Pavers, Turf, and Lighting in San Elijo Hills
Project Gallery
San Marcos Backyard Pavers + Turf + Drainage (San Elijo Hills) Before Photo After 1
San Marcos Backyard Pavers Turf Drainage (San Elijo Hills) After Photo 3
San Marcos Backyard Pavers Turf Drainage (San Elijo Hills) After Photo 7
Finished interlocking paver patio transitions into a newly installed artificial turf lawn with a smooth curved edge. A vinyl privacy fence encloses the backyard and an HVAC unit and concrete stepping stones sit against the house wall, indicating a wrapped-up exterior installation.
Completed paver walkway and adjoining segmental retaining wall with a soldier-course edge and curved paver banding next to a mulched planting bed. Stucco column and exterior wall are visible along with PVC conduit at the edge of the pavers, indicating a finished exterior hardscape installation.
Newly installed interlocking paver patio with clean swept joints abutting a neatly trimmed artificial turf lawn and stepping stones. A low segmental retaining wall with capstone runs along the fence line next to the house's sliding glass door, indicating a finished residential hardscape.
Finished interlocking paver walkway installed in a narrow side yard with clean joints and consistent pattern. A strip of artificial turf with rectangular stepping stones runs alongside a low segmental retaining wall capped with capstones and a white vinyl fence, adjacent to the house exterior.
Project Snapshot
Project Story
Overview
On a master-planned lot above San Elijo Hills, a back yard had been bare dirt since the family moved in — muddy through every winter, dusty through every summer, walked over and not used. Chris MacMillan walked the property with the homeowners before sketching anything: the house wall, the existing segmental wall along the vinyl fence, the downspouts that all drained into one low spot. The plan that followed put the drainage in first and the patio on top of it — 58 ln ft of SDR35, a perforated French drain behind a new wall, then 914 sf of Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers and 558 sf of Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf, finished in eight working days.
Chris, the Sr. Designer, absolutely blew us away. From the first walkthrough he listened to what we actually wanted — a back yard our kids could use, not a backyard staged for somebody else — and he came back with a plan that felt like it had been designed for our lot, not a template. The drainage plan was honest: he walked us through where the downspouts go and why the patio has to sit on top of the wall, not next to it. The crew showed up when they said they would, every day for eight days. The pavers, the turf, the wall, the lights — every piece reads like it was always supposed to be there. We feel like we got our weekends back.
The Challenge
- The backyard was bare dirt that turned muddy after rain, making it unusable for most of the year.
- The side yard had no paved surface, leaving a gap between the driveway edge and the house that collected runoff.
- Without any lighting, the outdoor areas were dark after sunset and posed a tripping hazard on the unpaved surfaces.
What Changed
How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped
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Design & Build
The Plan
Layout divided the property into three zones: a paver patio in the backyard, an artificial turf lawn, and paver walkways along the side yard and front driveway edge
Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers in a rectangular ashlar-like pattern with soldier-course borders along the driveway and retaining wall edges
Angelus Rustic Wall Stone retaining wall built to separate the patio from the planting bed along the vinyl fence
Drainage system: 58 ln ft of 3-inch SDR35 drainline, 8 PVC drain caps at downspout connections, and 20 ln ft of perforated French drain pipe with sleeve behind the retaining wall; system sloped
Low-voltage lighting : 4 Pro-Trade LL2 ledge lights and 5 Pro-Trade SL2 surface-mounted step lights on a single Pro-Trade 150W stainless steel transformer with 250 LF of 12/2 wire per run
20 Belgard Moduline 24×24 stepping stones set in concrete to create a walkway path across the turf to the patio
See the 2D plan drawing
The Build
Demo and Site Prep
Demo started on Day 1 with removal of an existing wall and footing (25 sf) and 6 hours of demolition labor clearing soil, roots, and debris. Backyard and side yard access was cleared across ~894 sf. Blue spray-paint layout lines were marked before any excavation.
Grading and Base Installation
Day 2 focused on subgrade compaction and Class II road base installation. The backyard was graded to slope away from the foundation. Base material was spread and compacted before bedding sand was screeded in preparation for pavers.
Drainage Installation
58 ln ft of 3-inch SDR35 drainline was trenched and set with 8 PVC drain cap connections at downspout tie-ins. The French drain (20 ln ft perforated triplewall pipe with sleeve) was installed behind the retaining wall location before wall construction began.
Paver and Wall Installation
Paver installation ran over Days 3 and 4. Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers were laid in the backyard patio and all walkway areas. The Angelus Rustic Wall Stone retaining wall was built along the fence line. Twenty Belgard Moduline stepping stones were set in concrete across the turf area.
Turf Installation
Landscape fabric was laid over the prepared turf base. Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf (558 sf) was cut and secured with 5-inch nails and poly board edging (96 ln ft). Silica sand infill was installed and brushed in.
Lighting and final checks
The Pro-Trade 150W transformer was mounted and 250 LF runs of 12/2 low-voltage wire were routed to 4 ledge lights and 5 step lights. Joints were swept with NextGel polymeric sand. The final checks was completed and final walk conducted on the last day.
Investment
What would a similar project cost in San Marcos?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a paver patio and artificial turf installation cost in San Marcos?
A combined paver, turf, drainage, and lighting project of this size in San Marcos typically runs $42,500 to $50,000 installed. This project covered 914 sf of Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers, 558 sf of Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf, a retaining wall, a full drainage system, and low-voltage lighting. Smaller patio-only or turf-only projects will cost less.
Does artificial turf require a permit in San Marcos, and can an HOA block it?
Artificial turf generally does not require a permit for a residential lawn replacement in San Marcos, but always confirm with the city before starting. California law (Civil Code Section 4735) limits an HOA's ability to prohibit artificial turf outright, though HOAs may still set quality, color, and appearance standards you'll need to meet.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall or pavers in San Marcos?
Paver patios and walkways do not typically require a permit for residential installations. Retaining walls may require a permit depending on height and whether they support a surcharge load (driveway, fence, slope). Check current San Marcos and San Diego County requirements before starting. The wall on this project was built with Angelus Rustic Wall Stone as a low garden wall along the planting bed.
What artificial turf product was used on this project and how do you maintain it?
Imperial Desert Rye 65 turf was installed with Imperial Green silica sand infill. Maintenance is minimal: rinse with a garden hose to remove dust or debris, use a stiff broom or turf rake to keep the pile upright, and remove any organic material before it breaks down. The silica sand infill stays in place and does not need to be replaced under normal residential use.
How long does a full backyard paver and turf installation take in San Marcos?
This project ran about 8 working days from demo through final checks, with prep and planning completed in advance. Most residential paver-and-turf installations in San Diego's North County fall in the 8-14 working day range depending on scope, access, and drainage complexity.
What pavers were used on this San Marcos project and what pattern were they laid in?
Angelus Courtyard Combo (Standard) 60MM pavers were installed across 914 sf in a rectangular ashlar-like pattern with soldier-course borders along the driveway edge and retaining wall. NextGel Polymeric Sand in tan was used to stabilize the joints.
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
A San Diego native with more than 20 years in landscape construction, Troy brings seasoned craftsmanship to every build. A devoted husband and father of two, he carries the same care from the job site to his weekend farm.
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