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Completed paver patio and adjacent artificial turf in a residential backyard, featuring a large bowl-style fire pit...

Bostonia Backyard Rebuilt in Pavers and Turf, El Cajon

This finished project was a $105k–$128k build.

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Residential backyard showing a newly installed artificial turf lawn with a paver border and adjacent tiled patio....
Backyard showing newly installed artificial turf abutting an interlocking paver patio and walkway, with a hot tub...
Backyard view of a newly installed artificial turf lawn with clean edge restraint and a mulch planting bed along a white...
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Project Snapshot

Location Bostonia, El Cajon (92021)
Style Modern
Timeline About 24 weeks
Price Range $105k–$128k

Pavers: Belgard Dimensions 18 (3-piece set), 1,833 sf, custom Montecito color upgrade; NextGel Ivory polymeric sand applied at joint completion
Walls: Belgard Melville Wall (200 sf face area, premium colors); Melville Cap in Graphite/Linen (60 lf); 97 lf of 12×12-inch concrete wall footing
Steps/Coping: Belgard Laguna Coping 60MM Tan (24 lf)
Turf: Imperial Desert Rye Premium (1,765 sf); Camofill antimicrobial/pet infill (53 bags); weed cloth, seam tape, SGW glue, staples, and 5-inch nails
Concrete: 800-sf sport court slab with custom mold; 8 stepping stones set in concrete
Conduit: 60 lf of 1-inch gray conduit at 18-inch depth; 60 lf water line with spigot
Base note: Subgrade compacted per ICPI specifications using crushed angular aggregate before bedding sand was screeded.

Drain system: 300 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line; 19 plastic drain caps/downspout connections; 19 PVC wyes and tees; 5 PVC elbows (45-degree and 90-degree); PVC glue and primer The hardscape was graded to fall away from the foundation, which requires a minimum 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet from the foundation. An additional 120-lf drain line and pop-up drain were added by change order during early install to address two low spots identified after initial base grading.

Fixtures: 24 Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights, 15-inch riser, aluminum bronze finish, 2.5W 2700K LED Transformer: 1 Pro-Trade 300W stainless steel TR1 transformer Control: 1 smart socket timer Wiring: 1 roll (500 lf) 12/2 low-voltage cable System installed requirements for low-voltage lighting operating at 30 volts or less.

Pre-construction coordination began approximately 3 weeks before demo. Demo started on day 1 of the build phase. Original estimated build duration was about 3 weeks. Weather delays, a gas line repair, subcontractor scheduling, and punch list work extended the total build to approximately 24 weeks from demo start to project close. A formal on-site inspection was conducted near close, followed by written documentation of all remaining items.

Project Story

Overview

An El Cajon homeowner in the Bostonia area replaced a drought-stressed lawn and bare dirt backyard with 1,833 square feet of interlocking pavers and 1,765 square feet of artificial turf. The project added Belgard segmental walls, a 300-linear-foot drainage network, 24 path lights, and a gas fire feature across the full lot.

The Challenge

  • Multiple low spots across the backyard pooled after rain, leaving the yard unusable for days, the area now drained by this scope's grade work.
  • The existing lawn covering the footprint of 1,765 sf of Imperial Desert Rye was patchy, drought-stressed, and largely dead.
  • No lighting and no defined patio surface meant no usable evening space before the 1,833 sf Belgard Dimensions 18 patio went in.

What Changed

Where a patchy, drought-stressed lawn once covered most of the lot, 1,833 square feet of Belgard Dimensions 18 pavers and 1,765 square feet of Imperial Desert Rye turf now cover the entire backyard and driveway approach. A 300-linear-foot drain network with 19 collection points replaced the standing water problem, and 24 path lights bring the space into use after dark.

How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped

The homeowner had a large El Cajon backyard that had become a patchwork of dead grass, bare dirt, and standing water, with no usable outdoor living area. Install It Direct replaced the entire surface with 1,833 square feet of Belgard Dimensions 18 pavers in a custom Montecito color, framed by Melville segmental walls, and filled the turf zones with 1,765 square feet of Imperial Desert Rye. A 300-linear-foot SDR35 drain network with 19 collection points was installed to route surface water away from the foundation and eliminate the pooling problem. When the pergola area is lit at dusk by 24 Pro-Trade path lights and the gas fire feature is running, the yard that was once an overgrown mess functions as a full outdoor room.

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Backyard showing newly installed artificial turf abutting an interlocking paver patio and walkway, with a hot tub...

