Star, Idaho · Full Yard Transformations
One plan for the whole property, from the first grade stake to the last shrub.
Altavera Construction is the backyard renovation contractor Star homeowners call when they want one team to handle the whole yard, from grading and drainage to the last plant. Star lots tend to be wide open: new subdivisions with no mature shade, acreage with ditch-fed irrigation, and steady wind sweeping in off the fields. We plan the full scope around those conditions, then build it in the right order with one point of contact.
The Star Open-Ground Problem
Flat, open ground looks easy to build on until wind, water, and sheer square footage start working against a piecemeal approach.
Star changed fast. Fields that grew hay not long ago now hold rows of new homes, and most of those yards arrive as bare dirt or a thin strip of builder sod. There are few mature trees to break the afternoon sun or the wind that rolls across the open ground, so a patio that looks great on paper can feel exposed once it is built. A good renovation here starts by deciding where shade, windbreaks, and gathering spaces actually belong, rather than dropping a catalog layout onto a flat rectangle.
Water is the other half of the puzzle. Subdivisions on both sides of State Street usually run on pressurized irrigation, acreage near the edges of town often depends on canal or ditch water, and some rural properties still pull from a well. Each source behaves differently, and all of them are seasonal. Ground that reads as flat can still hold water against a foundation or push runoff toward a neighbor. That is why grading, drainage, and the irrigation mainline get settled before any paver or post goes in. More on that side of the work: irrigation and drainage in Star.
Then there is scale. On a larger lot or a horse property out toward the Canyon County side, a renovation can mean long fence runs, irrigation zones stretching across big footprints, an RV pad that needs clean access, and a lawn that has to live alongside pasture. Juggling a fence crew, an irrigation installer, a concrete outfit, and a landscaper across that much ground is where projects stall and finger-pointing starts. Star homeowners come out ahead with a single scope that treats the entire property as one connected plan.
How Altavera handles it
We walk the whole property first, noting wind exposure, water source, and how runoff moves, then write one scope that covers every trade. Drainage, grading, and underground lines go in first, hardscape and structures follow, and planting finishes the job. If the budget calls for phases, we stage them in that same order.
What a Star Renovation Can Include
01
Every Star renovation begins with the ground itself. We shape grades so water moves away from the house and off usable space, then add French drains, catch basins, or channel drains where the site calls for them. On new-construction lots this often means correcting builder grading before anything permanent goes on top.
Includes
02
Concrete, stamped, paver, or natural stone patios sized for how you actually host, with walkways and steps tying the house to the rest of the yard. Low retaining or seat walls can add definition and a bit of wind shelter on open lots. See more about paver patios in Star.
Includes
03
Built-in BBQ islands, fire pits, and fireplaces turn a bare patio into a place people stay. In a town where new yards have almost no tree cover, a pergola or shade structure is often the piece that makes summer evenings usable. We place each element with wind direction and sightlines in mind.
Includes
04
We design irrigation for the water you actually have, whether that is pressurized subdivision water, a ditch or canal share, or a well. Drip, spray, rotor zones, and smart controllers get matched to lawn, beds, and trees, then sod, xeriscape plantings, and finish materials complete the yard.
Includes
05
Privacy fencing for subdivision lots and longer perimeter runs for acreage, with gates placed where equipment, trailers, and daily foot traffic actually need to pass.
06
Low-water turf for play areas, dog runs, and side yards where grass struggles, including pet-friendly options installed over a prepared, draining base.
07
Site planning, drainage, hardscape, and utility coordination around a future or new pool, so the surrounding yard is designed together with it from day one.
Who Calls Us in Star
Many homes in Star's newer neighborhoods came with bare dirt, minimal grading, and a small concrete slab. We turn that blank lot into a complete outdoor space with drainage, irrigation, hardscape, and planting designed together, and we scope it so you can submit plans for HOA review if your subdivision requires it.
Larger Star properties bring long fence lines, ditch or well irrigation, pasture edges, and wide stretches of open ground. We plan the area around the house as a usable outdoor living space while keeping access, drainage, and equipment paths working for the rest of the property.
Older yards closer to the center of town often have tired lawns, cracked concrete, and irrigation that has been patched for years. A full renovation lets us correct the grade, replace aging lines, and rebuild the yard around how your household lives now.
Not every Star homeowner wants to build everything at once. We design the complete yard up front, install drainage, grading, and underground work first, then add the patio, kitchen, or turf in later phases without tearing up what is already finished.
Why One Team Matters on Open Ground
Star properties are big enough that handoffs between trades become the weak point. Keeping every phase under one team removes those gaps.
Here is what that looks like on a Star renovation:
01
Grading and drainage come first, so the patio, kitchen, and lawn are not fighting runoff later. On flat ground that hides low spots, this step matters more than most people expect.
