Eastlake Paver Patio, Walls & Landscape, Chula Vista

Eastlake Paver Patio, Walls & Landscape, Chula Vista

This finished project was a $84k-$103k build.

Project Snapshot

Location Eastlake, Chula Vista (91914)
Style Transitional
Timeline About 11 weeks
Price Range $84k-$103k

– Pavers: ORCO Holland 4×8 interlocking concrete pavers, 1,835 sf installed; NextGel polymeric sand (tan) applied to all joints
– Walls: ORCO AB Country Courtyard Collection (Dublin, York, or Corner block), 80 sf; 45 AB capstones; 6 wall post caps; 28 lf x 12×12-inch poured concrete wall footing
– Steps: 4 lf bullnose tread/riser units at front entry
– Base: Crushed angular aggregate base per ICPI Tech Spec; bedding sand screeded to 1-inch depth; subgrade compacted per ASTM D 698 Standard Proctor
– Irrigation: Hunter Pro-C 4-station modular outdoor controller; 1 PCM-300 3-station expansion module; 7 drip valve zones with pressure regulators, up to 40 lf Schedule-40 3/4-inch PVC per zone, 100 lf drip line per zone, up to 15 emitters per zone
– Plants: 40 one-gallon, 96 five-gallon, 2 fifteen-gallon, 2 twenty-four-inch-box (species not documented); 3 flats of 4-inch pots
– Mulch: 2,000 sf bark mulch (non-dyed, Forest Floor, 2-3 inches thick); planting soil (2 yards)
– Lighting: 1 Pro-Trade TR1 300W stainless steel transformer; 13 Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights (aluminum bronze, 2.5W, 2700K LED); 13 Pro-Trade BUL1 uplights (aluminum bronze, 3W, 2700K, 38-degree LED); 1 smart socket timer; 500 lf 12/2 low-voltage wire

– 100 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drainline installed; approximately 80 lf was added in the field after the existing system was found damaged and set too high – 10 downspout connections with plastic caps or square PVC fittings (3-inch or 4-inch) – All hardscape graded : surface water directed away from the foundation, with a minimum 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet

Total build duration: approximately 11 weeks from demolition start to final punchlist completion. Phase breakdown: demo and site prep (Week 1); drainage and footing work (Weeks 1-2); base prep and paver delivery (Weeks 2-4); paver and wall installation (Weeks 3-7); irrigation, planting, and mulch (Weeks 6-9); lighting, joint sand, and punchlist (Weeks 9-11). Original schedule was approximately 4 weeks; a Bobcat breakdown, a wrong-product paver delivery that required a refused shipment and rescheduled delivery, and the 80-lf drainage addition each contributed to the extension.

Project Story

Overview

A Chula Vista homeowner in Eastlake replaced an aging concrete driveway and bare yard with 1,835 sf of interlocking pavers, a pergola-covered patio, segmental block walls, a curved front-yard patio, and a full drip irrigation system. Planting beds along the new hardscape received 140-plus plants and bark mulch. Thirteen path lights and 13 uplights now illuminate the property at night.

Install-It-Direct delivered a fully coordinated front-to-back transformation. The crews were professional, communication was excellent, and the outcome exceeded our expectations.

The Challenge

  • The front yard had no defined walkway or entry patio, leaving bare dirt and exposed concrete as the only path to the door.
  • Standing water drained incorrectly near the house foundation because the existing drain connections were damaged and set too high.
  • The backyard under the pergola had no finished surface, so the covered outdoor space could not be used for dining or gathering.

What Changed

The property went from unfinished concrete and bare dirt to 1,835 sf of ORCO Holland interlocking pavers connecting the driveway, front circular patio, curved walkways, and rear pergola patio in a single material. A seven-zone drip irrigation system feeds 140-plus plants in bark-mulched beds bordered by 80 sf of segmental block wall, and 26 low-voltage fixtures light the walkways and plantings after dark.

How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped

The homeowner had a functional pergola and a large lot, but no finished surfaces anywhere in the yard, just concrete, dirt, and a drainage system that didn't work. Install It Direct laid out a plan that covered the full property: a circular paver patio and curved walkway for the front, a large paver field under the covered pergola for the back, segmental block walls to define planting areas, and a drip irrigation system across seven zones to keep 140-plus new plants alive. When the field crew found the existing drainline was damaged and sitting too high, the team extended the system by approximately 80 linear feet to bring it up to grade and connect ten downspouts properly. Thirteen path lights now line the walkways and thirteen uplights accent the plantings, so the space works after dark.

Over 1,000 five-star reviews and 1,500+ San Diego homeowners served.

