Carmel Valley Backyard: Turf, Mow-Strip, DG
Overview
A Carmel Valley (92130) backyard replaced its lawn with a 5,248 sq ft artificial turf field, a mow-strip border, stepping stones, and stabilized decomposed granite transitions, with drainage and irrigation adjustments to match. The goal was a low-maintenance surface around an existing pool, sport court, and walkways.
Quick Facts
City San Diego
Neighborhood Carmel Valley (92130)
Constraints/Challenges Large continuous lawn footprint with tie-ins around existing hardscape features (pool, sport court, walkways). Existing irrigation zones needed to be adjusted as the lawn was removed.
Goals Replace the lawn with a low-maintenance surface and reduce or eliminate regular watering, keeping the yard easy to use around the existing pool, sport court, and walkways.
Scope 5,248 sf Imperial Desert Rye 65 synthetic turf; interlocking paver patio and curved walkways; 318 sf stabilized Desert Gold decomposed granite; 15 Belgard Moduline 24x24 stepping stones set in concrete; 40 lf drainage; 208 lf mow strip; irrigation repairs
Style Modern
Timeline About 6 weeks active installation
Price Range $57k–$70k
The Challenge
- We wanted a low-maintenance backyard surface that doesn't require constant watering.
- We were over the upkeep cycle of natural lawn — mowing, patching, and trying to keep it consistent.
- We needed the yard to feel more organized with cleaner edges and clearer paths around the existing outdoor features.
How Install It Direct Helped
Market Context
Neighborhood Context
The Plan
- Turf layout mapped to cover 5,248 sf across multiple yard zones, wrapping the existing pool deck and sports court without disturbing either surface
- Interlocking paver patio and curved walkways installed along the home's stone veneer exterior, with a soldier-course border edge for a clean transition to turf
- 15 Belgard Moduline 24x24 stepping stones set in concrete through turf areas to handle daily foot traffic without compressing the turf pile
- 318 sf of Desert Gold stabilized decomposed granite installed in accent path areas, compacted and bordered by soldier-course paver edging
- 40 lf of drainage installed to direct surface water away from the foundation per CRC R401.3 slope requirements
Convert the yard from lawn watering to purpose-based irrigation by capping and relocating sprinklers where needed so turf areas aren't being watered unnecessarily.
The Build
Project manager completed a pre-install checklist walk covering Dig Alert confirmation, scope marking, sprinkler and drain testing, and material staging release. Demo followed with 8 hours of demolition labor removing roots, soil, and existing concrete, with debris hauled off site.
Base material was graded and compacted across the turf footprint. Drainage line was installed to direct runoff. Irrigation was adjusted for the new lawn-free yard, with heads capped or relocated as needed.
Curved interlocking paver walkways were laid along the home's exterior, including a soldier-course border edge. Fifteen Belgard Moduline 24x24 stepping stones were set in concrete through the planned turf areas. DG paths were compacted and finished with a paver border.
Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf rolls were cut and laid across 5,248 sf, secured with 5-inch nails and bordered by 238 lf of poly board edging and 208 lf of mow strip. Green silica sand infill was spread and worked in to finish the surface.
Final surface detail, seam and edge checks, and site cleanup before handover. Any post-handover items are handled under the standard two-year installation warranty.
The Result
Residential backyard showing a completed landscape with a planted lawn and interlocking paver walkway adjacent to a painted sports court and pool deck. The scene includes natural turf, stepping stones, palm trees and finished hardscape elements indicating final installation work.
Backyard installation showing new artificial turf laid adjacent to a paved area and sports court. The scope includes a paver patio/walkway, stepping stones, a basketball hoop and soccer goals with palm trees and coastal view in the background, indicating a finished landscape installation.
Backyard construction scene showing a paver walkway and patio in the foreground, with artificial turf installed in the background and an adjacent area of exposed soil where turf or planting has been removed. Patio furniture and a segmental retaining wall are visible; the site appears to be in mid-installation with base prep underway for additional turf or landscape work.
Finished backyard hardscape showing synthetic turf installation bordered by interlocking paver patio and pool deck. Concrete square stepping pads set into the turf create a walkway to a seating/dining area beneath palm trees and overlook a pool area and distant view.
Backyard installation showing new artificial turf laid adjacent to a paved area and sports court. The scope includes a paver patio/walkway, stepping stones, a basketball hoop and soccer goals with palm trees and coastal view in the background, indicating a finished landscape installation.
Finished backyard showing interlocking paver patios and walkways with artificial turf inlays around palm trees and an integrated pool deck visible in the background. Clean joints, uniform sanded paver pattern and finished edges indicate a completed landscape installation ready for client use or final walk.
Finished backyard hardscape showing synthetic turf installation bordered by interlocking paver patio and pool deck. Concrete square stepping pads set into the turf create a walkway to a seating/dining area beneath palm trees and overlook a pool area and distant view.
Low-angle construction photo of a backyard walkway showing an installed paver border (soldier-course style) with a compacted decomposed granite/aggregate base in the center. Adjacent artificial turf lawn to the right and a stacked stone segmental retaining wall to the left; the path appears staged and awaiting paver field installation or final surfacing.
Investment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Projects of this scale in Del Mar Mesa typically run $57,000 to $70,000. This project covered 5,248 sf of synthetic turf plus paver walkways, stepping stones, decomposed granite paths, and drainage work. Lot size, the number of distinct yard zones, and any irrigation repairs are the main cost drivers.
Active installation on this Del Mar Mesa project took approximately 6 weeks. That included demo, base prep, drainage, paver work, turf installation, and a punchlist phase. Projects with more irrigation repair or multiple hardscape elements can add time.
Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf needs no mowing or regular watering. Occasional rinsing removes dust and pet waste, and brushing the pile once or twice a year keeps the blades upright. The silica sand infill installed on this project helps the turf hold its shape over time.
No. California Civil Code Section 4735 makes any HOA rule that prohibits synthetic turf void and unenforceable. An HOA may set reasonable quality and appearance standards, but it cannot ban turf outright. This applies to all HOA-governed properties in the state, including communities in Del Mar Mesa.
For turf conversions, lawn watering zones are typically capped or relocated so you aren't watering synthetic areas. On this project, irrigation heads were capped and relocated to keep the broader system functioning while removing unnecessary lawn irrigation.
Belgard Moduline units are large-format concrete pavers, here used as 24x24 stepping stones set in concrete. Placing them through the turf zones creates a firm walking surface for daily foot traffic without compressing or wearing the turf pile along the most-used paths. This project included 15 stepping stones throughout the turf areas.
Your Outdoor Project in 3 Simple Steps
Design
We listen to your vision, assess your space, and create a custom design that fits your lifestyle and budget.
Build
Our experienced crews bring the design to life with premium materials and expert craftsmanship.
Enjoy
Step into your transformed outdoor space and start making memories with family and friends.
Your Project Manager
Troy MacMillan
Install It Direct has completed turf and hardscape projects across Del Mar Mesa, Carmel Valley, and the broader 92130 corridor. This project shows how the team handles large-lot complexity: multiple zones, existing hardscape to tie into, and irrigation issues that needed resolving before the new surface could go down. The case study documents the full build sequence and actual installed quantities.
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