02
Irrigation sleeves, gas, and electrical runs for kitchens or fire features are placed before concrete and pavers, which avoids cutting into finished surfaces down the road.
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Pergolas, walls, fencing, and plantings are positioned to block prevailing wind and add shade where young subdivisions have none, so the finished space is comfortable, not just attractive.
04
From the first phone call to the final walkthrough, one team coordinates every trade on site. Questions get answered once, and nobody blames another contractor when something needs attention.
From First Call to Final Walkthrough
A free 15-minute call to talk through your Star property, what you want from the yard, and which parts of the scope matter most to you.
An estimator reviews the conversation and confirms the project is a good match for our design-build process before anyone drives out.
We walk the full property, checking grade, drainage paths, wind exposure, water source, access, and existing features that stay or go.
You receive one written proposal covering every trade in the renovation, with the build sequence and any phasing laid out clearly.
A deposit locks your place on the schedule. Permit needs are handled for your scope, and materials and crews are lined up.
Drainage and grading go first, underground irrigation and utilities second, hardscape and structures third, and landscaping, sod, and finish work last.
We walk the finished yard with you, review irrigation controls and care basics, and close out any punch list items together.
Where We Work Around Star
Altavera Construction plans and builds full backyard and front-yard renovations throughout Star, from downtown and the State Street corridor to newer subdivisions and acreage out toward Highway 16 and the Canyon County side. We also serve nearby Treasure Valley communities including Eagle, Middleton, Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell.
If your backyard scope needs a permit, Altavera pulls it and works it through the City of Star's building office, or through Ada or Canyon County when the lot sits outside city limits.
Starting with one piece of the yard? See fencing and gates in Star or outdoor kitchens in Star, or compare backyard renovation in Eagle.
FAQ
Altavera Construction handles complete backyard and front-yard renovations in Star with one team and one point of contact. That covers grading, drainage, irrigation, patios, walls, outdoor kitchens, fire features, pergolas, fencing, turf, sod, and planting. Instead of hiring and coordinating several contractors, you work from a single scope that sequences every phase. We are licensed and insured in Idaho under Contractor License #6971895 and are a women-owned business.
We study which way the wind tends to move across your lot during the site visit and lay out the yard to shelter the spaces you use most. That might mean positioning a pergola, seat wall, privacy fence, or planting row on the exposed side, or tucking the fire pit and seating closer to the house. In Star subdivisions with almost no mature trees, those choices often make the difference between a patio you enjoy and one you avoid.
Yes, we design irrigation around the water source your Star property actually has, including ditch or canal water, pressurized subdivision water, or a well. Each source delivers water differently and runs on its own seasonal schedule, so zones, controllers, and filtration are planned to match. On acreage we also consider how far lines need to run and where the irrigation mainline makes sense before any hardscape is installed over it.
Yes, when a backyard renovation needs a permit, Altavera pulls it and manages it for you. For properties inside city limits we work with the City of Star's building office, and for unincorporated lots we work with Ada or Canyon County. Whether a permit is required depends on the specific scope, such as structures, gas lines, or electrical work, so we confirm it for your project during planning.
The cost of a Star backyard renovation depends on the size of the property, how much grading and drainage work the site needs, the materials you choose, and which features are included. A full acreage renovation and a subdivision backyard are very different scopes. We provide custom pricing after an on-site estimate, and third-party financing options are available for qualified projects.
Yes, phasing works well for new Star yards as long as drainage, grading, and underground lines go in first. We design the complete yard up front so later phases, like a patio, kitchen, or turf area, connect cleanly without tearing out finished work. If your subdivision has an HOA review process, the plan can be prepared so you can submit it before construction.
Yes, we work on larger Star properties, including acreage and horse properties. These projects usually focus on the outdoor living area near the home while accounting for long fence runs, gates for trailers and equipment, irrigation across a large footprint, and drainage that keeps water away from the house and usable areas. We plan the whole property so the finished yard and the working parts of the land function together.
Start Your Star Project
Tell us what you picture for your property. We will walk your Star yard, look at the wind, the water, and the grade, and deliver one written proposal for the whole renovation. Request your quote to get started.
Prefer to talk? Call 208-314-9967 or try our instant quote.
Licensed & Insured · Idaho Contractor License #6971895 · Serving Star & the Treasure Valley
We elevate outdoor spaces with professional planning, expert execution, and quality craftsmanship — because your outdoor space is an extension of your home, not an afterthought.
Elevated standards. Real integrity.
Idaho Contractor License ID #6971895 · Women-Owned Business
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3313 W Cherry Lane Suite 1053 Meridian, ID 83642