The river side of the house.

Wilton Manors is wrapped by the North and South Forks of the Middle River, which is where the Island City nickname comes from and why so much of the good exterior work here faces water. A Jenada Isles back yard wants a dock, a lift and a shaded terrace between the seawall and the house. Inland, off NE 26th Street or through the Central Area, outdoor living means a summer kitchen against the old carport wall, shade over the pool deck, and a driveway that finally stops looking like 1958.

A Wilton Manors backyard runs into two limits quickly. The first is coverage: the RS-5 district allows 50 percent of the lot to be impervious, and patios, walkways, pool decks and driveways all draw on that same account, with a signed calculation in the permit file. The second is the water. Docks, seawalls and boat lifts need a sealed survey, sealed engineering and a license from Broward County's Aquatic and Wetland Resources Program, plus confirmation that the state, the Army Corps and the South Florida Water Management District have either reviewed the work or delegated it. Lights and lifts add an electrical permit; driven pilings add a special inspector.

Exterior construction gets built to interior standards on our jobs. Gas, water and power for a summer kitchen are permitted trades, not weekend work. Pergola footings are engineered for Broward wind loads and the connections are detailed on paper before anyone digs a hole. Terraces are pitched to move rainy-season water away from the slab, and hardware near brackish water is specified for brackish water. We work inside the city's construction hours, keep the mess off the street and out of the neighbor's hedge, and warranty what we build.