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Outdoor Living Spaces in Dallas Fort Worth
Outdoor kitchens, pergolas, fire features, and full backyard builds designed alongside your pool and home by one in-house crew, with free estimates.


Licensed and Insured | Free Estimates | 30+ Years Experience | BBB Accredited, A Rating

Pool Promo Section

IS IT

TIME?

Signs Your Backyard Needs an Outdoor Living Upgrade

  • You have a pool but nowhere to sit, eat, or prep food outside, so everyone walks back inside after swimming
  • Your patio is an unshaded concrete slab that hits 150 degrees by noon from June through September
  • You are grilling on a portable unit that sits on the driveway or a small section of deck, and you want a permanent cooking setup
  • Your backyard entertainment ends at sunset because there is no lighting, fire feature, or covered structure to keep people comfortable
  • You just finished a pool build or renovation and the area around it still looks unfinished
  • You are building a custom home and want the outdoor kitchen, pergola, and pool designed as one coordinated project from the start
  • Your neighbors have built out their backyards and your property value is falling behind comparable homes on your street
  • You spend money eating out or booking venues for gatherings that you could host at home with the right outdoor setup
Stone patio with pergola and fire pit

WHY DSH

Outdoor Living Built by a Company That Builds Pools and Homes

Most outdoor living contractors in the McKinney market build pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits. DSH Homes and Pools does that too, but DSH also builds the pool, the home, and the foundation they all sit on. That means your outdoor kitchen plumbing ties into the same system your pool plumbing runs through. Your pergola footings are engineered for the same clay soil your pool shell is designed to handle. Your electrical panel is sized for pool equipment, kitchen appliances, and landscape lighting from one circuit plan.
When a homeowner hires a separate outdoor kitchen company, a separate pool company, and a separate electrician, each contractor works from their own plan. The outdoor kitchen island ends up 4 feet from the pool equipment pad. The pergola footing interferes with a buried pool return line. The electrical panel does not have enough capacity for the hot tub, the kitchen appliances, and the pool pump. DSH eliminates these coordination problems because one team manages every component.
Derek Humphreys has spent 30 years building residential and commercial projects across Collin, Denton, and Grayson counties. Every outdoor living project is managed directly by DSH, not subcontracted. BBB Accredited with an A rating. Call (903) 321-3172 for a free on-site consultation.

WHAT WE BUILD

Plunge Pool Configurations

  • Outdoor Kitchens Custom-built kitchen islands with built-in grills, side burners, refrigerators, sinks, storage drawers, and countertop space. DSH builds outdoor kitchen frames from steel stud and cement board (not wood framing that rots in North Texas humidity), finished with natural stone, stucco, or tile veneer. Gas lines, water supply, and drainage are run during construction and tied into your home’s existing systems. Countertop options include granite, quartzite, concrete, and tile.

  • Pergolas and Patio Covers Cedar, aluminum, or steel pergolas that provide partial shade, and solid-roof patio covers that provide full protection from sun and rain. DSH anchors every structure with footings engineered for North Texas clay soil, which means the posts stay level when the ground moves between wet and dry seasons. Attached structures tie into the home’s roofline. Detached structures stand on independent footings.

  • Fire Features Custom fire pits, fire tables, fire bowls, and full outdoor fireplaces built with natural stone, manufactured stone, or concrete. Gas-fed systems connected to your home’s gas supply for push-button ignition. Wood-burning fire pits are available where HOA and city codes allow open flames. DSH places fire features at safe distances from pool equipment, pergola structures, and property lines.

  • Outdoor Fireplaces Full masonry or stone-veneer fireplaces with chimneys, built as freestanding structures or integrated into a covered patio wall. These function as the anchor piece of an outdoor living room, providing heat, ambiance, and a natural gathering point from October through March.

  • Pool Decking and Hardscaping Poured concrete, pavers, travertine, flagstone, and stamped concrete for pool surrounds, patios, walkways, and seating walls. DSH coordinates deck drainage, expansion joints, and material transitions between the pool coping and the surrounding hardscape. In North Texas, proper drainage grading is critical because clay soil does not absorb surface water quickly. Water that pools near the house foundation or pool equipment pad causes problems over time.

  • Seating Walls and Retaining Walls Stone or block seating walls that double as planters, privacy barriers, or level transitions on sloped lots. Retaining walls are engineered with proper drainage behind them to handle hydrostatic pressure from saturated clay soil during heavy rain.

  • Outdoor Lighting LED landscape lighting, path lights, uplighting on trees and structures, string lighting on pergolas, and underwater pool lighting coordinated into one system. Smart controllers allow scheduling, dimming, and color changes from your phone.

  • Shade Structures and Cabanas Freestanding shade structures, poolside cabanas, and covered lounge areas with ceiling fans, curtains, and integrated lighting. Built for North Texas heat, where shade is not a luxury from May through September.

A backyard swimming pool featuring a swim-up bar with submerged stools next to a covered outdoor kitchen pavilion and lounge seating against a wooden privacy fence.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Services We Offer

Site Planning and Design

DSH evaluates your property for buildable area, utility locations, drainage flow, setbacks, and HOA restrictions before drawing the outdoor living plan.

Foundation and Footing Engineering

Pergola posts, kitchen islands, fireplace bases, and seating walls all need footings engineered for the soil they sit on. DSH coordinates with structural engineers who design for North Texas clay conditions..

