Finished residential entry/patio showing interlocking pavers laid in a rectangular pattern adjacent to a capped raised...

From the Front Door to the Pergola, One Paver

This finished project was a $22.5k-$25k build.

Project Gallery

Finished interlocking paver patio under a pergola adjacent to sliding glass doors. The installation includes a central...

The back patio under the pergola — paver field, central floor drain, sliding-door threshold.

Finished interlocking paver walkway beside a residential wall with a low stucco planter/retaining wall topped with stone...

Walkway and stucco-capped planter wall. The cap finish matches the house exterior on purpose.

Front entry landing and adjacent walkway paved with interlocking concrete pavers in a modular pattern. A central recessed...

Front-entry landing with a flush recessed drain grate — the start of the paver run from the street.

Project Snapshot

Location Discovery Hills, San Marcos (92078)

Style Transitional

Timeline About 9 build days

Price Range $22.5k-$25k

– Pavers: ORCO Villa Express interlocking concrete pavers, 994 sf installed
– Polymeric sand: NextGel 50 lb bags (Tan), swept across the paver field
– Planter/retaining walls: segmental block with stucco skim coat finish
– Drainage: 3-inch SDR35 drainline, 78 lf; 9 square PVC drain caps; 1 PVC pop-up emitter
– Lighting transformer: Pro-Trade TR1 150W stainless steel, 1 unit
– Step lights: Pro-Trade SL1 4.5-inch surface-mounted LED, 6 fixtures
– Low-voltage wire: 12/2, 200 lf (2 rolls)
– Conduit: 1-inch standard grey electrical conduit sleeve, 16 lf
– Smart socket timer: 1 unit
– Base, sand, and dump fees included in project scope

– 78 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline trenched and installed after demo – 9 square PVC drain caps set flush with finished paver grade – 1 PVC pop-up emitter as the discharge point – Patio sloped so surface water drains away from the home foundation (verify with your contractor for CRC R401.3 lot-drainage requirements applicable to your site) — CRC R401.3 calls for the ground to fall a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet from the foundation, or, where lot lines limit that drop, an approved alternative such as drains or swales – Drain system verified on site before paver base was placed

– About 9 working days on site, spread across roughly two calendar weeks
– Demo wrapped early in the first week
– Drainage installation followed demo directly
– Paver installation and lighting went in mid-project
– Wall stucco and polymeric sand completed at the end
– Final sign-off at project close

Project Story

Overview

994 sf of ORCO Villa Express interlocking paver ran from the front entry through narrow side yards to the pergola-shaded rear patio. 78 lf SDR35 drain. Six Pro-Trade SL1 LED step lights. Nine working days on site, across roughly two calendar weeks.

It's one paver from the front door all the way back to the pergola and that's what we wanted.

— Susan R., San Marcos

The Challenge

Water pooled on the existing concrete patio and along the side yards after rain, with no drain system to move it away from the foundation.
The concrete walkways were cracked and uneven, making the entry and side-yard path difficult and unappealing to use.
The old brick and tile sections at the entry had settled unevenly, leaving gaps and trip hazards that the homeowner had worked around for years.

What Changed

994 sf of ORCO Villa Express interlocking pavers replaced cracked reinforced concrete and deteriorating brick across the entry, side yards, and rear patio. A 78 lf SDR35 drain system now moves surface water away from the foundation, and six LED step lights on an automatic timer illuminate the walkways and entry at night.

How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped

Across multiple zones — front entry, narrow side yards, rear patio under the pergola — the brief was a complete hardscape overhaul under tight access and reinforced-concrete demo. The crew demolished 800 sf of wire-mesh concrete and 100 sf of brick and tile before a single paver went down. 78 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline with nine drain caps and a pop-up emitter was installed to route surface water away from the foundation. 994 sf of ORCO Villa Express paver was laid across all three zones, raised planter walls received a stucco skim coat, and six Pro-Trade SL1 LED step lights were wired through 16 lf of conduit. Thirty linear feet of sawcut separated old concrete from new paver zones cleanly before demo began.

