What Will Your Outdoor Project Cost? Start Here

Nobody wakes up thinking, “You know what would really change my life? One hundred eighty linear feet of premium vinyl fencing.” You think about letting the dog into the yard without putting on shoes at 6 a.m. You picture the kids playing safely outside. You imagine drinking coffee on the deck, eating dinner on the patio, or enjoying a little privacy from the neighbor who is very committed to sunrise leaf blowing. The fence, deck, patio, landscaping, irrigation system, or water feature is the what. The life you want to enjoy outside is the why. Then comes the question capable of stopping a perfectly good dream in its tracks:

Most homeowners have no reason to know. Outdoor projects are not items you toss into an online cart between paper towels and dog food. Size, materials, site conditions, access, drainage, grading, design, and dozens of other details affect the investment.
That is why Phillips Outdoor Services created our online Project Estimator. In just a few minutes, it gives you an immediate planning range based on the project and general scope you select. It is not a final proposal or a crystal ball that can inspect your backyard through the screen. It is something far more useful at this stage: a clear place to begin.

Maybe your backyard currently offers all the charm of a folding chair sitting next to the air conditioner. You know it could be better. You can already see friends gathered around a fire, burgers coming off the grill, and somebody telling the same story they told at the last three cookouts.

Maybe the goal is not a full backyard transformation. You simply want:

• A fence so the children or dog can play safely
• A deck that does not make guests wonder which boards are “the good ones”
• A paver patio with enough room to eat without anyone balancing a plate on a knee
• Landscaping that makes the house feel finished and welcoming
• An irrigation system so your evenings are not spent dragging hoses around the yard
• A water feature that turns your favorite chair into your favorite place
• Reliable landscape maintenance so Saturday morning belongs to you again

You understand the outcome. What you may not understand yet is the path—or the price.

And you should not need a contractor decoder ring to find out.

When pricing is unclear, homeowners tend to do one of two things. Some assume the project will cost far more than it actually does and never make the call. The idea sits on the someday list, right between organizing the garage and finally labeling all those mystery cords in the basement. (Hey, we have them too.) Others build a budget around internet searches, a neighbor’s project from eight years ago, or a number that simply “feels about right.” Then the first real conversation brings sticker shock—not because anyone did something wrong, but because the vision and budget were never working from the same information. Neither experience is helpful.

Planning an outdoor project should begin with clarity. You deserve to know whether your idea is something you can start now, something that may benefit from financing, or something best completed in phases. A realistic range lets you move forward with confidence instead of guessing from the sidelines.

The Phillips Project Estimator begins with a simple intake form. From there, you select the services you are considering and choose the description that most closely matches the size and scope you have in mind.

The tool covers:

• Vinyl, aluminum, cedar, chain-link, and vinyl-coated chain-link fences
• Composite decks, railings, and powered-roof pergolas
• Paver patios and walkways
• Plantings, trees, landscape beds, edging, mulch, and decorative stone
• Retaining walls, front entrances, steps, and other landscape construction
• Outdoor kitchens, fire features, water features, lighting, and outdoor audio
• Hunter and Irrigreen irrigation systems
• Irrigation service and seasonal maintenance
• Lawn mowing, lawn care, bed maintenance, and spring or fall cleanups You do not need architectural drawings, exact measurements, or a working knowledge of soil composition.

You do not even need to know the difference between a softscape and a hardscape. That is our world. You simply choose the examples that look most like your idea.

Once you finish, the estimator immediately provides a planning range. Now you have something concrete to react to—and a better question than, “So…how much does landscaping cost?”

A budget should help shape the plan. It should not make the conversation uncomfortable. If the range fits what you expected, excellent. You may be ready to begin now.

If the range is higher than expected, that does not mean your vision goes into a locked drawer forever. It may mean changing a material, adjusting the scope, exploring financing options, or dividing the work into smart phases.

For example, the long-term dream might include a deck, patio, fire feature, landscape beds, lighting, and irrigation. Doing all of that at once may not fit this year’s budget. But with the right plan, the property can be prepared correctly, the most important element can come first, and future phases can be added without tearing apart completed work.

That is a much better story than installing whatever fits today and paying to undo it two years from now.

The estimator may also reveal that you have room to add something you had ruled out. Perhaps landscape lighting, an irrigation upgrade, or a better railing fits more comfortably than expected. Suddenly, the space you imagined becomes a little more complete.

The number is not the destination. It is information that helps you choose the route.

The Project Estimator gives you a useful planning range, not a final quote.

