Backyard Reimagined, Encinitas
Overview
A dated Encinitas backyard got a complete overhaul with new interlocking pavers, an L-shaped outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, a gas fire pit, and low-maintenance artificial turf. Drainage was fully rerouted to protect the foundation. The finished space turned an underused yard into a functional outdoor living area.
Quick Facts
City Encinitas
Neighborhood Encinitas
Constraints/Challenges Backyard access required a 764 sf equipment path through the pool deck area. Underground utility conflicts — including existing drainage, gas lines, conduit, and irrigation — required resolution before base compaction could begin. An existing stacked-stone fireplace and concrete walls required full demolition and removal.
Goals The homeowner wanted to replace a worn concrete patio and bare lawn with a fully functional outdoor living space that included a built-in kitchen, gas fire feature, and low-maintenance turf. The goal was a backyard the family could actually use for entertaining and everyday outdoor living.
Scope 992 sf Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers, 528 sf Imperial Desert Rye 65 artificial turf, L-shaped outdoor kitchen with poured concrete countertop and Melville stacked stone veneer, gas fire feature with 28 lf gas line, 58 lf SDR35 drainline, 75 lf paver-on-edge mow strip, sod in turf transition zone, fireplace removal, and driveway edge paving
Style Traditional
Timeline About 7 weeks
Price Range $56k-$68k
The Challenge
- The existing concrete patio and overgrown backyard gave the family no usable space for cooking, gathering, or relaxing outdoors.
- Water pooled and drained improperly across the yard, leaving soggy areas after rain and creating a hazard near the home's foundation.
- The old fireplace and deteriorated concrete structures left the yard fragmented, making it feel cluttered and difficult to maintain.
How Install It Direct Helped
Market Context
Neighborhood Context
The Plan
Layout divided the backyard into three functional zones: a paver patio for dining and fire-pit gathering, an L-shaped outdoor kitchen station, and a turf lawn with a stepping-pad side-yard path.
Angelus Courtyard Combo (Standard) 60MM pavers were selected for their dimensional consistency and compatibility with the 75 lf paver-on-edge concrete mow strip used at turf transitions.
Imperial Desert Rye 65 artificial turf was chosen for its natural blade texture and durability in a family-use backyard; green silica sand infill was applied for blade support and heat management.
Drainage plan incorporated 58 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline connected with Oatey PVC primer and cement, 8 drain caps, and tie-ins directing water away from the foundation per CRC R401.3.
Gas line installation included 28 lf of 1-inch line trenched at 18-inch depth with tracer tape, two connections (meter and fire feature), and a sweep set — permitted through the City of San Diego as required under CPC Chapter 12.
A 30 sf reinforced concrete slab (minimum 3 inches thick with mesh) was poured under the outdoor kitchen island before the L-shaped CMU structure and Melville stacked stone veneer were built up and capped with poured concrete countertops.
Electrical conduit — 38 lf of 1-inch gray PVC sleeve trenched at 12-inch depth — was installed to rough in future lighting or appliance circuits across the patio.
The Build
Work began with removal of the existing stacked-stone fireplace and footing, demolition of approximately 38 sf of concrete wall, and 8 hours of additional demolition labor for roots, soil, and concrete. Approximately 2 yards of soil and 1.5 large loads of vegetation debris were hauled off site. Backyard and pool deck access path (764 sf) was cleared for equipment.
Underground conflicts were resolved early in the install window, including drainage routing, gas line permitting, conduit sleeve installation, and irrigation repairs. Twelve sprinkler heads were relocated and the irrigation system was tested and verified before base compaction resumed. Drainage videos confirmed flow direction away from the structure. Grading, base, and sand prep were verified by the project manager before paver installation began.
Approximately 992 sf of Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers were installed across the backyard patio, with wet cuts made on site for precise edge fitting. A 75 lf paver-on-edge mow strip set in concrete (with Weston Wall support) defined the boundary between the paver field and the turf zone. NextGel polymeric sand (gray) was applied to all joints.
