Finished artificial turf backyard walkthrough
Walkthrough of the completed backyard artificial turf, paver patio edge, rock beds, play area, and finished low-maintenance landscape.
Paver Patio Meets Turf Lawn in Santee, CA
Overview
A Santee homeowner traded a tired backyard of dead grass and patchy stepping stones for 802 sf of interlocking pavers and 2,182 sf of synthetic turf. The crew also handled drainage, a pergola demo, and tree removal. The finished yard is ready to use year-round with minimal upkeep.
Quick Facts
Neighborhood (92071)
Constraints/Challenges The property is governed by an HOA, so board review preceded site mobilization. Install It Direct completed a pre-demolition field remeasure to confirm drainage and mow-strip quantities against the takeoff before the crew broke ground.
Goals The homeowner wanted to replace a worn backyard with durable, low-water surfaces that would work for both daily outdoor use and easy upkeep. Eliminating dead vegetation and patchy stepping stones was the first priority.
Scope 802 sf RCP Stone Top Cobble 3-pc tumbled pavers, 2,182 sf SiteOne Turf1 Rye synthetic turf, 108 lf concrete mow strip, PVC drainage with curb core-outs, pergola demo, tree and shrub removal
Style Transitional
Timeline About 13 build days
Price Range $34k-$41k
The Challenge
- The backyard had patchy stepping stones set in pea gravel and aging vegetation, leaving no usable outdoor surface for the household.
- An existing pergola took up yard space and was no longer structurally useful, blocking any viable patio layout.
- Without proper drainage, surface water had no clear path away from the house, leaving low spots that collected runoff after rain.
How Install It Direct Helped
Install It Direct ran a full field remeasure before any demolition touched the site, confirmed drainage and mow-strip quantities against the takeoff, and finalized scope before the crew arrived. The crew demoed the pergola, removed trees and shrubs, installed 264 lf of drain line with two curb core-outs, set 802 sf of RCP Stone Top Cobble pavers in a modular multi-piece pattern, and finished 2,182 sf of SiteOne Turf1 Rye synthetic turf throughout the yard. The household now has a finished outdoor space with durable pavers, green turf that needs no watering, and drainage that moves water away from the foundation.
Market Context
Paver patio and synthetic turf projects in the Santee and East County area typically range from $30,000 to $55,000 when combined with drainage work, demo, and HOA-required coordination; total cost varies with site access, drain run length, and material upgrades.
Neighborhood Context
This Santee property sits in a typical East County suburban lot with a block perimeter wall, vinyl side fence, and an HOA, conditions common throughout the 92071 ZIP code where full-sun exposure and water costs make synthetic turf a practical replacement for natural grass.
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The Plan
- Paver layout: RCP Stone Top Cobble 3-piece tumbled modular pattern across the main patio and walkway areas, set on compacted Class II road base and screeded bedding sand
- Turf selection: SiteOne Turf1 Rye, 72 oz total weight, 1.5-inch pile height in olive green/tan blades, chosen for durability and natural color in East County heat
- Edge transition: 108 concrete mow strip units set on edge in concrete along the turf perimeter, separating turf from pavers and planting beds
- Drainage: PVC drain network with T-configuration ties into downspouts; two curb core-outs at the street curb allow collected water to exit the property; all surface paving graded
- Sub-base: native soils compacted, then Class II road base brought to grade before sand bed; gopher mesh installed under turf field to protect against burrowing
- Infill: SGW Premium Silica Sand (16/30 and 20/40 blend) applied to turf field; NextGel polymeric sand swept into paver joints
The Build
PVC drainage trench excavated through the front yard as part of a full hardscape and synthetic turf install in Santee, CA.
PVC drainage lines being set before turf and paver installation, part of a full drainage system with curb core-outs.
RCP Stone Top Cobble 3-piece tumbled pavers being set along the home's side yard during the hardscape installation phase of this Santee project.
Installers fitting SiteOne Turf1 Rye synthetic turf between tumbled cobble pavers and a mulched border during the Santee build.
Installers seaming SiteOne Turf1 Rye panels during the 2,182 sf synthetic turf installation phase of this Santee outdoor living project.
HOA board review ran in parallel with pre-construction setup. The sales rep and project manager completed a final field remeasure and verified material quantities ahead of mobilization. Dig Alert notification, sprinkler and drain testing, and material staging verification were all wrapped before the crew broke ground.
The crew removed the wood pergola, existing stepping stones, trees, and shrubs. A compact track loader cleared spoils. Subgrade was exposed, rough-graded, and excavated to target depths for both the paver and turf zones.
Trenches were cut for the PVC drain network, piping was laid in a T-configuration and connected to downspouts, and two curb core-outs were cut at the street curb. Class II road base was placed and compacted to grade. Gopher mesh was rolled out under the turf footprint.
Bedding sand was screeded to a consistent 1-inch depth across the patio and walkway footprint. RCP Stone Top Cobble units were laid in a multi-piece modular pattern with a soldier-course border. Cut pieces filled the perimeter. NextGel polymeric sand was swept in and the field was compacted.
SiteOne Turf1 Rye rolls were positioned, seams joined using the zig-zag S-seam technique with seam tape and adhesive, and edges nailed with 5-inch 40D nails. SGW Premium Silica Sand infill was applied across the turf field. Mow-strip units were set in concrete along all turf-to-planting transitions. Drain caps were seated and the site was cleaned for the final walk.