Why the difference? Because your property has a story of its own. A computer cannot see the slope behind the garage, the narrow access beside the house, the drainage issue that appears after every hard rain, or the tree roots exactly where the patio wants to go. It also cannot hear why this project matters to you.

Maybe the fence is about keeping a new puppy safe. Maybe the deck needs to be easy for aging parents to navigate. Maybe you want the backyard ready for a graduation party. Those details influence good recommendations, and good recommendations require a real conversation.

After you submit from the Project Estimator, our team follows up quickly—typically the same business day or the next business day. Your next step is generally a brief, 15-minute discovery conversation with our Client Experience Manager or a Client Guide. We will talk about what you selected, what you want life in the finished space to look like, what matters most, and what questions came up when you saw the range.

If an on-site consultation is the right next step, your Client Guide will schedule the appropriate amount of time. Then we can study the property, discuss materials and design possibilities, and prepare a proposal based on the real project.

No mystery. No open-ended “someone will get back to you eventually.” Just a clear next step.

In your story, Phillips is not the hero. You are.

You are the one imagining a safer yard, a more welcoming home, fewer maintenance headaches, or a place where your favorite people will want to stay awhile. Our role is to listen, offer a plan, and use our experience to help you get there without unnecessary surprises.

Phillips Outdoor Services has served the La Crosse area and greater Coulee Region since 1975. What began as a local fence company has grown into a full-service outdoor contractor and local industry leader, with experienced specialists in fencing, decks and railings, landscape design and construction, irrigation, maintenance, and outdoor living.

That depth matters. Outdoor spaces are connected. The fence affects the landscaping. The deck meets the patio. The patio needs proper grading. The plants need water. When one experienced team can see the whole picture, your project is more likely to work beautifully now and make sense later.

We also stand behind what we build. Phillips provides the Coulee Region’s longest workmanship warranty: five years. Many premium products we install include limited lifetime warranties, and a number of those warranties can transfer to a future homeowner, depending on the product and manufacturer.

We have been here for more than 50 years. We plan to be here when you need us, too.

Big outdoor ideas can feel complicated. Starting one should not.

1. Imagine the outcome. Decide what you want your outdoor space to make possible—more privacy, more connection, more beauty, less work, or a little of everything.
2. Use the Project Estimator. Spend a few minutes selecting the services and general scope that fit your idea. You will receive an immediate planning range.
3. Talk with a Client Guide. We will help you understand the range, explore the options, and determine the best next step for your property and budget.

That is it. You do not have to solve the whole project before contacting us. Solving outdoor projects is, conveniently, what we do.

Your goal is not to own more pavers, fence posts, sprinkler heads, or deck boards. Your goal is what those things make possible.

It is the dog running safely through the yard. It is coffee outside before the day gets loud. It is dinner under the lights, a fire on a cool evening, and a space that makes you wonder why you waited so long to use your own backyard.

The Phillips Project Estimator helps connect that future to a realistic starting point. Maybe you discover you are ready now. Maybe financing gives you a comfortable path forward. Maybe a phased plan turns one overwhelming project into several manageable wins.

Whatever the answer, clarity beats guessing.

Try the Phillips Project Estimator today. Give us a few minutes and a glimpse of your vision. We will help you figure out what comes next—and how to turn “someday” into a plan.

Is the Project Estimator an exact quote?

No. The estimator provides an immediate planning range based on the services, size, and general scope you select. A final proposal requires a conversation about your goals and, when appropriate, an on-site consultation to confirm measurements, materials, access, and property conditions.

Do I need exact measurements?

No. The estimator provides clear size and project descriptions so you can choose the closest match. Approximate measurements can be helpful later, but they are not required to get started.

Can I select more than one service?

Yes. You can explore several parts of an outdoor project. This is helpful when planning connected elements such as a deck and landscaping, a patio and fire feature, or a fence with future property improvements.

What if the estimated range is above my budget?

The range can help you consider financing, adjust certain selections, or divide the work into practical phases. Our team can help identify what should happen first so today’s project supports what you want to add later.

Does Phillips offer financing?

Yes. Phillips offers financing options for qualified customers. Current programs, terms, and application information are available on our Financing Options page.

How quickly will Phillips contact me?

Our standard is to respond as quickly as possible, typically the same business day or the next business day. The first conversation helps us understand your vision and guide you toward the appropriate next step.

Where does Phillips work?

Phillips serves homeowners and businesses throughout the greater Coulee Region, including La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Sparta, Winona, and surrounding communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota.