Backyard Transformed: Pavers, Turf & Outdoor Kitchen in Poway
Overview
A bare-dirt Poway backyard became a full outdoor living space with a large paver patio, built-in outdoor kitchen, artificial turf, a two-tone putting green, fire pit area, and a complete drainage system. The front yard was added mid-project and received pavers and turf. The project included path lighting throughout and took roughly six weeks of active installation.
Quick Facts
City Poway
Neighborhood
Constraints/Challenges Backyard required trenching for approximately 270 linear feet of underground drainage before hardscape could begin. Limited rear yard access required a separate access site setup for a 1,534 sq ft work zone.
Goals The homeowner wanted to turn a bare, unfinished backyard into a fully functional outdoor living space for entertaining and recreation, with a built-in kitchen, a lawn area that would stay green year-round, and a custom putting green they helped design. A mid-project scope adjustment extended the vision to include a matching front yard upgrade.
Scope 1,550 sq ft Angelus paver patio and walkways, 1,143 sq ft SGW pet turf, 269 sq ft two-tone putting green, stone-veneer outdoor kitchen island with built-in LP grill and refrigerator, fire pit, Angelus Rustic Wall stone walls, 270 ln ft SDR35 drainage, 9 low-voltage fixtures, front yard turf and pavers added via scope adjustment
Style Modern
Timeline About 6 weeks
Price Range $67k–$82k
The Challenge
- The backyard was bare sandy soil with no usable surface, leaving the household with no place to entertain outdoors or let pets play.
- Water had no managed path off the property, creating standing water risk adjacent to the foundation whenever it rained.
- The front yard lacked curb appeal and a unified look to match the backyard vision the homeowner had in mind.
How Install It Direct Helped
Market Context
Neighborhood Context
The Plan
Backyard layout divided into three functional zones: a large paver entertainment patio under a pergola with a fire pit gathering area, a pet-friendly turf lawn, and a custom two-tone putting green with SGW Poly Putt 2-Tone Dark Everlast surface.
Angelus Paseo I and Paseo II 60MM pavers selected for the main field with Angelus Holland 60MM as an accent; large-format light gray field pavers with a darker perimeter border course visible in completed photos.
Outdoor kitchen positioned on the patio to allow countertop fabricator access after paver completion; Eldorado Outdoor Modular Cabinet system in a three-unit configuration with stacked Angelus Rustic Wall Stone veneer.
Underground drainage designed with 270 ln ft of 3-inch SDR35 drainline, 8 brass surface drain caps, and 16 plastic downspout connections; surface slopes designed to direct runoff away from the foundation.
Low-voltage lighting system : 4 Pro-Trade SL1 LED step lights and 5 Pro-Trade BUL1 uplights powered by a 150W Pro-Trade TR1 transformer with smart socket timer for automated dusk-to-dawn control.
Front yard added via scope adjustment with matching artificial turf and paver walkway to unify curb appeal with the backyard aesthetic.
The Build
Work began with orange spray-paint layout lines marking all zones across the backyard. A skid-steer trencher cut channels for approximately 270 linear feet of SDR35 drain pipe, establishing the underground drainage network before any hardscape base was placed.
Once drainage was set, crews graded the subbase and compacted crushed aggregate across the 1,550 sq ft paver field using vibratory plate compactors. Side yard areas were hand-compacted in narrower runs.
Large-format Angelus Paseo I and Paseo II pavers were dry-laid on screeded bedding sand starting from the main patio field, with a soldier-course border and 121 mow-strip pavers set on concrete edge around the perimeter. Plate compaction seated the field after laying.
The Eldorado Outdoor Modular Cabinet base was positioned on the finished paver surface so the client's countertop fabricator could take measurements for the slab. Angelus Rustic Wall Stone veneer was applied to all exposed cabinet faces and the freestanding wall footings. Appliance cutouts were made and the LP grill, refrigerator, drawers, and access doors were installed.
