Remodel · Front Yard & Curb Appeal
Front-yard makeovers — driveways, desert conversions, lighting, and curb appeal.
AE remodels the whole outdoor envelope — and front yards are some of the highest-ROI work we do. Driveway, walkway, courtyard, landscape, lighting, walls, and entry — designed together so the front of the house reads finished from the curb. Active SRP and city rebates can offset thousands when you convert real lawn to desert.
The honest version: Front-yard work returns more value per dollar at resale than almost any other outdoor improvement, and it disrupts less than backyard remodels. If budget is tight, front yard first is usually the right call. If you're doing a backyard transformation, adding the front yard on the same mobilization typically adds 15–25% to scope but cuts per-square-foot cost meaningfully.
Educational estimate, not a quote. Ranges shown are Arizona-market planning estimates. Final pricing depends on site access, size, materials, engineering, drainage, utilities, permits, equipment access, existing conditions, and final scope. Binding pricing is only valid in a written proposal signed by an AE representative.
Budget to the high end. Use the top of every range on this page as your working number. The low end assumes easy access, sound existing conditions, and standard selections — real Arizona projects often carry demolition, drainage or grading work, upgraded materials, or conditions found once work starts. If the top of the range still fits your plan, the project fits your budget. Ranges are planning guidance, not a quote; the signed scope controls.
01
What's typically in a front-yard makeover
- Driveway replacement — pavers, travertine, or stamped concrete
- Walkway, entry, and courtyard upgrades
- Desert conversion with rebate paperwork (SRP + city)
- Plant + tree palette designed for Arizona climate
- Landscape lighting (path, tree, uplight, entry wash)
- Drip irrigation rebuild with smart controller
- Decorative rock, boulders, edging, and seat walls
- Holiday-light-ready conduit and outlets (optional)
02
2026 Phoenix-metro pricing ranges
- Refresh (clean-up + rock + replant + lighting): $6,000–$15,000
- Mid-scope (above + walkway + entry refresh): $15,000–$35,000
- Full makeover (paver/travertine driveway + walkway + landscape + lighting): $35,000–$110,000
- Estate (custom walls, water features, full courtyard build-out): $90,000–$250,000+
03
Driveway materials at a glance
- Concrete pavers: $14–$22/sqft installed
- Travertine pavers: $18–$28/sqft installed
- Porcelain pavers: $20–$30/sqft installed
- Stamped concrete: $9–$15/sqft installed
- Broom-finish concrete: $7–$11/sqft installed
- Demo + haul of existing driveway: $3–$7/sqft on top
04
Desert conversion rebates (Phoenix-metro)
Most Phoenix-metro homeowners qualify for active turf-removal rebates that offset $1,500–$5,000 of conversion cost.
- SRP residential rebates for converting irrigated grass to xeriscape
- City of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Peoria, Glendale — varying programs
- AE submits rebate paperwork as part of every qualifying conversion
- Typical conversion: $4–$9/sqft of removed lawn area (rebate-eligible portion)
05
HOA approvals — what we handle
AE preparing HOA submittals as part of every front-yard scope: material samples, plant lists with quantities, elevations, color renderings, and any required architectural review forms. We've cleared front-yard work through hundreds of Valley HOAs.
06
Why front-yard base prep matters
- Driveway pavers need 4–6" ABC compacted in lifts (not surface dust)
- Walkway pavers need 2–3" ABC + 1" sand bed
- Polymeric joint sand on every paver job
- Edge restraint on every paver edge — without it, drives fail in 18 months
- Quarter minus is NEVER used under pavers (turf base only)
FAQ
Common questions.
Anything in the front outdoor envelope: driveway, walkway, courtyard, front entry, planting beds, lighting, irrigation, decorative rock, retaining or seat walls, and sometimes house-wash or paint touch-ups. AE handles full front-yard scopes — not just landscaping — including pavers, travertine, lighting, and grading work most landscape-only contractors won't take on.
Modest refresh (clean-up, new rock, replant, lighting): $6,000–$15,000. Mid-scope (above + new walkway + entry refresh): $15,000–$35,000. Full makeover (paver/travertine driveway + walkway + landscape + lighting + courtyard): $35,000–$110,000. Estate-scale work with custom walls, water features, and full plant build-out: $90,000–$250,000+. Real ranges, not 'call for pricing'.
For most Phoenix-metro homes, yes — and there are active rebates that pay you to do it. SRP and several cities offer turf-removal rebates that can offset $1,500–$5,000 of conversion cost. Real grass in the front yard typically uses 30,000–60,000 gallons of water a year, browns in summer, and is dying anyway in most older neighborhoods. A well-designed desert conversion looks intentional and stays green year-round.
Most Phoenix-metro HOAs require approval for visible front-yard changes — material, color, plant palette, driveway changes, lighting fixtures, walls, and fencing. AE prepares HOA submittal packages as part of every front-yard scope: material samples, plant lists, elevations, and color renderings. We've worked through HOA approvals in hundreds of Valley communities.
Yes — and front-yard makeovers are the right time. Common upgrades from old concrete: travertine pavers, concrete pavers (Belgard, Pavestone), or stamped concrete. Driveways need thicker base (4–6" ABC compacted in lifts) and proper edge restraint to handle vehicle loads. Cutting corners on driveway base is the #1 reason paver driveways fail. Real costs: pavers $14–$22/sqft, travertine $18–$28/sqft, stamped concrete $9–$15/sqft.
More than any other outdoor improvement, dollar for dollar. Curb appeal drives showing-to-offer conversion, and a finished front yard signals 'maintained home' before a buyer is inside. Typical recovery: 70–110% of front-yard spend at resale in desirable Phoenix-metro neighborhoods — and front-yard work is usually the smallest dollar amount across an outdoor remodel.
Layers, not floodlights. Path lights along walkways, downlights from trees for moonlighting effect, uplights on the house and architectural features, and warm-white wash on entry doors and address numbers. Low-voltage (12V) LED systems with smart transformers — typically 8–18 fixtures for an average front yard. Holiday-light-ready conduit can be added under the same scope so you're not drilling later.
Design separates a great desert conversion from a parking-lot one. The right palette mixes 3–5 plant types (color, texture, height), 2 sizes of decorative rock, boulders for vertical interest, edging to define beds, and lighting to layer it at night. AE includes plant-list, elevation, and rendering as part of every conversion.
Always. New plant material needs a zoned drip system on a smart controller — pressure-regulated, with emitters sized to each plant's mature water need. Old front-yard irrigation is almost always failing in undocumented ways. We rebuild as part of the scope and document every zone.
Yes — and it's often a great phase-one project. Front-yard work has lower disruption (no pool, no equipment), faster turnaround (2–6 weeks typical), and immediate visible payoff. Many clients start with the front, then return for the backyard in a later season.
Free AE Tools
Plan before you sign anything.
Want a front-yard concept and quote?
Send us a wide shot of your front yard plus a close-up of your driveway and entry. We'll come walk it, sketch a concept, file any HOA paperwork, check rebate eligibility, and put a written line-item scope with 2026 pricing in your hands.
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Why this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."