Gray paver patio with a small artificial turf section and wrought-iron railing overlooking a valley and rocky hills in Esc...

A Hillside Patio with a Fire Feature in Escondido

Project Snapshot

Location Escondido (92026)
Style Modern
Timeline About 12 build days
Price Range $32.5k-$37.5k

Pavers: Angelus Courtyard Combo (Standard) 60MM, 752 sf, modular ashlar pattern with dark soldier-course border
Polymeric Sand: NextGel 50lb bags (Gray), quantity matched to 752 sf
Artificial Turf: Imperial Coronado Premium, 692 sf
Turf Infill: Imperial Camofill antimicrobial/pet infill, 29 bags (50 lb each)
Turf Nails: SGW 5-inch 40D / 6-inch 60D bright common, one 50-lb box
Wall: Paver-on-edge set in concrete with Weston Wall, 106 lf
Steps: Bullnose build with riser and tread, 6 lf
Conduit Sleeve: 1-inch standard grey electrical conduit sleeve (added via scope adjustment)
Base compaction targets followed ICPI standards with Class II road base and a 1-inch screeded sand bed.

100 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline installed at 12-inch depth with six plastic drain caps. Subgrade was graded to direct surface water away from the house foundation, which requires a minimum 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet adjacent to the structure. PVC connections were inspected and confirmed glued before backfill.

One gas line connection (meter/stub-out to fire feature) with 19 linear feet of trenching and one 3/4-inch gas sweep were included. Gas line work requires a licensed contractor and local permit per California Plumbing Code Chapter 12. Homeowners should confirm permit status for the gas connection with the sales rep.

Total project duration: approximately 6 weeks from kick-off to close-out. Demolition began roughly four weeks in, paver installation followed within days, and turf was installed approximately one week later. Polymeric sand was delayed by two rain events and completed under dry conditions. Final punch-list and close-out followed within days of turf completion.

Project Story

Overview

Demolished 300 sf of aging concrete and replaced it with 752 sf of Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers and 692 sf of Imperial Coronado Premium turf in a single Escondido backyard. A 100 lf SDR35 drain line with six drain caps, a gas line for a future fire feature, and a 106 lf rustic paver-on-edge wall finished the conversion from patchy grass to usable outdoor living space.

We left the gas line ready for a fire feature and we end up out there even without it.
— Michael O., Escondido

The Challenge

  • Patchy, bare-dirt grass across the 692 sf now under Imperial Coronado Premium turf, leaving the yard unusable most of the year.
  • The aging concrete patio had no SDR35 drainage — water sat against the foundation after rain until 100 lf of drain line and 6 drain caps were added.
  • The side yard was overgrown grass and irregular stepping stones with no defined walkway tying front to back of the property.

What Changed

The backyard went from patchy grass and broken concrete to 752 square feet of interlocking pavers with a defined border, 692 square feet of artificial turf, and a connected fire feature. A 100-linear-foot drainage system now moves surface water away from the foundation, and a clean paver walkway replaces the overgrown side-yard path.
How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped
Install It Direct demolished 300 square feet of old concrete, graded the subbase, and installed 100 linear feet of SDR35 drainline with six drain caps to route storm water away from the foundation before any surface materials went down. The crew then laid 752 square feet of Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers in a modular ashlar pattern with a contrasting dark soldier-course border, and set 692 square feet of Imperial Coronado Premium turf as a rectangular island inside the paver field. A gas line connection and 19 linear feet of trenching brought a 3/4-inch gas sweep to where the family wanted the fire feature; 106 linear feet of paver-on-edge wall set in concrete defined the perimeter, with 6 linear feet of bullnose steps tying the grade changes together. The side passage finished with the same paver field, so the run from front to back is unbroken.

