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New Paver Pool Deck, Fletcher Hills, El Cajon

New Paver Pool Deck, Fletcher Hills, El Cajon

This finished project was a $24k-$33k build.

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Project Snapshot

Location Fletcher Hills, El Cajon (92020)
Style Modern
Price Range $24k-$33k

– Pavers: Angelus Courtyard Combo (Standard) 60MM, 1,074 sf installed; field colors cream, brown, and charcoal; mocha soldier-course border
– Polymeric sand: NextGel 50lb bags (tan), swept into all joints per ICPI base prep specs
– Wall: 40 sf segmental wall; custom Pacific Clay iron spot bullnose cap with concrete wall cap adhesive (2 tubes)
– Footings: 3 x 18×18-inch concrete footings with anchor straps for pergola posts
– Lighting: 4 Pro-Trade PTH1 Path Light 15-in. riser, aluminum bronze finish, 2.5W 2700K LED; 100 LF roll of 12/2 low-voltage wire
– Delivery: Angelus paver delivery, San Diego County; pallet and material pickup

– One SDR35 3-inch drain line stub installed at a pool-deck low point
– Surface graded to direct water away from the house foundation (minimum 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet)
– Bedding sand screeded level after base grade was confirmed; PVC stub-ups set before sand placement

– Total duration: approximately 7 weeks from pre-walk through final closeout
– Pre-walk and coordination: approximately 2 weeks before field work began
– Demo phase: Day 1 of field work
– Base prep: Days 2-3
– Footing and wall work: overlapping with base and early paver phases
– Paver installation: approximately 5 days across the middle of the project
– Bullnose sourcing delay: caused a mid-project pause of a few days while replacement caps were sourced through Thompson’s Building Materials
– Jointing, lighting, final checks: final 2-3 days; one day lost to rain
– Project closeout: Day 1 after final checks

Project Story

Overview

A Fletcher Hills backyard got 1,074 square feet of interlocking concrete pavers covering the pool deck, patio, and walkways, replacing old concrete. The crew also built a segmental retaining wall, installed 4 path lights, and connected a short drain line.

Install-It-Direct made the entire process straightforward and stress free. The drainage issues were resolved, the new pool deck looks great, and the added lighting made the space much more usable at night.

The Challenge

  • The old concrete pool deck, 1,074 sf now under Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers, had cracked and aged past where cleaning helped.
  • Water drained unevenly across the existing slab with no drain infrastructure at the low points around the pool, addressed here with an SDR35 stub.
  • The covered patio, pool deck, and side yard were mismatched and disconnected, with no shared material story before the new pavers and 40 sf seg wall went in.

What Changed

1,074 sf of Angelus Courtyard Combo interlocking pavers replaced an aging reinforced concrete slab, covering the pool deck, covered patio, and side yard walkway in a single continuous surface. A 40 sf segmental wall with custom iron spot bullnose caps frames the planting bed, and 4 path lights illuminate the patio perimeter after dark.

How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped

The homeowner had lived with a dated concrete pool deck for years and wanted a complete overhaul that would hold up long-term around a pool environment. Install It Direct removed 1,074 sf of reinforced concrete, set a compacted aggregate base, and installed Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers across the pool deck, patio, and walkways, with a mocha-colored soldier-course border framing the field. The crew also built a 40 sf segmental wall with custom Pacific Clay iron spot bullnose caps, placed 4 Pro-Trade path lights along the patio perimeter, and ran a short SDR35 drain line to handle surface water near the pool. By the final week, the homeowner had a finished backyard where every surface connected: pavers from the back door to the water's edge, lit at night, with a wall that anchored the planting area.

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Design & Build

The Plan

  • Paver layout: Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM in cream, brown, and charcoal field with a mocha border in a soldier-course pattern around the perimeter and pool edge

  • Scope boundary: 1,074 sf of interlocking pavers covering the pool deck, covered patio slab area, and side yard walkway, connecting all three zones in one continuous surface

  • Base preparation: saw-cut existing concrete along 14 linear feet, demoed 1,074 sf of wire-mesh/rebar slab, excavated, and set a compacted crushed aggregate subbase before screeding bedding sand

  • Drainage: one SDR35 3-inch drain line stub routed from a low point on the pool deck side; surface slope graded (6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet away from the structure)

  • Lighting: 4 Pro-Trade PTH1 15-inch aluminum bronze path lights wired on 12/2 low-voltage cable, operating under (30V or less system)

  • Wall: 40 sf segmental retaining wall with custom Pacific Clay iron spot bullnose cap pieces adhered with concrete wall cap adhesive; three 18×18-inch concrete footings poured for pergola post bases

See the 2D plan drawing
Project plan

The Build

Demo and Site Prep

Work started with saw-cutting the existing slab along 14 linear feet, then full demolition of 1,074 sf of reinforced concrete with wire mesh and rebar, plus 52 sf of brick set in concrete near the spa area. Eight hours of demolition labor were logged in addition to machine access, and one yard of soil was hauled off. Careful hand-chipping around the pool skimmer prevented damage to the housing.

