In Los Altos de Jalisco and the Bajío, the best room in your house might not have a roof yet. The climate lets you enjoy the outdoors most of the year, but a lot of backyards are still just a slab, a few chairs and maybe a pool. With the right design, that space becomes a second living room: a place to cook, gather and enjoy your home well into the evening.
That idea has guided our outdoor living work for more than 40 years. Here’s what those years have taught us, and how to improve or extend your own living space outdoors.
40 years of building outdoor living, from the ground up
Our experience starts outside. Over 40 years, our founding partner, Dave Anderson, built and ran his own landscape, decorative concrete, swimming pool and home building companies before focusing on finishes. That gives us expertise in every facet of an outdoor space: the grading and drainage, the hardscape, the pool, the structure and the final finish.
Outdoor living was part of almost every home we built, in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, California and throughout Mexico. The lesson was the same everywhere: people use outdoor spaces that feel like part of the home and ignore the ones that feel like an afterthought.
Improve the space you have
You don’t always need to build new. Many homes already have good bones outside: a terrace, a covered patio or a pool deck that just isn’t getting used. A few upgrades can change that:
- Refresh tired surfaces. Resurface a stained patio or pool deck with decorative concrete, pavers, cantera stone or tile.
- Add shade and airflow. Ceiling fans, misting systems and pergolas make a hot afternoon comfortable.
- Light it for the evening. Landscape, accent and ambient lighting turn a daytime patio into a nighttime gathering spot.
- Add a feature wall. Natural stone veneer on an outdoor kitchen, bar front or fireplace gives the space a focal point.
- Finish the walls. Our Venetian plaster is made from authentic lime and marble, so it brings the depth of natural stone to outdoor kitchens, columns and accent walls.
Extend your living space
When you’re ready to add space you’ll actually use, think of the backyard as a set of rooms:
- Outdoor kitchen: grill, counters, sink, bar seating and storage, built from materials made for the outdoors.
- Outdoor living room: covered seating around a fireplace, fire pit or fire table.
- Enclosed terrace: a bug-free, all-season room, with climate control if you want it.
- Pergolas and shade structures: louvered or fixed covers that make the space usable all day.
- Water features: fountains, waterfalls, spillways and ponds that add sound and calm.
- Wine bars and barbecue areas: dedicated spots for entertaining.
What makes outdoor living work in Jalisco and the Bajío
Our region is easy to enjoy outdoors and hard on outdoor materials. These are the details we plan for on every project:
- Strong sun: at this altitude the sun is intense; where it sits at 5 p.m. decides where the shade, seating and TV go.
- Rainy season: summer downpours call for slope, drainage and materials that won’t stain or stay wet.
- Cool nights: winter evenings get chilly, so a fireplace or fire pit stretches the season.
- Dry-season dust: sealed, easy-to-clean surfaces.
- Flow: an easy path from the kitchen to the grill and table gets the space used every day, not just on holidays.
The right materials for our climate
This is where most outdoor kitchens and patios fail. Sun, heat, rain, pool chemicals and summer storms are hard on anything built for indoors. After four decades in tropical, coastal, desert and mountain climates, here’s how we choose materials that last:
Cabinetry
Indoor wood cabinets swell, warp and mildew outside. We use outdoor-rated cabinetry such as marine-grade polymer, powder-coated aluminum and stainless steel, with stainless hardware that won’t rust.
Appliances
Grills, refrigerators, ice makers and range hoods should be built and rated for outdoor use. Near a pool, a higher grade of stainless steel holds up better against chlorine. Covers and good airflow around the equipment add years of life.
Countertops
Natural granite and quartzite handle heat and sun well. Porcelain slabs are another strong choice. Many engineered quartz countertops can fade or discolor in direct sun, so check that any engineered surface is approved for outdoor use.
Floors and decks
Pavers, travertine, cantera, decorative concrete and porcelain tile with a slip-resistant finish all handle the rainy season. Lighter colors stay cooler underfoot around the pool, and proper slope and drainage keep water from sitting.
Walls and finishes
Our Venetian plaster is composed of authentic lime and marble: crushed marble stone held together by lime, a natural mineral that slowly hardens back into stone as it cures. It’s the same kind of wall finish used for centuries in Italian villas and Mexican haciendas. Because it’s a mineral finish rather than a paint film, moisture can pass through it instead of getting trapped behind it. Real stone veneer holds up just as well, and exterior-grade sealers protect stone and concrete from staining.
There are different types of Venetian plaster and lime finishes, each with its own look:
- Veneziano (polished Venetian plaster): troweled and burnished to a smooth, glossy finish that looks like polished marble. Best for covered areas like terraces, outdoor kitchens and columns.
- Marmorino: a soft, matte texture that looks like natural cantera or travertine. A good fit for exterior walls, fireplaces and planters.
- Lime wash: a thin, brushed-on wash with a soft, cloudy look, for whole walls, ceilings and home exteriors.
- Wet-area system: for showers and outdoor showers, we layer three lime-based marble plasters into a waterproof system finished with a mineral sealer and wax.
We bring samples of each to your home so you can see them in your own light.
Lighting, fans and fabrics
Use fixtures and ceiling fans rated for wet or damp locations, and outdoor fabrics that resist fading and mildew. Electrical, gas and plumbing work is done by qualified trades we work with.
The right material costs a little more up front and saves you from rebuilding in five years.
How we work
- Consultation: we walk your space and talk about how you want to live in it.
- Concept: design ideas and a collage of options tailored to your home.
- Proposal: a clear scope and budget.
- Build: one team handles installation and finishes from start to finish.
See everything we build on our Outdoor Living page.
Ready to make your backyard the best room in the house? We serve Lagos de Moreno, Los Altos de Jalisco and the Bajío, in English or Spanish.
- Phone & WhatsApp (Mexico): +52 479 117 7119
- Phone (US): +1 904 788 9097
- Email: ben@constructoraalcaraz.com
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