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Design & Build

The Plan

  • Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers in a modular ashlar pattern with a contrasting dark soldier-course border running the patio perimeter and side-yard walkways

  • Imperial Coronado Premium artificial turf inset as a rectangular island within the paver field, secured with 5-inch and 6-inch nails and filled with Imperial Camofill antimicrobial infill

  • 100 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline with six drain caps positioned to carry surface water away from the foundation, meeting the requirement for drainage away from structure

  • 19 linear feet of 12-inch-deep trenching for gas line scope, including one 3/4-inch gas sweep, connecting the fire feature to the existing gas supply

  • 106 linear feet of paver-on-edge set in concrete with Weston Wall to create a low rustic perimeter wall

  • 6 linear feet of bullnose steps with riser and tread to transition between grade changes at the patio

See the 2D plan drawing
Project plan

The Build

Demo and Access

The crew broke out and hauled 300 square feet of existing concrete patio. Side-yard and backyard access staging covered 1,144 square feet. A porta-potty was set on site at site setup.

Grading and Drainage

Subgrade was excavated and compacted across the patio footprint. Nineteen linear feet of 12-inch-deep trenching was completed for the gas line. One hundred linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline was installed with six drain caps, and PVC connections were verified and glued before backfilling.

Base Preparation

Class II road base was spread and compacted to grade with screed rails and grade stakes set to control finished elevations. Drain pipe and conduit sleeve positions were confirmed before the sand bed was screeded.

Paver Installation

Angelus Courtyard Combo 60MM pavers were laid starting from the back of the house and working outward in an ashlar pattern. The soldier-course border was cut and set along all edges. The paver-on-edge rustic wall (106 lf) and bullnose steps (6 lf) were built concurrently. Polymeric sand application was held through two rain events and completed under dry conditions.

Turf and Fire Feature

Imperial Coronado Premium turf was cut and installed into the prepared center island using the zig-zag seam technique. Camofill antimicrobial infill was spread and broomed in. The gas line connection and sweep were completed and inspected before final close-out.

Investment

What would a similar project cost in Escondido?

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Pavers & Hardscape (752 sf installed) $11,500 – $13,500
Artificial Turf (692 sf Imperial Coronado Premium) $8,000 – $9,000
Demo & Site Work (300 sf concrete, access staging) $4,000 – $4,500
Drainage (100 lf SDR35, 6 drain caps) $3,500 – $4,000
Walls, Steps & Border (106 lf paver-on-edge, 6 lf bullnose) $3,500 – $4,000
Fire Feature & Gas Line (19 lf trench, 3/4-inch sweep) $2,000 – $2,500
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a paver patio with artificial turf cost in Escondido?

A project of this size in Escondido, covering 752 square feet of pavers and 692 square feet of artificial turf with drainage and a fire feature connection, runs in the $32,500 to $37,500 range. Costs vary based on site access, drainage complexity, and material selection. Simpler installs without drainage or a fire feature will come in lower.

Do I need a permit for a paver patio in Escondido?

Standard residential paver patios typically do not require a building permit in Escondido. However, the gas line connection for a fire feature does require a permit under California Plumbing Code Chapter 12. Homeowners should confirm permit status with their sales rep before construction begins.

Can an HOA in California restrict artificial turf?

California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf. An HOA may set reasonable quality or appearance standards, such as pile height or color, but cannot use those standards to effectively prohibit synthetic grass. Verify current requirements with a licensed contractor or attorney.

Does artificial turf require maintenance after installation?

Imperial Coronado Premium turf needs periodic rinsing to remove dust and debris, and the infill should be brushed up if it becomes matted in high-traffic areas. Unlike natural grass, it needs no mowing, watering, or fertilizing. The antimicrobial Camofill infill used in this project helps control odors in pet-use areas.

How long does a paver and turf backyard project take in Escondido?

This project ran approximately six weeks from the first day of demo through the final walkthrough, including demo, base prep, paver and turf installation, and a gas line connection. Rain delays pushed the polymeric sand application back by a few days. Most projects of this scope take five to seven weeks.

What pavers were used on this Escondido backyard project?

The crew used Angelus Courtyard Combo (Standard) 60MM pavers in an ashlar pattern across 752 square feet. A contrasting dark soldier-course border runs the patio perimeter and side-yard walkways. NextGel gray polymeric sand was swept into the joints after the rainy weather cleared.

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1

Design

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2

Build

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3

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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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