Should the patio be built before or after the lighting is installed?

Low-voltage wiring for lighting is easiest to run before a patio is poured or pavers are set, so lighting is typically planned alongside the hardscape design even if the fixtures go in after the hardscape is finished.

Can one company handle the patio, lighting, and planting, or do I need three contractors?

Some hardscaping and landscape design companies in Spartanburg offer all three as one project and either do the lighting in-house or sub it to a lighting specialist. Ask directly what's done in-house versus subbed.

How long does a combined patio and landscaping project usually take?

It depends on the size and scope, but combining hardscape, lighting, and planting into one project typically takes longer than a patio alone since it covers more ground, though scheduling it as one project avoids the gaps between separately booked contractors.

Patio, lighting, and planting package for outdoor living spaces

A lot of backyard projects in Spartanburg aren't really one job, they're three: a patio or paver area, lighting to make it usable after dark, and planting beds or landscaping around the edges to finish it off. Handled separately, that's three different contractors, three schedules, and a decent chance the lighting plan doesn't match the finished hardscape layout because it was an afterthought.

Hardscaping: the patio, walkway, retaining wall, or fire pit area itself
Outdoor lighting: path lights, step lights, and uplighting worked into the hardscape plan before it's poured or laid
Landscape design: planting beds, borders, and grading around the new hardscape so it looks finished rather than dropped into bare dirt

Some Spartanburg contractors handle two or more of these directly, and others sub out the piece they don't do (a hardscaping crew bringing in a lighting specialist, for example). Either way, it's worth asking upfront how the trades will be coordinated so the patio layout, lighting wiring, and planting beds are planned together rather than in sequence with no communication.

What it costs

This is priced as separate scopes that get bundled: the hardscape square footage and materials drive the largest share of cost, lighting adds fixtures and a transformer, and planting adds plants, soil, and mulch. Getting one combined quote from a contractor who coordinates all three usually costs about the same as hiring each separately, but avoids rework from poor sequencing.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for hardscaping & patios.

1. Peter's Creek Landscapes
5.0★ · 82 reviews

90
2. Veterans Landscaping & Construction
4.7★ · 169 reviews

85
3. Sod Pros Landscaping
5.0★ · 81 reviews

90

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FAQ

Should the patio be built before or after the lighting is installed?: Low-voltage wiring for lighting is easiest to run before a patio is poured or pavers are set, so lighting is typically planned alongside the hardscape design even if the fixtures go in after the hardscape is finished.
Can one company handle the patio, lighting, and planting, or do I need three contractors?: Some hardscaping and landscape design companies in Spartanburg offer all three as one project and either do the lighting in-house or sub it to a lighting specialist. Ask directly what's done in-house versus subbed.
How long does a combined patio and landscaping project usually take?: It depends on the size and scope, but combining hardscape, lighting, and planting into one project typically takes longer than a patio alone since it covers more ground, though scheduling it as one project avoids the gaps between separately booked contractors.

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