Base and Drainage

Compacted crushed aggregate base was spread and graded across the full patio and pool deck footprint. Grade stakes were set and verified for slope. PVC drain stub-ups were positioned before screeding, and the SDR35 drain line was tied in. Bedding sand was then screeded to a uniform 1-inch depth.

Footing and Wall Work

Three 18x18-inch concrete footings with anchor straps were poured for the pergola posts. The segmental retaining wall was built to 40 sf, with custom Pacific Clay iron spot bullnose caps installed and adhered course by course. A wall section adjacent to the patio required height adjustment during this phase.

Paver Installation

Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers were set in a modular field pattern across all three zones, with mocha soldier-course border units installed at the perimeter and along the pool coping edge. Cuts were made around pool handrail posts, pergola columns, and the spa surround. Pavers were compacted into the bedding sand after setting.

Jointing, Lighting, and final checks

NextGel tan polymeric sand was swept and activated across all 1,074 sf of joints. Four Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights were positioned along the patio edge and wired on 12/2 low-voltage cable. Final cleanup, edge trim verification, and a pre-walk confirmed the surface was complete. A one-day rain delay during this phase pushed final closeout by one day.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in El Cajon?

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Demo & Site Prep (1,074 sf concrete with rebar, 52 sf brick, haul-off, porta potty, delivery) $3,000 – $3,500
Pavers & Hardscape (1,074 sf Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM, installation, polymeric sand, saw-cutting, footings) $16,000 – $19,500
Walls & Steps (40 sf segmental wall, custom Pacific Clay bullnose cap, adhesive) $1,000 – $1,500
Drainage (SDR35 3-in. drain line stub) $500 – $600
Lighting (4 Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights, 12/2 low-voltage wire) $500 – $600
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver pool deck cost in El Cajon?

Projects similar to this Fletcher Hills pool deck and patio typically land between $24,000 and $33,000 for roughly 1,000 sf of interlocking pavers. That range covers concrete demolition with rebar, a compacted aggregate base, paver installation, polymeric sand, and a short drain line. Wall work and custom cap pieces add to that figure. Cost per square foot for paver work in El Cajon generally falls between $20 and $35 installed, depending on demo scope and site complexity.

Do paver patios and pool decks in El Cajon require a permit?

Paver patios and pool decks are generally exempt from building permits in El Cajon. The segmental wall on this project measured 40 sf; the City of San Diego requires a permit for walls exceeding 3 feet in exposed height, measured from top of footing. The three pergola post footings poured here were included in the existing pergola scope. Low-voltage landscape lighting under 30 volts falls under and does not require a separate electrical permit.

How do I maintain interlocking pavers around a pool?

Pavers around a pool need periodic joint sand replenishment, especially in splash zones. NextGel polymeric sand is water-activated and resists erosion better than dry-sweep sand, but heavy pool splash can loosen it over time. Rinse the surface regularly to prevent algae buildup in shaded areas. If a paver settles or cracks, individual units lift out and reset without disturbing the surrounding field, which is a practical advantage over a poured slab.

How long does a paver patio and pool deck replacement take in El Cajon?

This project ran about 7 weeks from pre-walk through final closeout. Demo and base prep took the first few days of field work. Paver installation covered roughly 5 days in the middle. A supplier delay on custom bullnose cap pieces added a short pause, and one rain day pushed the finish by a day. Most pool deck and patio paver projects of this size in El Cajon take 4 to 7 weeks including coordination time.

What pavers work well for a pool deck in a warm climate like El Cajon?

Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers were used on this project. At 60mm thick they handle foot traffic and pool-edge moisture well. The modular format allows tight cuts around pool handrails, pergola posts, and spa surrounds. Tan polymeric sand (NextGel) was used to lock joints and resist wash-out from pool splash. The cream, brown, and charcoal color mix stays readable in full sun without showing heat bleaching.

Can a retaining wall be added during a paver pool deck project?

Yes. On this El Cajon project, a 40 sf segmental retaining wall was built alongside the paver installation to contain the planting bed adjacent to the patio. Custom Pacific Clay iron spot bullnose caps finished the top course. Coordinating the wall and paver work in a single project avoids double site setup costs and lets the crew set consistent grades across both surfaces.

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Your Project Manager

Patrick Diehl

Patrick Diehl

Born and raised in San Diego, Patrick has managed residential, commercial, and high-rise builds, with a specialty in hardscape. A licensed real-estate agent and certified home inspector, he's committed to delivering every project with quality, compliance, and on-time results.

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