Design & Build

The Plan

  • ORCO Holland 4×8 pavers selected for both front and back to tie the property together with a single material running from driveway to rear patio

  • Circular front-yard patio with soldier-course border flowing into a curved walkway, connected to the existing entry steps with 4 lf of bullnose treads

  • Rear patio sized to fill the footprint under the existing pergola, with a contrasting soldier-course border and adjacent curved walkway leading to the back of the lot

  • ORCO AB Country Courtyard Collection segmental walls (80 sf) with 45 AB capstones and 6 post caps to border planting beds and define the edge between hardscape and landscape

  • Seven-zone Hunter Pro-C drip irrigation system with pressure regulators and up to 15 emitters per zone, feeding 140-plus plants installed in bark-mulched beds

  • Low-voltage lighting : 1 Pro-Trade 300W transformer, 13 PTH1 path lights along walkways, 13 BUL1 3W uplights on structures and plantings, all on a smart socket timer

See the 2D plan drawing
Project plan

The Build

Demo and Site Prep

Concrete driveway demolition started first, with a skid steer removing the slab. Root and debris haul-away required four large loads. Excavation under the pergola used temporary wood shoring to protect the existing structure while the base was dug out.

Drainage and Footing Work

After demo, the crew found the existing drainline damaged and too high. Approximately 80 extra linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 pipe was added to reach proper grade. Ten downspout connections were tied in. Wall footings (28 lf, 12x12 inches) were poured before block work began.

Base Preparation

Crusher-run base material was spread and compacted across the driveway, front circular patio, front walkway, rear patio, and rear walkway areas. Two ORCO paver deliveries supplied material to the site, with bedding sand screeded to a consistent 1-inch layer before any pavers were set.

Paver and Wall Installation

ORCO Holland 4x8 pavers went down starting with the rear covered patio, then the rear walkway, driveway, and front areas. Soldier-course borders defined curved edges throughout. The ORCO AB Country Courtyard block wall was built concurrently with paver work, capped with 45 AB capstones and post caps. Bullnose steps were built at the front entry.

Irrigation, Planting, and Mulch

Seven drip zones were installed using Hunter Pro-C and PCM-300 expansion module. Plants were delivered from Terra Bella and KRC Rock. The crew planted 40 one-gallon, 96 five-gallon, 2 fifteen-gallon, and 2 twenty-four-inch-box specimens, followed by 2,000 sf of bark mulch across all planting beds.

Lighting and final checks

Low-voltage wire was run from the Pro-Trade 300W transformer to 13 path lights and 13 uplights. NextGel polymeric sand was applied to all paver joints. A formal punchlist covering scratched or broken paver units and missing joint sand was verified complete before the install was marked finished.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in Chula Vista?

Toggle components on/off to estimate your project

Pavers & Hardscape (1,835 sf installed) $38,000 – $46,000
Walls & Steps (80 sf block wall, 4 lf bullnose steps) $7,500 – $9,000
Drainage & Irrigation (100 lf drain, 7 drip zones) $13,500 – $16,000
Landscaping & Mulch (140+ plants, 2,000 sf mulch) $13,500 – $16,000
Lighting (13 path lights, 13 uplights, transformer) $5,500 – $7,000
Demo & Site Work $10,500 – $12,500
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver patio installation cost in Eastlake, Chula Vista?

A full-property paver project in Eastlake runs roughly $84,000-$103,000 when it covers the driveway, front walkways, rear patio, block walls, drainage, irrigation, planting, and lighting. Paver-only work on a smaller footprint costs considerably less. The 1,835 sf of hardscape on this project accounted for approximately $40,000 of the total budget, with drainage, irrigation, and landscaping adding the rest.

How much maintenance do low-voltage path lights require in a Chula Vista yard?

Very little. The Pro-Trade PTH1 path lights and BUL1 uplights on this project use LED bulbs rated at 2.5W and 3W, so power draw is low and bulb life is long. The smart socket timer handles on/off automatically., the low-voltage system runs through a listed 300W transformer, so there is no high-voltage exposure at the fixtures. Annual checks involve cleaning lens covers, clearing mulch from around stakes, and confirming wire connections at the transformer.

Do I need a permit for a block retaining wall in Chula Vista?

In Chula Vista, the City of San Diego permit threshold of 3 feet (measured from top of footing to top of wall) is the general guide for when a permit is required. The segmental walls on this project were specified at 80 sf of wall face; permit requirements depend on the exposed height and whether surcharge loads like fences or slopes are present. Your contractor should confirm with the local building department based on the final design.

How long does a large paver and landscape project take in Chula Vista?

This project ran approximately 11 weeks from the first demolition day to final punchlist sign-off. The original schedule was about 4 weeks, but a Bobcat breakdown, a wrong-product delivery that had to be refused and rescheduled, and 80 extra feet of drainage work added time. Projects without those complications typically finish closer to the original estimate.

Do ORCO Holland pavers hold up well in Chula Vista's climate?

ORCO Holland 4x8 interlocking concrete pavers are a common choice in San Diego County because they resist UV fading, handle foot traffic and vehicle loads, and can be individually replaced if one unit cracks. This project used them across 1,835 sf from the driveway through the rear patio. NextGel polymeric sand was used to lock the joints and limit weed intrusion.

How does a 7-zone drip irrigation system work for a landscaped yard?

Each drip zone runs a separate group of plants through individual drip lines with pressure regulators and per-plant emitters. The Hunter Pro-C controller on this project manages seven zones, including a PCM-300 expansion module, allowing different watering schedules for different plant types. Each zone covers up to 40 lf of main PVC line, 100 lf of drip tubing, and up to 15 emitters, which is enough to serve several planting beds per zone.

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

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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