Angled view of the front yard hardscape and lawn grid.

West Ridge Front Yard, Escondido

Project Snapshot

Location West Ridge, Escondido (92029)
Style Modern
Timeline About 9 days
Price Range $35k-$42.5k

Pavers: Angelus Paseo I & II (Standard), 360 sf total (208 sf entry + 152 sf secondary zone)
Walls: Bastione 24-inch Slab, 170 sf of wall face; Bastione Cap/Coping, 90 pieces
Turf: Imperial Coronado Platinum, 308 sf; SGW weed cloth; silica sand infill (20 x 50 lb bags); SGW poly board edging (42 lf)
Ground Cover: Desert Gold Stabilized DG, 125 sf; AZ River Rock 1/4″-1/2″, 170 sf over weed cloth barrier
Lighting: Pro-Trade LL2 7-inch Ledge Light Black with Stainless Steel Mounting Plate LED, 16 fixtures; Pro-Trade 150W Stainless Steel TR1 Transformer, 1 unit; 12/2 low-voltage wire, 250 lf roll; smart-socket timer
Planting: 22 five-gallon plants (species not documented), 1 CY topsoil
Edging: Bond beam installation, 60 pieces
Base: Class II road base, plate-compacted to ICPI/ASTM D 698 specification

System: 25 lf of 3-inch triple-wall perforated pipe with sleeve (collection zone) connecting to 20 lf of 3-inch SDR35 solid drain line, with five 3-inch PVC fittings (45 and 90 degree) and two PVC pop-up drain emitters. All impervious surfaces slope away from the foundation.

West Ridge HOA architectural committee approval was obtained before demo began. Per San Diego IB-220, walls exceeding 3 feet in height require a permit. California Civil Code Section 4735 makes any HOA prohibition on artificial turf void and unenforceable; HOA quality standards may still apply.

On-site work ran roughly nine days from first day on site through final sign-off. The build sequence ran demo and drainage, then wall construction, paver installation, turf, planting, and lighting, with a final photo shoot at the end.

Project Story

Overview

Trevor Stedman sketched the entry axis on a West Ridge front yard, then waited eleven days for HOA sign-off before demo. Nine working days later: 360 sf of Angelus Paseo I and II pavers, 308 sf of Imperial Coronado Platinum turf, 170 sf of Bastione segmental walls with coping, and sixteen Pro-Trade LL2 ledge lights along the new axis.

The new front yard changes how the house reads from the street.
— Jaymie G., West Ridge, Escondido

The Challenge

  • The front yard's dead sod and cracked concrete left the entry looking neglected, with no clear walkway path from the driveway to the porch.
  • Every rain event moved surface water toward the foundation because the existing grade lacked any drainage system.
  • The homeowner spent money every season maintaining sod that couldn't survive Escondido's dry summers, and the problem kept repeating.

What Changed

Low segmental retaining walls (170 sf of wall face) define the raised planting beds, and 16 LED ledge lights keep the entry well-lit after dark.
How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped
The constraint was approval order, not budget. Once Trevor Stedman had the West Ridge architectural-review committee's sign-off on Angelus Paseo in the I and II sizes, Imperial Coronado Platinum turf, and Bastione segmental walls in slab-and-cap, the build sequence fell out of the design: demo and drainage on day one to keep the schedule tight, segmental walls before any surface material went down, and plant locations confirmed on site with the homeowner before the 22 five-gallon plants were placed. Angelus Paseo large-format pavers run on the entry axis; Imperial Coronado Platinum turf fills the flanking beds; sixteen Pro-Trade LED ledge lights light the walk on a smart-socket timer. The front yard now holds its shape, drains correctly at two pop-up emitters, and needs no irrigation to stay green.

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Design & Build

The Plan

  • Layout centered a large-format paver walkway on the front entry axis, with turf flanking both sides of the path and a low Bastione segmental wall defining the raised planting zone

  • Angelus Paseo I & II pavers (208 sf entry zone + 152 sf secondary zone) selected for their large-slab profile, which suits the modern townhouse facade of West Ridge homes

  • Imperial Coronado Platinum turf (308 sf) installed over weed cloth and silica sand infill to handle Escondido heat without irrigation

  • Drainage system: 25 lf of 3-inch triple-wall perforated pipe in the collection zone feeding into 20 lf of 3-inch SDR35 solid drain line, exiting at two PVC pop-up emitters per slope requirements

  • 16 Pro-Trade LL2 7-inch LED ledge lights wired on a single 150W TR1 transformer with smart-socket timer, low-voltage system within California Title 24 limits

  • 125 sf of stabilized Desert Gold DG and 170 sf of AZ river rock (1/4″-1/2″) added as ground cover in planting beds, topped over weed cloth barrier

See the 2D plan drawing
Project plan

The Build

HOA Approval and Pre-Install

HOA architectural committee approval arrived before any work started. The crew completed a pre-walk to confirm quantities, mark scope with landscape paint, and verify Dig Alert clearance. All pre-install checklist items were signed off before site setup.