Project Videos
The Result
The finished Santee backyard has 802 sf of RCP Stone Top Cobble interlocking pavers and 2,182 sf of SiteOne Turf1 Rye synthetic turf where stepping stones and bare dirt used to be. A 264 lf PVC drain network with two curb core-outs now routes surface water away from the foundation to the street, and 108 lf of concrete mow strip gives clean separation between the turf and the planting beds.
Narrow side yard alongside a residence with mulch installed over planting bed areas and a soil strip remaining along the access path. A run of concrete stepping stones leads toward the rear, a gas meter is mounted on the house exterior, and refuse bins are staged at the far end. Image indicates landscape prep in progress prior to final surfacing.
Residential backyard showing newly installed artificial turf abutting an interlocking paver patio. Clean turf field with visible edge detail and a privacy wall and planting bed along the perimeter; children's toys and a small bike on the turf indicate final site use.
Narrow side yard alongside a residence with mulch installed over planting bed areas and a soil strip remaining along the access path. A run of concrete stepping stones leads toward the rear, a gas meter is mounted on the house exterior, and refuse bins are staged at the far end. Image indicates landscape prep in progress prior to final surfacing.
Finished residential backyard showing an installed interlocking paver patio abutting newly installed artificial turf lawn. Perimeter block wall, mature trees, and children's play equipment visible indicating a post-completion site condition.
Residential front-yard landscape showing interlocking pavers at the entry edge and a small artificial turf island with curved edge restraint. Mulch beds, boulder/rock accents, landscape lighting, and ornamental planting surround the turf indicating a finished hardscape and softscape installation.
Finished interlocking paver patio transitions to newly installed artificial turf in a residential backyard. Vinyl fence and block perimeter wall are visible; turf has a clean finished edge and smooth surface with a small play soccer goal present.
Finished residential backyard showing an installed interlocking paver patio abutting newly installed artificial turf lawn. Perimeter block wall, mature trees, and children's play equipment visible indicating a post-completion site condition.
Residential backyard showing newly installed artificial turf abutting an interlocking paver patio. Clean turf field with visible edge detail and a privacy wall and planting bed along the perimeter; children's toys and a small bike on the turf indicate final site use.
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Investment
What would a similar project cost in Your Area?
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Pavers & Hardscape (802 sf patio/walkway, 108 lf mow strip)
$7,500 – $9,000
Artificial Turf & Landscaping (2,182 sf turf, gopher mesh, infill, weed cloth)
$11,500 – $14,000
Demo & Site Work (pergola demo, tree/shrub removal, general labor, delivery)
$5,000 – $6,500
Drainage (264 lf PVC drain, 2 curb core-outs)
$5,000 – $6,500
General conditions, permits, HOA coordination, and contingency
$5,000 – $6,500
Estimated Total
Frequently Asked Questions
Projects of this size in Santee typically fall in the $34,000 to $41,000 range. This one included 802 sf of interlocking pavers, 2,182 sf of synthetic turf, a 264 lf PVC drain network, pergola demo, and tree removal. Scope additions — like a field-verified drain run and curb core-outs — can move costs above the original takeoff, which is why a pre-install remeasure matters.
Active build on this project ran 13 working days on site (about two and a half calendar weeks, from late January into mid-February 2025). HOA review preceded the build window, so if your property has an HOA, plan for that review time on top of the install schedule.
RCP Stone Top Cobble pavers with NextGel polymeric sand joints need minimal upkeep: occasional re-sanding of joints every few years and periodic rinsing. SiteOne Turf1 Rye synthetic turf needs no watering, mowing, or fertilizing. Periodic brushing of the blades and rinsing to remove debris keeps the field looking clean, and the silica sand infill can take a light top-off after a few years of heavy use.
Generally, no — California Civil Code Section 4735 limits HOAs from banning synthetic turf. An HOA may still set reasonable quality and appearance standards — pile height or color requirements, for example — but cannot use those standards to effectively prevent installation. This project went through HOA review and received board approval before work started.
All impervious surfaces near a foundation should be graded to drain water away from the building, with a typical guideline of at least a 6-inch drop in the first 10 feet. On this project, the installed drain network ran 264 linear feet of PVC and discharged through two curb core-outs at the street, giving surface water a clear path off the property.
RCP Stone Top Cobble is a multi-piece tumbled paver that mimics the look of natural cobblestone. The tumbled edge treatment gives each unit a worn, textured finish that reads closer to natural stone than standard concrete pavers. The 3-piece format creates a modular random pattern, so no two sections look identical. On this Santee project, the mix was installed across both the backyard patio and the side-yard walkway.
Your Outdoor Project in 3 Simple Steps
1
Design
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2
Build
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3
Enjoy
Step into your transformed outdoor space and start making memories with family and friends.
Your Project Manager
Patrick Diehl
Install It Direct has been building paver patios and synthetic turf installations across Santee and East County for years. Every project starts with a field remeasure and a material verification before any demo begins, because what's on paper and what's on the ground are often different. The team handles HOA submittals, drainage coordination, and supplier issues directly so homeowners don't have to.
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