The L-shaped outdoor kitchen base was constructed from CMU block on a 30 sf reinforced concrete slab. Melville stacked stone veneer was applied to the exterior faces. Formwork was built and the poured concrete countertop was cast in place, including four appliance cutouts. Gas line connections were completed to both the meter and the fire feature. Built-in appliances were installed after countertops cured.
Imperial Desert Rye 65 artificial turf (528 sf) was installed in the main backyard lawn area using the S-seam technique for invisible seam lines; green silica sand infill was distributed. A 354 sf sod zone in the turf transition area was prepared with soil amendments and installed. The side yard received artificial turf with rectangular concrete paver stepping pads set flush into the turf running from the house exit to the rear fence.
All drainage, irrigation, and gas systems were verified operational. Empty pallets and site materials were removed. An electrical issue near project completion was identified, IID's conduit scope was confirmed complete, and the final walk was coordinated around the client's schedule. The project channel was closed after final documentation with 127 total site photos archived.
The Result
Partial installation of interlocking pavers forming a narrow patio/walkway along a house exterior. Compacted gravel base and exposed soil remain in foreground while a wheelbarrow and hand tools sit on the installed pavers near a planting bed and fence.
Newly installed artificial turf in a residential backyard adjacent to a paved patio/walkway and planted beds. A segmental wall and wood fence form the rear boundary while covered planters or furniture and a child's toy sit on the paved area.
Narrow residential side yard cleared down to exposed soil with remaining landscape debris and torn fabric. The house exterior and wooden fence bound the area, which appears prepped for future grading or installation of pavers or artificial turf.
Completed artificial turf installation in a narrow side yard between a house and fence. The synthetic grass is uniformly installed with a stone edging along the fence and clean transitions to the house exterior.
Backyard view showing newly installed artificial turf flush with a paver patio and concrete edge restraint. A block privacy wall lines the side and plantings are visible at the far end; the turf installation appears finished with clean seams and consistent pile direction.
Newly installed artificial turf in a residential backyard adjacent to a paved patio/walkway and planted beds. A segmental wall and wood fence form the rear boundary while covered planters or furniture and a child's toy sit on the paved area.
Backyard shows a newly installed interlocking paver patio with bench seating and a small children's playhouse next to a segmental retaining/block wall. A built-in outdoor kitchen/counter is installed at one end and a compacted dirt planting strip with mature trees runs along the wall, indicating a finished patio area with minor planting remaining.
Residential outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel built-in grill set into a concrete countertop and concrete block veneer. Finished interlocking paver patio and a segmental retaining wall form the backyard hardscape, with under-counter refrigerator and storage drawers visible.
Completed artificial turf installation in a narrow side yard between a house and fence. The synthetic grass is uniformly installed with a stone edging along the fence and clean transitions to the house exterior.
Narrow side yard shows completed artificial turf with large square paver stepping pads running from a small interlocking paver patio adjacent to the house toward a wood privacy fence. Clean turf edges, compacted base and neat transitions between pavers and turf indicate a finished installation.
Narrow residential side yard showing a completed artificial turf installation with rectangular concrete paver stepping pads set into turf and a perimeter paver/stone border. The home's exterior wall and a wood fence flank the turf, indicating finished grading, edging, and cleanup.
Finished narrow side yard showing installed artificial turf with rectangular concrete stepping pads set flush in the turf and an adjacent paver patio/walkway. The paver surface transitions to the turf with clean edges next to the home's exterior and a wood fence enclosing the space.
Artificial turf installed in a narrow side yard between a wood fence and the house siding. The turf looks freshly installed with consistent pile height and neat edge restraint, and no equipment or materials are present, suggesting the install is complete.
Backyard shows newly installed artificial turf in the foreground with a paved patio and segmental retaining wall along the left and rear fence. Two covered items and multiple planters sit on the paver area, indicating a finished landscape installation ready for final inspection.
Finished interlocking paver patio with a square raised fire pit filled with lava rock at the center. Covered patio furniture surrounds the fire pit, adjacent to a segmental block retaining wall and the house exterior with landscaping and a child's playhouse in the background.