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Before & After

Design & Build

The Plan

ORCO Villa Express interlocking pavers selected for the full 994 sf, covering front entry landing, side-yard walkways, and rear patio under the pergola.
Raised planter walls finished with a stucco skim coat to match the home exterior, providing defined garden borders along the entry and patio perimeter.
78 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline with 9 square drain caps and 1 PVC pop-up emitter routed to carry surface water from the rear patio away from the foundation.
16 lf of electrical conduit run beneath the paver field to serve the low-voltage lighting system, keeping wiring protected.
Six Pro-Trade SL1 4.5-inch surface-mounted LED step lights placed at grade transitions, powered by a 150W Pro-Trade TR1 stainless steel transformer with a smart socket timer.
30 lf of sawcut to cleanly separate the existing concrete from the new paver zones before demolition began.

See the 2D plan drawing

The Build

Demolition of an existing concrete walkway in a narrow side yard, showing broken concrete slabs and rubble along the path. A sledgehammer and adjacent brick boundary wall with succulents along the house indicate manual removal and preparation for follow-on work.

Demo and Haul-Off

The crew sawcut 30 lf of existing concrete at the transition lines, then demolished 800 sf of wire-mesh and rebar-reinforced concrete and 100 sf of brick and tile. Approximately 1.5 yards of soil were hauled off before drainage work began.

Drainage Installation

Immediately after demo, the crew trenched and installed 78 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline with 9 drain caps and a single PVC pop-up emitter. The project manager verified all drain locations and excavation depths on site before base prep began.

Base Preparation

Base material and sand were brought in. Excavation depths were verified with a tape measure at the paver edge and retaining wall face. A vibratory plate compactor was staged on site for subgrade compaction before bedding sand was screeded.

Paver Installation and Lighting

ORCO Villa Express pavers went down across all 994 sf, including the entry landing, side-yard corridors, and rear patio. Electrical conduit was set in the field before the paver layer was completed. Six Pro-Trade SL1 step lights were set at grade transitions and wired to the 150W transformer.

Walls, Stucco, and Polymeric Sand

Planter walls were built and received a fresh stucco skim coat. Polymeric sand was swept and set across the full paver field, and final sign-off followed shortly after.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in San Marcos?

Toggle components on/off to estimate your project

Pavers & Hardscape (994 sf installed) $16,500 – $18,500

Demo & Site Work (800 sf reinforced concrete + 100 sf brick/tile) $4,000 – $4,500

Drainage (78 lf SDR35 drainline, 9 caps, 1 pop-up) $1,000 – $1,000

Lighting (6 LED step lights, transformer, timer) $1,000 – $1,000

Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver patio installation cost in San Marcos?

A project like this one in Discovery Hills (92078) ran in the $22,500 to $25,000 range for 994 sf of interlocking pavers, reinforced concrete demo, a 78 lf drain system, planter walls, and six step lights. Simpler patio-only projects on flat, accessible lots will cost less. Access difficulty, existing concrete with rebar, and drainage add to the total.

Do I need a permit for a paver patio or retaining walls in San Marcos?

In the City of San Marcos, retaining walls taller than 3 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) generally require a building permit, and paver patios on their own typically do not. This project included planter walls; if any section exceeded the 3-foot threshold, a permit would have been required. Always confirm current thresholds with your local building department before starting. Verify current requirements with a licensed contractor or your local permit office.

Why is drainage important for a paver patio near the house?

Good drainage keeps surface water off the foundation. On this project, a 78 lf SDR35 drain system with nine drain caps and a pop-up emitter was installed under the patio before the first paver went down. Without it, water pools against the slab edge and can work into the foundation over time.

Do interlocking pavers require much maintenance?

Interlocking concrete pavers need very little upkeep. Occasional sweeping and re-sanding of joints every few years keeps them stable. The polymeric sand used here hardens to resist washout. If a paver is ever damaged, individual pieces can be lifted and replaced without disturbing the rest of the field.

How long does a 994 sf paver patio and walkway project take?

About nine working days on site, spread across roughly two calendar weeks. Scope here included demo of 800 sf of reinforced concrete and 100 sf of brick and tile, drainage trenching, base prep, paver installation across three zones, stucco wall finish, and low-voltage lighting.

Can step lights be installed in a paver patio?

Yes. On this project, six Pro-Trade SL1 LED step lights were set at grade transitions and wired through 16 lf of conduit run beneath the paver field. A 150W transformer with a smart timer controls the system automatically, so the path lights turn on at dusk without a wall switch.

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

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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