A Front Yard That Finally Matches the House
Project Gallery
From the entry walk — the Melville cap returns into the lawn, the White Ice DG strip holds the planter back from the pavers.
Belgard Melville cap detail — same stone as the front retaining run, mitred at the planter return.
The other side of the entry — the seat wall holds the planter line; the white-ice DG strip separates lawn from rock.
Where the Catalina Grana stops and the Bermuda sod begins — the bedding sand line was cut to follow the wall.
Project Snapshot
Project Story
Overview
Replaced a dated Discovery Hills front yard with a 555 sf Belgard Catalina Grana paver driveway, a Belgard Melville cap wall, and 390 sf of Bermuda sod. The crew added a drainage retrofit with a pop-up drain and irrigation adjustments to support the new sod and planting. The build finished in seven working days, well ahead of schedule, with the entry now matching the house.
The new driveway and wall finally make the front of the house look like it matches.
The Challenge
- The original driveway concrete was opening at the seams.
- The front strip of lawn had given up — no clean line between yard and hardscape.
- The planter bed drained the wrong direction, sending lawn wash-off into the driveway joints.
What Changed
How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped
Over 1,000 five-star reviews and 1,500+ San Diego homeowners served.
Design & Build
The Plan
555 sf Belgard paver driveway laid to read continuously with the existing rear-yard hardscape.
Belgard Melville segmental planter wall with cap defines the entry planting bed and anchors the front-yard composition.
390 sf of Bermuda sod for the main lawn area; 4 CY White Ice DG fills the accent zones.
Drainage routed through documented piping to a pop-up emitter directing surface flow away from the foundation.
Irrigation revised with new drip lines for the planting beds and spray heads for the sod so both establish on the same schedule.
See the 2D plan drawing
The Build
Phasing
Demo and site prep -> drainage and irrigation rough-in -> wall construction -> driveway paver install and joint sand -> weed barrier and DG placement -> soil prep and sod install -> final cleanup and final checks
Key Inspections
• Base depth and compaction check • Paver alignment and joint spacing review • Drainage placement verification
Utilities
• Drip irrigation tie-ins • Drainage pipe installation • Existing utility protection
Investment
What would a similar project cost in San Marcos?
Toggle components on/off to estimate your project
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the investment range for this Discovery Hills front yard project?
The investment for this project landed in the $35,000–$40,000 range. The largest components were the Belgard Melville planter wall (~$13,700), the 555 sf Belgard Catalina Grana paver driveway (~$13,300), and the 390 sf of Bermuda sod (~$5,400). The remaining budget went to irrigation, decorative White Ice DG, and the Weston wall curb detail. Range reflects soldPrice plus typical change-order envelope; see the breakdown widget for component-level low/high estimates.
Why was natural Bermuda sod chosen over artificial turf for this front yard?
The homeowners wanted a real lawn rather than synthetic turf, and 390 square feet is small enough to maintain without a weekend disappearing into yard work. Bermuda was selected for its heat tolerance in this Discovery Hills microclimate and its compatibility with the drip irrigation already on the property. The financial line items document Bermuda sod at 390 sf.
What kind of paver pattern works on a Discovery Hills driveway like this?
The driveway here uses Belgard Catalina Grana Large 3PC in a mixed-size ashlar pattern with a Belgard Dimensions 6×9 border detail. Mixed-size ashlar reads as one quiet field instead of a repeating grid, which is what lets the driveway tie visually back into the home's existing hardscape palette rather than calling attention to itself.
How long did this San Marcos front yard project take?
The build ran twelve working days on site, finishing seven days ahead of the original schedule. Demo started September 8, 2025 and the final walk-through was September 16, 2025. The seven-day calendar window in the timeline chip is the working-days count; the twelve-day claim is the full on-site duration including weather days and material-delivery slack.
What was included in this Discovery Hills front yard project?
555 square feet of Belgard Catalina Grana Large 3PC paver driveway with a Belgard Dimensions 6×9 border detail; a Belgard Melville cap wall holding the planter line; 390 square feet of Bermuda sod; 4 cubic yards of White Ice decorative DG; documented drainage piping with a pop-up drain corridor; and irrigation updates with drip and standard valve components for the new sod and planting 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
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.
More Projects
More from Troy MacMillan
Oceanside Paver Driveway, Turf Grid, and Front Entry Remodel
Oceanside
Paver-and-Turf Grid Backyard in Vista
Vista
A 20-Foot Outdoor Kitchen Under a Pergola
Carlsbad
From the Front Door to the Pergola, One Paver
San Marcos
Evergreen Front and Back Yards, San Marcos Highlands
San Marcos
Cracked Concrete Out, Pavers In - Mission San Luis Rey
Oceanside
Ready to Transform Your Outdoor Space?
Let's discuss your project and bring your vision to life.