Backyard Reinvented in 4S Ranch, San Diego
Overview
A dated backyard in 4S Ranch was completely overhauled with new interlocking pavers, artificial turf, a segmental retaining wall, and a built-in fireplace and pizza oven combo. The project also added a full drainage system to handle water runoff. The result is a functional, low-maintenance outdoor living space centered on year-round entertaining.
Quick Facts
City San Diego
Neighborhood Rancho Bernardo / 4S Ranch
Constraints/Challenges HOA-restricted community requiring coordinated delivery sequencing and limited staging access; existing concrete slab demolition across a pool deck area with a covered pool requiring protection; pre-existing hairline cracks on the service walk documented prior to demo; slope behind the new retaining wall required filter fabric, gravel backfill, and a 130 lf French drain to manage subsurface water.
Goals The homeowners wanted to replace an aging concrete patio and worn backyard with a durable, low-maintenance outdoor living space they could use year-round. A built-in fireplace and pizza oven were central to the vision, along with lush-looking turf around the pool area and better drainage across the yard.
Scope 1,180 sf ORCO Villa Express pavers, 1,687 sf SiteOne fescue synthetic turf, 256 sf RCP Stonegate Contemporary retaining wall, 5 Angelus stone pillars, built-in Tandem Country Manor fireplace with wood-burning pizza oven, 130 lf French drain behind wall, 300 lf SDR35 drainline, 5 brass drain caps, drip irrigation, demo of existing pergola and concrete
Style Traditional
Timeline About 10 weeks
Price Range $97k–$120k
The Challenge
- The existing concrete patio and pool deck had deteriorated to the point where the backyard felt more like a construction site than a place to relax or entertain.
- Water runoff along the slope behind the yard had no managed path, leaving the area prone to erosion and moisture buildup against the fence and structure.
- The old pergola and BBQ consumed space without delivering a usable outdoor kitchen or gathering focal point, leaving the backyard without a real entertainment anchor.
How Install It Direct Helped
Market Context
Neighborhood Context
The Plan
Layout centered on a large ORCO Villa Express paver field covering ~1,180 sf across the patio and pool deck surround, with paver stepping stones integrated into the turf zones for circulation.
RCP Stonegate Contemporary segmental retaining wall (256 sf face area) installed along the slope, capped with Country Manor Square/Jumbo wall caps and anchored by five Angelus stone pillars to define the space and support grade change.
French drain system integrated directly behind the retaining wall: 130 lf of 4-inch triple-wall perforated pipe in a gravel-packed (256 sf) filter fabric envelope, tying into 300 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline routed to five brass 5-inch square drain caps — all sloped per CRC R401.3.
SiteOne fescue synthetic turf (1,687 sf) installed with Imperial Camofill antimicrobial infill around the pool perimeter and adjacent lawn areas, providing a clean, pet-friendly surface that requires no irrigation.
Tandem Country Manor fireplace kit with integrated wood-burning pizza oven positioned as the entertainment focal point; 90 lf of 1-inch gas line trenched and connected at two points (meter and fire feature) with two 3/4-inch gas sweeps and manual shutoff per CPC Chapter 12.
Two drip irrigation valves installed with Schedule 40 PVC laterals, pressure regulators, and drip emitters to serve planting areas; 50/50 amended topsoil added to planting zones to support establishment.
The Build
Work began with demolition of the existing concrete patio, pool deck sections, a 405 sf wood pergola, and an existing BBQ structure. Broken concrete and rubble were removed by haul-away over multiple loads. Jackhammering and saw-cutting were required to break up the slab, with the pool kept covered and protected throughout. This phase ran longer than planned due to equipment and scheduling factors and extended into early weeks of the project.
Following demo, the subgrade was excavated an additional 8 inches across 640 sf to achieve design grades. Crew spread, compacted, and screeded aggregate base material across the patio footprint, establishing proper drainage slopes away from the structure before bedding sand was placed.
The RCP Stonegate Contemporary retaining wall was constructed course by course along the slope, with filter fabric placed behind, 6-inch-wide gravel backfill packed for the full wall height (256 sf), and 130 lf of perforated French drain pipe installed at the base. Five Angelus stone pillars were built simultaneously. The 300 lf SDR35 drainline and five brass drain caps were installed and connected to establish the full surface drainage network.
ORCO Villa Express pavers were installed across the 1,180 sf patio and pool deck area on the prepared sand bed. Bond beam edges (10 units) and 15 lf of saw-cut concrete transition were completed. Joints were filled with NextGel Tan polymeric sand and the entire surface was sealed with Techniseal JSW water-based wet-look joint-stabilizing sealant.
The Tandem Country Manor fireplace kit was assembled and the wood-burning pizza oven insert was set into the segmental block surround. The exterior face of the outdoor kitchen island was finished with cement render. The 1-inch gas line was trenched 18 inches deep with tracer tape, connected at the meter and at the fire feature with two gas sweeps, and a manual shutoff valve was installed near the feature.
