Layer 1 of 7
Design
Decide what each part of the yard is for before anything is sized. The use sets every pad, wall and stair.
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
Built right,from the ground up.
Bathrooms, kitchens, ADUs, and the whole backyard. An owner-run contractor with one crew that takes one job at a time.
- 5.0Rating on Google
- 20+Years in the trade
- 3 yrLabor warranty
- 1Crew, one job at a time
Licensed & insured in California, CSLB #1074934
What we build
Nine trades.One crew.
From a single bathroom to a whole sloped backyard. The person who quotes your job is the person who runs it.
- 01Bathroom RemodelingFull gut remodels and walk-in showers
Cost and timeline are driven by whether the plumbing stays where it is or moves, not by the tile you pick.
- 02Kitchen RemodelingLayouts that work, cabinets set level
The layout decides the budget more than the finishes. Keep the sink, gas and walls in place and it stays mid-range.
- 03Additions & ADUsGarage conversions, additions, detached units
Type sets the baseline. After that, how far water, sewer and power have to run decides the rest.
- 04Painting & StuccoInterior, exterior and stucco repair
Prep decides how long a coat lasts, not the paint. A crack that keeps coming back means water in the framing.
- 05Artificial TurfInstalls that stay flat and drain
The base is dug out, compacted and drained before a roll goes down. Turf failures are base failures.
- 06Paver Driveways & WalkwaysBuilt for the weight of a car
A deeper compacted base and proper edge restraint, so pavers don’t sink, rock or spread.
- 07Outdoor LivingPatios, pergolas, fire pits, BBQ islands
Lighting, gas and irrigation are trenched in before the hardscape goes down, not chased in afterwards.
- 08Landscape ConstructionGrading, drainage, walls and planting
Most landscape problems are water problems, so grading and drainage come before planting. Always.
- 09Pool Surrounds & DeckingCoping, decking and surrounds
Surfaces that shed water away from the pool, stay comfortable underfoot in summer and meet the coping clean.
How we work
How a jobruns
From the first call to the warranty, in seven steps.
Step 1, you call
Free estimate
Michael comes out to walk the job, usually within the same week.
Step 2, on paper
Written scope
A written scope with dollar allowances, so every bid can be compared line for line.
Step 3, the right office
Permits
Pulled with the right authority. Pasadena, LA County or Glendale, depending on the parcel.
Step 4, before demo
Order
Long-lead items are ordered before demolition, so the crew never waits on a truck.
Step 5, on site
Build
One four-person crew on your job, and only your job, until it’s done.
Step 6, checked
Inspect
Every stage signed off. A shower pan is water-tested before a tile goes on.
Step 7
Handover
Walkthrough, punch list cleared, and a three-year labor warranty.
Scroll to follow a job
How a job runs
Step 1, you callFree estimate
Michael comes out to walk the job, usually within the same week.
Step 3, the right officePermits
Pulled with the right authority. Pasadena, LA County or Glendale, depending on the parcel.
Step 5, on siteBuild
One four-person crew on your job, and only your job, until it’s done.
Step 7Handover
Walkthrough, punch list cleared, and a three-year labor warranty.
From the first call to the warranty, in seven steps.
Step 2, on paperWritten scope
A written scope with dollar allowances, so every bid can be compared line for line.
Step 4, before demoOrder
Long-lead items are ordered before demolition, so the crew never waits on a truck.
Step 6, checkedInspect
Every stage signed off. A shower pan is water-tested before a tile goes on.
The road map
Built from thebottom layer up
Every backyard we build goes in this order, because each layer ends up underneath or against the next. Skip ahead and you end up digging up finished work.
Layer 2 of 7
Demolition
Old asphalt, concrete and tired landscaping come out, and the site is cleared back to soil.
Layer 3 of 7
Grading & drainage
On San Gabriel Valley clay, standing water has to be moved, not waited out. Ground falls away from the house first.
Layer 4 of 7
Buried lines
Irrigation, gas and lighting conduit go in the trench now, so nobody digs up finished work later.
Layer 5 of 7
Walls & structures
Retaining walls, steps and pergolas, with the drainage behind each wall built before the wall itself.
Layer 6 of 7
Paving & decking
Pavers, decking and coping, on a base deep enough for what will stand, sit or drive on it.
Layer 7 of 7
Planting & lights
Last in, on top of everything else: planting, turf and lights, so nothing gets trampled.
Done once. Done right.
Plan your yard with us
Recent work
Real jobs.Real photos.
No stock images. Every photo here is a job our crew built, shot after the last tool left site.