Plumbing and Gas

Outdoor kitchen sinks, ice makers, and fire feature gas lines run during construction and connected to your home’s supply. Pool plumbing is coordinated at the same time if a pool is part of the project.

Electrical and Lighting

Dedicated circuits for kitchen appliances, ceiling fans, outlets, and LED lighting. All wiring run to code by licensed electricians. Smart automation panels optional.

Masonry and Stonework

Natural stone, manufactured stone, stucco, and tile veneer applied by DSH masons. Countertop fabrication and installation coordinated with the overall build schedule.

Permit and HOA Coordination

Covered structures, fireplaces, gas lines, and electrical work typically require permits in Collin, Denton, and Grayson counties. DSH handles all submissions.

HOW IT WORKS

How DSH Builds a Gunite Pool

Step 1: Free On-Site Consultation

Derek walks your backyard, discusses your vision, identifies any constraints (setbacks, utilities, drainage, slopes), and talks through realistic budget ranges for your project.

Step 2: Design and Written Estimate

DSH produces a detailed plan with layout, materials, equipment, and a line-item cost estimate. If the outdoor living project includes a pool or spa, both are designed together. You review and revise until the plan matches your goals.

Step 3: Permits and Pre-Construction

DSH submits permits, orders materials, and schedules the build sequence. If your project involves a pool, home, or both, DSH coordinates the outdoor living timeline with those builds so trades work in sequence rather than on top of each other.

Step 4: Construction

Footings, framing, masonry, plumbing, gas, electrical, and finishes installed by one in-house crew. DSH manages the job site, keeps the area clean, and communicates progress at every phase.

Step 5: Final Walkthrough

You inspect every feature with the DSH team. Equipment is tested, lighting is demonstrated, and gas connections are verified. Nothing closes until you are satisfied.

Common Questions

Outdoor Living FAQ

How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in the DFW area? +

A basic outdoor kitchen island with a built-in grill, countertop, and storage typically starts at $15,000 to $25,000. A full outdoor kitchen with a grill, side burner, refrigerator, sink, kegerator, and stone veneer can run $35,000 to $75,000 depending on size, materials, and appliance selections. DSH provides a written estimate before any work begins.

How much does a pergola or patio cover cost? +

Pergolas typically range from $8,000 to $25,000 depending on material (cedar, aluminum, steel), size, and whether the structure is attached or freestanding. Solid-roof patio covers that provide full shade and rain protection run $15,000 to $40,000 or more.

Can you build an outdoor living space and a pool at the same time? +

Building both together is one of DSH's core advantages. The outdoor kitchen, pergola, fire feature, and pool are designed as one project, built on one timeline, by one crew. Plumbing, electrical, and drainage are coordinated from the start. Learn more at /pool-construction/.

Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen or pergola? +

In most North Texas cities, covered structures, fireplaces, gas line extensions, and electrical work require building permits. Freestanding fire pits under a certain height may not. DSH handles all permit research and submissions for your specific municipality.

How long does an outdoor living project take? +

A standalone outdoor kitchen or pergola typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. A full backyard build with pool, outdoor kitchen, pergola, fire feature, and hardscaping takes 10 to 16 weeks. Timeline depends on scope, permits, and weather.

What material should I use for my outdoor kitchen countertop? +

Granite is the most popular for North Texas outdoor kitchens because it handles heat, moisture, and UV exposure well. Quartzite and concrete are also durable outdoor options. Standard quartz (engineered stone like Caesarstone or Silestone) is not recommended for outdoor use because UV exposure can cause discoloration over time.

Can you add an outdoor living space to an existing pool area? +

DSH builds outdoor kitchens, pergolas, fire features, and seating walls around existing pools. The team evaluates existing plumbing, electrical, and drainage before designing the addition to make sure nothing conflicts with pool equipment or buried lines.

What type of grill should I put in my outdoor kitchen? +

Built-in gas grills from brands like Lynx, DCS, Alfresco, and Blaze are the standard for custom outdoor kitchens. Charcoal and pellet grill inserts are available for homeowners who prefer smoky flavor. DSH can install any built-in grill brand and configure the island to fit it.

Do you offer financing for outdoor living projects? +

DSH works with financing partners on qualifying projects. Details are discussed during your free consultation.

What areas do you serve? +

DSH builds outdoor living spaces across McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, Plano, Celina, Van Alstyne, Anna, Melissa, Sherman, and surrounding North Texas communities in Collin, Denton, and Grayson counties.

WHERE WE BUILD

Outdoor Living Service Areas

DSH Homes and Pools builds outdoor living spaces from two North Texas locations. The McKinney office serves McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, Plano, and Celina. The Van Alstyne office covers Van Alstyne, Anna, Melissa, Sherman, and communities north along US-75. Call (903) 321-3172 to discuss your project.

Financing Available on Qualifying Outdoor Living Projects

Ask about payment options during your free consultation.

BBB Accredited, A Rating . 30+ Years in North Texas

REVIEWS

DSH Homes and Pools - Our Services

Get a Free Plunge Pool Estimate Today

A plunge pool gives you a custom, permanent water feature that fits your yard and your budget. Call (903) 321-3172 for a free on-site consultation. DSH builds every plunge pool with the same gunite engineering and in-house quality as a full-size custom pool.