Demo and Drainage

Concrete removal and drainage trenching ran concurrently to keep the site moving. Five large haul-away loads cleared the demolished concrete, roots, and shrubs from the property.

Wall Construction and Grading

Bastione 24-inch slab wall courses went up across 170 sf of wall face with 90 coping pieces. Subgrade was graded and compacted before base rock was placed and screeded for paver installation.

Pavers and Hardscape

Angelus Paseo pavers were set in two zones totaling 360 sf. Bond beam edging (60 pieces) locked the field perimeter. Base depth was verified by tape measure at multiple points before bedding sand was screeded.

Turf, DG, and Planting

Imperial Coronado Platinum turf was cut, seamed with SGW tape, nailed, and infilled with silica sand. Desert Gold DG and river rock were placed in planting beds over weed cloth. Plant locations were confirmed with the homeowner before 22 five-gallon plants went in. Existing irrigation was capped at 20 heads and one valve was relocated.

Lighting and final checks

16 Pro-Trade LL2 ledge lights were wired and connected to the TR1 transformer. Light cleaning and rose trimming completed the final checks. A final photo shoot documented the finished front yard before the final sign-off.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in Escondido?

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Pavers & Hardscape (360 sf Angelus Paseo, bond beam edging) $9,000 – $11,000
Walls & Steps (170 sf Bastione wall, 90 coping pieces) $8,000 – $9,500
Turf & Landscaping (308 sf turf, DG, river rock, 22 plants) $8,000 – $9,500
Demo & Site Work (concrete removal, haul-away, general labor) $4,500 – $5,500
Lighting (16 LED fixtures, transformer, wire, timer) $3,500 – $4,500
Drainage & Irrigation (45 lf drain pipe, pop-ups, irrigation capping) $2,000 – $2,500
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver walkway and artificial turf front yard cost in Escondido?

A front yard project of this scope in Escondido typically runs $35,000 to $42,500. This project included 360 sf of Angelus Paseo pavers, 308 sf of Imperial Coronado Platinum turf, 170 sf of Bastione segmental retaining walls, 16 LED fixtures, and a 45-lf drainage system. Simpler projects with fewer walls or no lighting will cost less.

How much maintenance does Imperial Coronado Platinum turf need?

Imperial Coronado Platinum requires no irrigation once installed. Periodic rinsing to clear dust and occasional re-brushing of the pile to stand the fibers upright are the main tasks. Silica sand infill was used on this project to stabilize the blades and add firmness underfoot. No fertilizing, mowing, or seasonal overseeding.

Does artificial turf require HOA approval in West Ridge?

Yes, the West Ridge HOA required architectural committee approval before installation began. California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf outright, but HOAs can set quality and appearance standards. The approval was obtained before any demo started on this project.

What kind of drainage is needed under pavers near a house foundation in Escondido?

This project used 25 lf of 3-inch perforated pipe collecting surface water and directing it to 20 lf of solid SDR35 drain line, exiting at two pop-up emitters at the property edge. All paved surfaces were graded to slope away from the foundation, which calls for a minimum 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet adjacent to the structure.

How long does a front yard paver and turf installation take in West Ridge, Escondido?

This project took approximately 9 calendar days from first day on site through final sign-off. The crew ran demo and drainage concurrently to keep the schedule tight. Most front yard projects of comparable scope run 1–3 weeks depending on demo volume, drainage complexity, and HOA review timing.

What low-voltage lighting system works with a paver front yard?

This project used 16 Pro-Trade LL2 7-inch LED ledge lights connected to a single 150W TR1 transformer with a smart-socket timer. The system runs at 12V, well within the 30V AC maximum for low-voltage landscape lighting. A single transformer handles the full 16-fixture load, and the timer automates dusk-to-dawn operation.

Your Outdoor Project in 3 Simple Steps

1

Design

We listen to your vision, assess your space, and create a custom design that fits your lifestyle and budget.

2

Build

Our experienced crews bring the design to life with premium materials and expert craftsmanship.

3

Enjoy

Step into your transformed outdoor space and start making memories with family and friends.

Your Project Manager

Troy MacMillan

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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