16 photosMenlo Backyard
01Outdoor living · San Gabriel Valley
- 16 photos
Glendale Terraces
02Landscape construction · Glendale
- 10 photos
Primary Bathroom Remodel
03Bathroom remodeling · San Gabriel Valley
10 photosEstate Pool & Grounds
04Pool surrounds & grounds · San Gabriel Valley
17 photosCottage Renovation
05Whole-home renovation · San Gabriel Valley
- 12 photos
Simi Valley Backyard
06Turf & outdoor living · Simi Valley
- 9 photos
Scenic Exterior
07Painting & exterior · San Gabriel Valley
Your project next?
Tell us what you have in mind. Estimates are free and usually the same week.
Start with an estimate
Service area
Where’sthe house?
Eleven cities across the San Gabriel Valley. Pick yours to see who issues the permit, because that’s where most jobs lose their first few weeks.
Where’s the house?
Pick a city
Who issues your permit depends on the parcel, not the mailing address. Altadena, for one, goes through LA County, not Pasadena. Getting it wrong costs weeks.
Meet the builder
Liverpoolto Pasadena.
MKW Homes is run by Michael Ward. He learned the trade in Liverpool, England, and has spent more than twenty years building since. Today he runs one four-person crew in Pasadena that takes one job at a time.
That’s deliberate. A crew split across three sites means nobody is really watching yours. Ours shows up, stays, and finishes.
One crew, one job
Four people, on your job until it’s finished. We never rotate a crew across three sites.
Owner on site
Michael is on the job, not on the phone from another one. The person who quotes it runs it.
Licensed & insured
CSLB #1074934. General liability and workers’ comp, certificates on request.
Mostly referrals
Most of our work comes from neighbors of past clients. That keeps us honest.
Reviews
Five stars,every time.
“Hired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.”
“He really takes the time to listen to your ideas and vision, while also offering thoughtful recommendations that elevate the final result. Nothing ever felt rushed or overlooked.”
Marvin Valencia
“From start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.”
Angela Adams
“MKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.”
Jake Baloian
“Mike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.”
Jen B
“My backyard fence was damaged and his crew replaced the damaged sections. They were done so well that you could not tell they were different.”
Janet Owens
“Mike and his team did an outstanding job on our front and backyard. We have continued to use him on other projects since then.”
Phil Feghali
“Mike and his team came over to paint our house and set up a shade sail. Price was competitive. The team left the house clean after the job.”
Lily Hua
Plan it
Build yourproject.
Tick what you have in mind. We’ll add it to your estimate request, so Michael knows what to look at when he comes out.
Straight answers
Ask thebuilder.
The questions homeowners ask Michael most, answered the way he’d answer them on site.
What decides the cost of a bathroom remodel?
Whether you keep the plumbing where it is or move it. That moves the number more than tile or fixtures. Moving a toilet drain through old cast-iron waste lines in a pre-war home is what drives cost up.
Can I stay at home during a kitchen remodel?
Usually, yes. Most kitchens take several weeks of work once demolition starts. The calendar runs longer than the labor, because cabinets are ordered before demo, counters are templated only once cabinets are set level, and inspections gate the work.
Do I need a permit, and who do I get it from?
Usually yes if you move plumbing, electrical or framing. The catch is where you pull it: Pasadena has its own building department, while Altadena is unincorporated county and permits through LA County, not the city.
Is it cheaper to build up or out?
Building out is usually cheaper, as long as the lot has room and the setbacks allow it. A second story needs an engineer to check the foundation, means taking the roof off, and gives up space downstairs to a staircase.
Can I build an ADU in my backyard in Pasadena?
On most single-family lots, yes. State law sets a floor the city can’t go below, including approval without a public hearing and room for at least an 800 sq ft unit with 4 ft side and rear setbacks.
Is artificial turf worth it in Southern California?
For a lawn you look at more than you walk on, usually yes: no more watering or mowing. The honest catch is summer heat in full sun. Almost every turf failure is a base failure, so hire for the base, not the blades.
Pavers or concrete for a driveway?
Neither is simply better. Concrete is cheaper up front but cracks and can’t be patched invisibly. Pavers cost more, but any unit can be lifted and reset. Either way, the base and drainage decide how long it lasts.
How do I check a contractor before hiring?
Verify the CSLB license yourself, confirm general liability and workers’ comp, insist on a written scope with dollar allowances, and treat a bid far below the others as a warning, not a bargain.
Free estimates
Let’s walkthe job.
Tell us what you’re thinking. Michael will come out, look at the house and give you a written scope, usually within the same week.
Hours
- Mon – Fri
- 8:00am – 5:30pm
- Saturday
- 8:00am – 4:00pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Based in Pasadena, serving the San Gabriel Valley.
CSLB #1074934. Check it yourself.