Sometimes the goal stays the same—the plan just has to change.

These Owasso homeowners wanted more privacy around their backyard pool and outdoor living area. They had installed a wood privacy screen that accomplished exactly that, but they later found out it didn’t meet their HOA requirements and would need to come down.

Rather than giving up on the privacy they wanted, it was time to look at the problem a little differently.

The goal wasn’t necessarily a wood privacy screen. The goal was privacy.

Once we looked at it that way, there were other options to consider.

For this home, the solution was a custom raised stone planter that could eventually provide natural privacy screening while also looking like an intentional part of the home’s exterior.

And the experience provides a good reminder for anyone planning an exterior project in an HOA neighborhood: before you spend the money, check the rules.

Planning an Exterior Project in an HOA? Start Here.

If you live in an HOA neighborhood, one of the best things you can do before purchasing materials or beginning an exterior project is pull out those covenants.

We know—they aren’t exactly exciting reading.

But HOA rules and architectural requirements can vary considerably from one neighborhood to another. Depending on the association, there may be requirements involving fences, privacy screens, landscaping, accessory structures, exterior materials, placement, height, colors and other exterior improvements.

Even if you’ve seen something similar elsewhere in your neighborhood, that doesn’t necessarily mean the same project will be approved for your property.

Before investing in the project, find out whether an application or architectural review is required, what information needs to be submitted, and whether written approval is needed before work begins.

A little homework on the front end can potentially save quite a bit of frustration—and money—later.

Your Neighbors Can Be a Great Resource

The covenants and HOA should be your source for the actual requirements, but don’t overlook the people who have already gone through the process.

If someone in your neighborhood has completed a fence, pool, patio, outdoor structure, landscaping project or another exterior improvement you like, ask about their experience.

Who did they use? How was the approval process? Did they encounter any unexpected requirements? Is there anything they would do differently?

You may also find a contractor who already has experience working within your particular neighborhood or HOA.

That experience can be helpful. A contractor who has completed other projects in the neighborhood may be familiar with some of the design considerations or approval processes they’ve encountered previously.

That still doesn’t mean your project is automatically approved. HOA requirements can change, and one approved project doesn’t necessarily establish what will be permitted on another property.

But having some familiarity with the neighborhood certainly doesn’t hurt.

Give Your Contractor the HOA Covenants

If you’re asking a contractor to help come up with ideas, provide them with the applicable HOA covenants, architectural guidelines and any information you’ve received from the association.

Your contractor doesn’t make the HOA’s decision, but knowing the written requirements can help everyone avoid spending time developing an idea that clearly conflicts with them.

More importantly, it can help change the conversation from:

“Can we build this?”

to:

“Here’s what we’re trying to accomplish. What are some other ways we could do it?”

That’s an important distinction.

A good remodeling or outdoor living project isn’t always about building the homeowner’s first idea exactly as imagined. Sometimes it’s about understanding why they want it and finding another way to accomplish the same goal.

That’s exactly what happened here.

So, What Were the Other Privacy Options?

For this particular property, the homeowners wanted additional privacy around their pool area. Once the existing wood screening was no longer the answer, there were several directions that potentially could have been explored.

Every property and every HOA is different, but common backyard privacy options can include:

Privacy Option	Typical Cost Level	Privacy	Things to Consider
HOA-approved fence or screen	$–$$	Immediate	Height, material, design and placement restrictions
In-ground shrubs or evergreens	$–$$	Gradual	Mature size, spacing, irrigation and maintenance
Large container plantings	$$	Gradual	Watering, plant size and available space
Raised wood/composite planter with landscaping	$$	Gradual	Material restrictions and long-term maintenance
Raised masonry/stone planter with landscaping	$$$	Gradual	Higher initial cost, permanent architectural feature
Masonry privacy wall	$$$–$$$$	Immediate	Structural requirements, HOA approval and potentially permitting

These cost levels are intended only as a general comparison—not project pricing. Actual costs can vary significantly depending on dimensions, materials, site access, drainage, irrigation, landscaping selections, structural requirements and existing site conditions.

And there’s another important consideration:

“Natural” doesn’t automatically mean “HOA approved.”

An HOA may also have requirements involving landscaping, planting locations, mature plant heights, structures, setbacks or other exterior features. Whatever option you’re considering, verify the requirements for your particular property before moving forward.

Why a Raised Stone Planter Made Sense Here

For this Owasso home, the homeowners ultimately chose a permanent raised stone planter.

Gorilla Brothers Renovations constructed an approximately 22-foot-long × 3-foot-wide × 27-inch-tall planter adjacent to the existing pool and concrete area.

Material selection was an important part of the design.

Rather than introducing something that looked unrelated to the house, the homeowners selected chop stone intended to closely complement the existing stone columns and architectural accents already found on the home.

That gave the planter another purpose beyond simply holding plants.

It became part of the house.

There’s More Behind the Stone Than You See

A raised planter of this size isn’t simply four walls filled with dirt.

The project included drainage considerations, commercial-grade weed barrier, drainage rock and a blend of garden mix and soil to prepare the bed for future landscaping.

Existing irrigation heads also needed to be relocated or adjusted, and a new drip irrigation system was connected to the existing irrigation system to service the planter.

The homeowners will select and install their plant material separately, allowing the landscaping to eventually create the natural privacy screening they were looking for.

And because the stone was selected with the existing home in mind, the planter can remain an attractive architectural feature even as the landscaping changes and matures over time.

This Project Went Beyond the Planter

The raised stone planter makes for the best before-and-after story, but it was actually part of a larger exterior project at the property.

Gorilla Brothers Renovations also addressed washed-out areas near the driveway entrance, including excavation, compacted fill and drainage material, concrete repairs and restoration of disturbed turf.

Another portion of the project converted an existing landscaped area alongside the driveway into approximately 14 × 15 feet of new broom-finished concrete, along with additional landscape removal, grading and sod work.

While those improvements may not be the star of the photos, they were part of making the exterior work better for the homeowners as a whole.

Sometimes Plan B Is the Better Plan

Finding out that an exterior improvement doesn’t meet HOA requirements isn’t something any homeowner wants to deal with.

But a restriction on one idea doesn’t always mean giving up on the original goal.

Sometimes you just have to ask a different question.

Instead of:

“How do we keep this privacy screen?”

The question became:

“How else can we create privacy here?”

For these homeowners, the answer was a custom stone planter that complements their home and creates a dedicated space for natural screening as the landscaping grows.

The existing screen may be coming down…

but the new one will be growing up.

Sometimes Plan B might just be better than Plan A.

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Planning an Outdoor Project in an HOA Neighborhood?

If you’re considering an outdoor living project, privacy feature, addition, structure or other exterior improvement, we recommend checking your HOA requirements early in the planning process.

And if the first idea doesn’t work, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of options.

Bring us the applicable covenants or architectural guidelines and tell us what you’re ultimately trying to accomplish. Gorilla Brothers Renovations can help explore possible solutions for your property while you work through the required approval process with your HOA.

Serving Tulsa, Owasso and surrounding communities.

Have an idea for your home but aren’t sure what the best solution looks like?
Tell us what you’re trying to accomplish, and let’s explore the options for your space.