Design & Build

The Plan

  • Layout: paver field covering 1,833 sf across patio, covered pergola area, driveway approach, and walkways, with two turf infill zones framed by soldier-course paver borders

  • Pavers: Belgard Dimensions 18 (3-piece set) in custom Montecito color with contrasting soldier-course banding; Laguna Coping in Tan used for 24 lf of step nosing

  • Walls: Belgard Melville segmental retaining wall (200 sf face, 97 lf concrete footing) with Melville Cap in Graphite/Linen finish (60 lf); walls create raised planting bed zones

  • Drainage: 300 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line with 19 plastic drain caps, wyes, tees, and elbows tied to surface collection points; graded to direct flow away from the structure

  • Lighting: 24 Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights (15-in. riser, aluminum bronze, 2.5W 2700K LED) on a 300W Pro-Trade TR1 transformer with a smart socket timer; wired with 12/2 low-voltage cable

  • Gas: 30 lf of 1-inch gas line with 18-inch trench, tracer tape, and two gas line sweeps, installed by a licensed plumber before paver base work began

See the 2D plan drawing
Project plan

The Build

Demo and Site Prep

Demo began with removal of existing lawn, soil, and surface material across the backyard. A skid steer established rough grades. A damaged gas line found during this phase was repaired by a plumbing subcontractor before any base work resumed. Demo labor totaled approximately 4 hours of focused demolition plus backyard access work across 1,833 sf.

Gas Line and Conduit

The licensed plumber trenched and installed 30 lf of 1-inch gas line with tracer tape and sweep fittings. Concurrently, 60 lf of 1-inch gray conduit was trenched at 18-inch depth for future electrical runs, and a 60-lf water line with spigot was run.

Base Preparation and Drainage

Aggregate base was spread and compacted across the full paver footprint. The 300-lf drain network was installed simultaneously, with 19 collection points, branching wyes and tees, and 5 directional elbows. Concrete footings (12x12 inch, 97 lf) were poured for the Melville wall sections.

Concrete and Sport Court

An 800-sf concrete slab was poured for the multi-use sport court area under the covered patio. Concrete delivery and a custom mold setup were part of this phase.

Paver and Wall Installation

Belgard Dimensions 18 pavers in Montecito color were set across the full 1,833-sf field with soldier-course borders. Melville segmental wall blocks were installed over the concrete footings, capped with 60 lf of Melville Cap. Eight stepping stones were set in concrete, and 24 lf of Laguna Coping formed the step nosings. NextGel Ivory polymeric sand was applied to lock joints.

Turf, Lighting, and final checks

Imperial Desert Rye turf (1,765 sf) was installed in the two infill zones with Camofill infill, seam tape, and weed cloth underneath. The 24 Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights were set and wired to the 300W transformer. Pooling spots identified during inspections were re-graded and repaired. A final on-site inspection confirmed drainage function and closeout items.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in El Cajon?

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Pavers & Hardscape (1,833 sf paver field, sport court, stepping stones, conduit) $37,000 – $45,000
Artificial Turf & Landscaping (1,765 sf Imperial Desert Rye, infill, accessories) $11,500 – $14,000
Walls & Steps (Belgard Melville wall, cap, footing, Laguna Coping steps) $8,500 – $10,500
Drainage (300 lf SDR35 drain line, 19 collection points, fittings) $3,500 – $4,000
Lighting (24 path lights, transformer, wiring, timer) $2,000 – $2,500
Gas Fire Feature (30 lf gas line, sweeps, trench) $1,000 – $1,500
Demo, Site Work & Delivery $1,000 – $1,500
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver patio installation cost in El Cajon?

A paver patio in El Cajon with a similar scope, 1,800-plus square feet of Belgard Dimensions 18 pavers, segmental walls, turf infill, drainage, and lighting, typically falls in the $116k to $128k range. Smaller patio-only projects in the area run significantly less; cost drivers are total square footage, drainage requirements, and paver color upgrades.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in El Cajon or San Diego County?

In the City of San Diego, a building permit is required for any retaining wall exceeding 3 feet in height measured from the top of the footing. If a wall supports a surcharge load such as a driveway or fence, or if tiered walls total more than 6 feet, a permit is also required regardless of individual wall height. This project included a Belgard Melville segmental wall; specific permit requirements were coordinated per site conditions.

Can my HOA prohibit artificial turf in California?

No. California Civil Code Section 4735 makes HOA provisions that prohibit or effectively prohibit artificial turf void and unenforceable. An HOA may set reasonable quality standards such as pile height or color, but it cannot ban synthetic turf outright. As of 2026, the City of El Cajon has not enacted any municipal restriction on artificial turf.

Does artificial turf require maintenance in El Cajon?

Imperial Desert Rye turf needs minimal upkeep compared to a natural lawn. Rinse it down monthly, remove debris with a leaf blower, and brush the fibers upright once or twice a year. The Camofill antimicrobial infill used on this project controls odors without requiring replacement. No irrigation, no mowing, and no re-seeding.

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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