A finished residential backyard showing newly installed artificial turf bordered by a paved patio slab and a low segmental retaining wall. The turf has a clean paver/concrete edge against the house and an adjacent planting bed, with no crew or active equipment present, indicating the installation is complete.
Completed outdoor kitchen island with a gray concrete countertop and block veneer housing a built-in stainless steel grill and undercounter refrigerator. Gray paver patio installed in front with a block retaining/yard wall and landscaping visible in the background.
Narrow residential side yard showing newly installed artificial turf bordered by metal edging leading to a flagstone/paver patio next to the house. A stacked stone planter/wall and landscaping remain in place with outdoor seating and umbrella on the patio, indicating a finished exterior living area.
Completed residential backyard patio featuring natural stone flagstone pavers and a built-in stacked-stone fireplace under a covered patio. Artificial turf and a playhouse sit beyond the patio, with outdoor seating, planters, and finished landscaping visible.
Investment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Projects like this one in Encinitas — combining roughly 1,000 sf of interlocking pavers, an L-shaped outdoor kitchen with a poured concrete countertop and built-in grill, a gas fire feature, and artificial turf — typically fall in the $56,000 to $68,000 range. Key cost drivers include the kitchen's structural complexity (CMU block base, stacked stone veneer, appliance count), drainage scope, and whether underground utility work like gas line permitting and irrigation relocation is required. Simpler paver-only backyards in Encinitas without a kitchen generally start lower.
This Encinitas project ran approximately 7 weeks from demolition start to final closeout. That timeline included fireplace removal, concrete demolition, underground utility and drainage work, full paver installation, an L-shaped outdoor kitchen build with poured countertops, and artificial turf installation across the main lawn and side yard. Projects with extensive underground work — gas lines, drainlines, irrigation relocation — typically add time compared to paver-only installs. Concrete countertop pours also require curing time before forms come off and appliances are set.
California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf outright. Any CC&R provision that effectively prohibits synthetic grass is void and unenforceable under state law. HOAs can still impose reasonable quality and appearance standards — such as pile height, color, and seam quality — but cannot use those standards to block installation entirely. The City of San Diego has not enacted a ban on synthetic turf as of 2026. If your HOA raises concerns, the state law is clear: they can regulate how the turf looks, but not whether you can install it.
Yes. Installing a new underground gas line to serve a fire feature or outdoor kitchen requires a permit in San Diego under California Plumbing Code Chapter 12. For this Encinitas project, gas line permitting was verified as a completed checklist item before underground work was locked in. The gas line was trenched at 18-inch depth with tracer tape, and two connections were made — one at the meter and one at the fire feature. A Dig Alert confirmation was also completed before any underground trenching began. Attempting to run gas piping without a permit is a code violation and creates liability if the work is not pressure-tested and inspected.
For this Encinitas backyard, 58 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline was installed and connected at 8 collection points, with all connections made using Oatey PVC primer and cement. The system was verified by video to confirm water flows away from the structure. Per California Residential Code R401.3, hardscape surfaces within 10 feet of the foundation must be graded to direct drainage away from the building — a minimum 6-inch drop within the first 10 feet. Where lot conditions limit that slope, drains and swales must compensate. Underground utility conflicts — including an existing irrigation system — were resolved before base compaction, and 12 sprinkler heads were relocated and tested before pavers were set.
Imperial Desert Rye 65 is a synthetic turf product selected for this Encinitas project for its natural-looking blade texture and durability under regular family use. The "65" designation refers to the blade pile height, which gives it a lush, full appearance without excessive height. Green silica sand infill was applied across the 528 sf installation to support the blades upright and help manage surface heat. The S-seam technique was used during installation to minimize visible seam lines across the backyard. For the side yard, rectangular concrete stepping pads were set flush into the turf to handle foot traffic on the main path without wearing down the turf surface.
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
Install It Direct is a San Diego design-build contractor specializing in residential outdoor living spaces including pavers, artificial turf, outdoor kitchens, fire features, and drainage. Projects are managed by experienced construction managers who coordinate all trades, permits, and inspections through a documented process from demo to closeout.
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