SGW Pet Turf rolls were laid over prepared base across the 1,143 sq ft lawn area; poly board edging secured the perimeter. The 269 sq ft two-tone putting green using SGW Poly Putt 2-Tone Dark Everlast was installed based on design drawings submitted by the homeowner. Twelve five-gallon and twelve one-gallon shrubs were planted in prepared beds with drip irrigation and shredded mulch cover.
Pro-Trade step lights were mortared into riser faces and uplights positioned at wall and plant locations. The transformer and smart timer were mounted and wired. Front yard turf and pavers followed as the change-order scope. Final punch-list items including irrigation solenoid replacement and putting green securing were completed before site departure.
The Result
Small fenced backyard showing bare sandy soil with orange spray-painted layout lines marking planned work areas. The surface appears cleared of vegetation with weeds remaining and markings indicating proposed paver or turf layout prior to base preparation.
Finished backyard patio surfaced with large-format concrete pavers laid in a modular pattern, featuring a covered round fire pit and two covered seating units. A narrow planting bed with shrubs and flowering plants runs along a vinyl fence at the rear. Joints appear clean and the hardscape looks like a completed installation.
Overview of a residential yard showing orange spray-painted layout lines and hand tools at the house exterior. Exposed soil and brown turf indicate site stakeout ahead of paver or artificial turf installation and grading.
Finished backyard patio showing large light-colored interlocking pavers forming a dining/entertainment area adjacent to a narrow artificial turf strip with paver stepping bands. A stone-veneer outdoor kitchen/island sits at left and a covered porch with columns and outdoor furniture lines the right side.
Finished paver patio installed beneath a wood pergola featuring sectional outdoor seating, with adjacent artificial turf and large concrete paver stepping stones. The hardscape appears complete with clean edges and a vinyl privacy fence and house exterior visible in the background.
Finished backyard patio surfaced with large-format concrete pavers laid in a modular pattern, featuring a covered round fire pit and two covered seating units. A narrow planting bed with shrubs and flowering plants runs along a vinyl fence at the rear. Joints appear clean and the hardscape looks like a completed installation.
Finished backyard patio showing large light-colored interlocking pavers forming a dining/entertainment area adjacent to a narrow artificial turf strip with paver stepping bands. A stone-veneer outdoor kitchen/island sits at left and a covered porch with columns and outdoor furniture lines the right side.
Finished backyard paver patio featuring a large-format light grey concrete paver field with a darker perimeter border and a built-in outdoor kitchen island clad in stacked stone veneer. The island includes a stainless-steel grill, access doors and drawers; the area is enclosed by a vinyl privacy fence indicating a completed outdoor living installation.
Finished outdoor living area showing a large gray interlocking paver patio with a round segmental fire pit and a stacked stone veneer wall. Artificial turf ribbon walkway with paver inlays runs alongside the house beneath covered porch pillars.
Finished timber pergola with corrugated metal roofing and exposed truss framing installed over a backyard patio. The assembly includes wood posts/pillars, mounted HVAC/ductless unit, string lighting, and seating against a vinyl privacy fence indicating a completed outdoor living area.
Completed outdoor kitchen island with a built-in stainless steel grill and access doors set on a marble/stone countertop and stacked stone veneer. The assembly sits on a large-format paver patio in a fenced backyard and appears finished and clean.
Residential outdoor kitchen built into a stone veneer island featuring a built-in stainless steel gas grill, multiple stainless access doors/drawers and a refrigeration unit. The assembly sits on a finished paver patio with a polished countertop and appears to be a completed installation in a backyard setting.
Completed backyard outdoor living area featuring installed artificial turf and a freestanding pergola/covered seating area. A concrete paver walkway or pad grid runs along the left side next to a vinyl privacy fence and finished landscape plantings.
Finished paver patio using large-format light gray pavers with clean joints and a stone-veneer outdoor kitchen island. Stainless steel grill is integrated into the island, a recessed drain is visible in the paver field, and a vinyl privacy fence frames the backyard setting.
Completed outdoor kitchen island with a built-in stainless gas grill, refrigerator and storage drawers set into a stone veneer base with a marble-look countertop. The island sits on a large concrete/paver patio with large-format interlocking pavers and appears to be a finished installation in a residential backyard.
