Hawkins Custom Construction Journal https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev Practical guides on pergolas, patio covers and outdoor living across Dallas–Fort Worth. en-us Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:25:30 GMT Pergolas in Fort Worth: What Works, What It Costs, and What to Avoid https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergolas-fort-worth/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergolas-fort-worth/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT A pergola behind a 1930s bungalow in Ryan Place and a pergola in Walsh Ranch are two different projects. Here is how we think about both. Patio Shade in Arlington: How to Cool a 1970s Backyard https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/patio-shade-arlington/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/patio-shade-arlington/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Most Arlington backyards already have everything they need except shade: a flat lot, a slab poured in 1974, and a pool that has baked for forty years. Covered Patios in Plano: Building on Soil That Moves https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/covered-patios-plano/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/covered-patios-plano/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT If you have ever wondered why so many older Plano patio covers have posts that are visibly out of plumb, the answer is under your feet. Pool Cabanas in Frisco: Shade for a West-Facing Backyard https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pool-cabanas-frisco/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pool-cabanas-frisco/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT A new house, a pool that cost real money, and not one square foot of shade because the trees are eight feet tall. Frisco has a very specific problem. Outdoor Kitchens in Southlake: Planning One That Actually Gets Used https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/outdoor-kitchens-southlake/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/outdoor-kitchens-southlake/ Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT The stonework is what people see. The rough-in decides whether you love it or fight it for ten years. Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated Pine: What We Use and Why https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/cedar-vs-pressure-treated-pine/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/cedar-vs-pressure-treated-pine/ Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT One of these twists as it dries and one does not. That single difference decides most of the argument. Do You Need a Permit for a Pergola in DFW? https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergola-permits-dfw/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergola-permits-dfw/ Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Usually yes. Always if it attaches to the house. And the HOA is a separate process from the city — here is how both actually work. What Drives the Cost of a Covered Patio in DFW https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/covered-patio-cost-dfw/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/covered-patio-cost-dfw/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT We are not going to put a fake number on a web page. We will tell you exactly what moves it, in order. Pergola vs. Patio Cover vs. Pavilion: Which One Do You Actually Want? https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergola-vs-patio-cover-vs-pavilion/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/pergola-vs-patio-cover-vs-pavilion/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT People come to us asking for one and often want another. Here is how to tell the difference before you spend money. Keeping Cedar Looking Right in the Texas Sun https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/cedar-maintenance-texas-sun/ https://hawkins-custom-construction.pages.dev/blog/cedar-maintenance-texas-sun/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT Cedar does not fail from neglect. It goes gray, and gray is permanent in a way people do not expect.