wind and the span.

  • Pergolas and arbors

    Open-beam structures for partial shade and climbing plants, built from wood or low-maintenance materials.

  • Outdoor kitchens

    Counters with built-in grills, side burners, sinks, refrigerators and bar seating, with the gas, water and electrical lines run to code.

  • Patios, walkways and pavers

    Broom-finish, stained or stamped concrete and paver patios, sloped to drain away from the house.

  • Decks

    Wood or composite decks, including ignition-resistant decking for homes in fire hazard zones.

  • Fire features, fountains and lighting

    Gas or wood-burning fire pits and fireplaces, small fountains, low-voltage lighting and irrigation adjustments around the new space.

Our outdoor living specialties

Each of these has its own page with more detail on how we plan and build it.

How a outdoor living spaces project runs

Every step below is in writing before work starts, so you know what happens next and when.

  1. Step 1: Yard visit

    We look at sun angles, drainage, where the house can take a ledger, and where gas, water and power can come from.

  2. Step 2: Design and estimate

    A layout with dimensions, materials and finishes, and a written estimate that includes the concrete, the structure and the utilities.

  3. Step 3: Permits

    We submit for the patio cover, gas, electrical and any fire-zone review, and confirm HOA approval if your neighborhood has one.

  4. Step 4: Site work and concrete

    Excavation, footings, utility trenches and the slab or pavers, sloped and jointed to control cracking.

  5. Step 5: Structure and utilities

    Patio cover or pergola framing, outdoor kitchen base and counters, then gas, water and electrical connections and inspections.

  6. Step 6: Finish and walkthrough

    Appliances, lighting, stain or paint, cleanup and a walkthrough. Any issue you report within 30 days of completion, we fix at no charge.

What we often find

These are the conditions we look for at the estimate, so they are in the price instead of turning into change orders.

  • Patios that drain toward the house

    A slab poured flat or sloped the wrong way sends rain against the foundation and under doors. New patios get a slope away from the house and, where needed, a drain.

  • Ledgers fastened to stucco only

    An attached cover needs to bolt into framing, with flashing to keep water out of the wall. We open the stucco and attach it properly.

  • Gas lines run without a permit

    Grills and fire pits are often fed by flexible lines laid on the ground. New gas runs are buried, sized for the appliances and inspected.

  • Wood that rots at the base

    Posts set in soil or on wet concrete rot quickly. We use post bases that hold wood off the concrete and finishes suited to the exposure.

Ventura County specifics

Local conditions that change how we plan this work here.

  • Inland heat versus coastal salt

    Solid covers and ceiling fans suit hot inland yards. Near the beach, we favor powder-coated aluminum, stainless hardware and finishes that hold up to salt air.

  • Fire hazard zones

    In mapped fire zones, decks and covers attached to the house have material and construction rules under Chapter 7A, and some areas limit open flames. We check before you choose materials.

  • Santa Ana winds

    Fall wind events can lift light covers and umbrellas. Footings, connections and fasteners are sized for wind, not only for the weight of the roof.

What drives the cost

We put the price in writing before work starts. These are the choices and conditions that move it most.

  • Size and type of cover

    A solid insulated cover costs more than an open pergola, and a freestanding structure needs more footings than an attached one.

  • Utilities

    Gas, water, drain and electrical runs to an outdoor kitchen or fire feature add trenching, materials and inspections.

  • Concrete finish

    Broom finish is the least expensive; color, stain, stamping and pavers each add cost.

  • Appliances

    Built-in grills, refrigerators and side burners range widely in price and are often the largest line in an outdoor kitchen.

For published cost figures and what moves them here, read our Patio Cover & Outdoor Kitchen Cost in Ventura County.

Energy upgrades in a project may qualify for GoGreen Financing.

Photos from our own jobs.

What outdoor living clients say

Real Google reviews from LE Construction clients, quoted word for word.

EXCELLENT

5.0 out of 5, based on 17 Google reviews

  • Diana Poncegomez

    April 2025 · Google review

    "I have had LE Construction do several projects for me over the years (starting in 2007), including but not limited to, bathroom remodel, back yard patio and renovation of other rooms in the house, and their work is excellent! … Very cost conscious and fair and their work is fantastic!"
  • Teresa Bucio

    June 2025 · Google review

    "He shows up exactly when he says he will every time which is a rare and much-appreciated quality in this industry. His pricing is fair and transparent, with no surprises along the way."
  • Ellen Allan

    April 2024 · Google review

    "Luis and his crew are the best! The work is stunning and they clean up after themselves every night. In fact they treated my home like a home, not a job site. Very polite, on time, and reliable."

Read all reviews on Google

Outdoor Living near you

We offer outdoor living in 10 communities. Pick yours for local permit notes and details.

Make the yard usable all afternoon

Show us where the sun hits and how you want to use the space. We will design the cover, the slab and the utilities as one job.

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Outdoor Living FAQs

Do I need a permit for a patio cover?

Most cities in Ventura County require a permit for a patio cover attached to the house, and many require one for larger freestanding covers too. The permit checks the footings, the connection to the house and the spans. Rules differ by jurisdiction, and fire zones add material requirements. We find out at the estimate and pull the permit when one is needed.

Aluminum or wood for a patio cover?

Aluminum covers are low maintenance and do not rot or need painting, which suits coastal yards. Wood looks warmer and can be stained to match the house, but it needs refinishing over time. In fire hazard zones, material choice also has to meet Chapter 7A rules. We bring samples so you can compare.

What does an outdoor kitchen need besides a grill?

Usually a gas line sized for the grill and any side burners, a dedicated electrical circuit with GFCI protection for a refrigerator and lights, and sometimes a sink with a water supply and a drain. The counter needs a noncombustible base and enough landing space on each side of the grill. Planning those utilities before the patio is poured saves cutting concrete later.

Can a fire pit be built in a fire hazard zone?

Sometimes, with limits. Gas fire features are generally treated differently from wood-burning ones, and local fire codes can restrict open burning or require clearances. On high fire danger days, burning may be prohibited entirely. We check the rules for your address before designing one.

Will a patio cover make my house darker inside?

A solid cover over a door or window does reduce light reaching that room. Options include a lattice or open-beam section near the house, skylight panels in the cover, or a pergola instead of a solid roof. We look at which rooms face the patio before choosing the design.

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