Finished narrow side yard showing newly installed artificial turf bordered by a concrete paver patio/edge and vinyl privacy fence. The turf is flat and evenly installed adjacent to the home's exterior with clean transitions to the paver surface.
Finished backyard showing a completed landscape with large square paver pads set in artificial turf forming a grid walkway and lawn. Adjacent planter bed with shrubs and a multi-tier fountain borders a white vinyl fence, and a tiled patio area is visible in the foreground.
Finished residential front yard showing installed artificial turf with two newly planted trees, a paver patio and paver walkway leading to a covered porch. A river rock drainage strip separates the turf from a concrete apron and the area features stone-clad pillars on the porch columns.
Finished backyard hardscape showing a large-format paver patio transitioning to a stepping-stone paver walkway set in synthetic turf. The installation includes clean joints, modern rectangular pavers, exterior wall lighting, and newly installed artificial turf adjacent to the homeâs sliding glass doors.
Finished narrow side yard showing newly installed artificial turf running between a vinyl privacy fence and the house, with a light-colored large-format paver patio/walkway in the foreground. Installation appears clean with trimmed turf edges and no visible equipment, indicating a completed residential exterior project.
Finished residential side yard showing artificial turf with regularly spaced concrete paver stepping stones forming a checkerboard-style walkway adjacent to the house. Mulched planter beds and a decorative fountain run along the fence line, indicating a completed landscape installation.
Investment
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Frequently Asked Questions
A project of this scale in Poway, covering roughly 1,550 sq ft of interlocking pavers, a fully equipped stone-veneer outdoor kitchen with built-in grill and refrigerator, 1,143 sq ft of pet turf, a putting green, underground drainage, and low-voltage lighting, typically falls in the $67,000–$82,000 range. Key cost drivers are the size of the paver field, the kitchen appliance package, the extent of underground drainage required, and whether the front yard is included. Projects with simpler kitchens or smaller paver areas can come in lower.
For a project this size, active installation ran approximately six weeks. The sequence started with drainage trenching and grading, moved into paver base and installation, then outdoor kitchen construction, stone veneer, turf, putting green, and lighting. The outdoor kitchen phase can extend the timeline if custom countertop fabrication is involved, particularly when work is sequenced around a separate countertop fabricator. Adding a front yard scope during the build extended the overall work but was absorbed without restarting from scratch.
Many California HOAs allow artificial turf, often with reasonable quality and appearance standards such as pile height or color guidelines. The specific rules vary by HOA and municipality, so homeowners in HOA communities should confirm current guidelines with their association and local jurisdiction before selecting a specific product.
Surface drainage should direct water away from the foundation, with positive slope on impervious surfaces around the home. On this project, approximately 270 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drainline was installed with eight surface drain caps and sixteen downspout connections to manage both surface runoff and roof drainage across the paved and turf areas.
The main patio field used Angelus Paseo I and Paseo II 60MM pavers, a large-format concrete paver in a light gray tone, with Angelus Holland 60MM as an accent. Completed photos show a light gray field with a darker perimeter border course and clean square joints. The perimeter was secured with 121 mow-strip pavers set in concrete. Angelus is manufactured in San Diego County, which reduces delivery cost and supports consistent availability for repairs or future extensions.
Yes, and they require different products. The lawn areas on this project used SGW Pet Turf, which is optimized for drainage and durability under pet and foot traffic. The 269 sq ft putting green used SGW Poly Putt 2-Tone 15-ft Dark Everlast, a performance putting surface with a dual-tone appearance. The two surfaces were installed in adjacent zones separated by poly board edging. The homeowner submitted their own putting green design drawings, which the crew used to lay out the shape and orientation.
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
Patrick Diehl
Install It Direct is a San Diego-based design-build contractor specializing in residential outdoor living spaces. The team manages every phase in-house, from drainage planning and paver installation to outdoor kitchens and low-voltage lighting, so homeowners work with one point of contact from design through final punch-list.
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