SiteOne fescue synthetic turf rolls were cut and seamed across the 1,687 sf lawn and pool surround areas, secured with nails and weighted during fitting. Imperial Camofill antimicrobial infill was spread and brushed in. Two drip irrigation valves were installed in the planting beds. Amended topsoil was placed in planting zones. A final cleanup and blower pass completed the punchlist, with a sunset photo session coordinated at the client's request to capture the finished lighting and fire feature.
The Result
Backyard installation showing synthetic turf with rectangular interlocking paver stepping pads leading to a segmental retaining wall that incorporates an outdoor fireplace and pizza oven. Integrated seating wall and a sofa facing the feature indicate a completed patio and landscape installation.
Finished backyard outdoor living area featuring a paver patio with a multi-functional segmental block wall that houses a built-in fireplace/pizza oven and firewood storage bays. Artificial turf borders the patio and planted beds and sectional seating complete the completed landscape.
Completed masonry outdoor kitchen and fireplace assembly built from segmental concrete pavers with integrated wood storage bays. A paved paver patio sits in the foreground with narrow artificial turf strips along the base and a vinyl fence and trees in the background.
Finished interlocking paver patio adjacent to a residential pool with artificial turf and integrated paver stepping stones. Clean joints and a finished appearance indicate a completed exterior hardscape and turf installation with no equipment on site.
Completed outdoor installation showing an interlocking paver patio abutting artificial turf with a pool deck visible at the top of the image. A recessed rectangular paver access/insert is set into the turf and a soldier-course style border separates the turf and pavers; joints look clean and installation appears finished.
Investment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Projects of this scope in 4S Ranch and the broader 92127 area typically range from $97,000 to $120,000 when they include a full paver patio (around 1,000 to 1,200 sf), synthetic turf across a pool surround and lawn area, a segmental retaining wall, and a comprehensive drainage system. The largest cost drivers are the fire feature assembly, square footage of hardscape, and the drainage engineering required on sloped lots. Smaller projects with just pavers and turf can come in significantly lower; larger custom installations with built-in outdoor kitchens, multiple walls, or extensive grading will push higher.
This project in 4S Ranch took approximately 10 weeks from the start of demolition through final punchlist. That timeline included demo of a concrete patio, pool deck, and existing pergola; grading and base preparation; retaining wall and drainage construction; paver installation and sealing; fireplace and pizza oven assembly; and synthetic turf installation. Projects with straightforward access and no HOA delivery constraints can move faster. Expect 6 to 12 weeks for a full-scope backyard transformation of this complexity.
No. California Civil Code Section 4735 makes HOA provisions that prohibit artificial turf void and unenforceable. Your HOA may set reasonable quality and appearance standards, such as pile height or color requirements, but cannot effectively ban synthetic turf. The SiteOne fescue turf installed at this 4S Ranch property is a good example of a product that meets both functional and aesthetic expectations. If you receive pushback from your HOA, cite Civil Code 4735 and consult with your contractor.
Yes. Installing a new gas line to any outdoor fire feature in San Diego requires a Simple (No-Plan) MEP permit. The gas piping must be trenched at a minimum of 18 inches deep, include continuous copper tracer wire and yellow warning tape, and terminate at a manual shutoff valve installed near the feature. A licensed C-36 plumbing contractor must perform this work. On this project, 90 linear feet of 1-inch gas line was run from the meter to the Country Manor fireplace and pizza oven, with two gas sweeps and connections at each end, all completed under permit requirements.
ORCO Villa Express is an interlocking concrete paver product manufactured by ORCO Block, a California-based supplier. It is well suited for residential patios and pool decks in Southern California because it offers good dimensional consistency, is locally available, and holds up well to UV exposure and foot traffic. On this 4S Ranch project, 1,180 sf of Villa Express pavers were installed and sealed with Techniseal JSW wet-look joint-stabilizing sealant, which locks the polymeric sand joints and adds a low-gloss finish that enhances the stone tones. For pool-adjacent use, sealed pavers reduce surface porosity and make cleaning easier.
On sloped lots, drainage must be engineered so water moves away from the structure and does not pool behind retaining walls. On this 4S Ranch project, a 130-linear-foot French drain using 4-inch triple-wall perforated pipe was installed directly behind the new RCP Stonegate retaining wall, surrounded by gravel backfill and filter fabric. That system connects to 300 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline that carries water to five brass drain caps positioned across the patio. The paver surface itself is sloped per CRC R401.3, which requires a minimum of 6 inches of fall within the first 10 feet away from the foundation. This layered approach handles both subsurface seepage behind the wall and surface runoff from rain events.
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
Patrick Diehl
Install It Direct is a San Diego design-build contractor specializing in residential outdoor living spaces. The team manages every phase in-house, from initial design through final seal and punchlist, with dedicated project management and full documentation throughout the build.
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