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Concrete Patio and Turf Yard in Tierrasanta, San Diego

Concrete Patio and Turf Yard in Tierrasanta, San Diego

Overview

A Tierrasanta homeowner replaced an aging concrete patio and bare yard with 509 square feet of Angelus interlocking pavers, 290 square feet of artificial turf, a new concrete pour, a full drainage solution, and 11 in-ground lights. The project took approximately four weeks from demo to completion.

Quick Facts

City San Diego

Neighborhood Escobar Drive

Constraints/Challenges Limited site access required a gate relocation before work could begin. Elevation variances across the lot exhausted standard drainage routes, requiring a channel drain and pop-up drain with a saw-cut concrete threshold at the garage door.

Goals The homeowner wanted to replace a deteriorating concrete patio and overgrown side yard with a clean hardscape surface, a low-water lawn area, and outdoor lighting that would make the backyard usable after dark.

Scope 509 sf Angelus 12x24 60MM pavers, 290 sf Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf, new concrete patio pour with saw-cut control joints, 125 lf SDR35 drain line with channel drain and pop-up, 11 Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground lights, 80 lf concrete mow strip, drip irrigation valve

Style Modern

Timeline About 4 weeks

Price Range $23k-$31k

The Challenge

  • Water pooled at the garage door threshold every time it rained because the existing grade had no path to a drain.
  • The backyard and side yard sat as bare soil and overgrown groundcover, leaving the family with no usable outdoor surface.
  • After dark, there was no exterior lighting on the patio, so the space went unused most evenings.

How Install It Direct Helped

The homeowner needed a complete outdoor overhaul: a durable patio surface, a clean lawn area, working drainage, and lighting, all on a tight lot where site access was a real constraint. Install It Direct relocated the existing gate through a fencing subcontractor before any equipment arrived, then demolished the old concrete slab and re-graded the yard to accept the new paver field and concrete pour. When standard drainage routes proved unworkable due to the lot's elevation variances, the team added a channel drain at the garage threshold and a pop-up drain connected to 125 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 pipe, sloping the new concrete pour toward the drain per CRC R401.3. Eleven Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground lights were installed across the finished patio and wired to a 150-watt transformer with a smart socket timer, so the space now lights up automatically each evening.

Market Context

Backyard hardscape projects in Tierrasanta and neighboring San Diego ZIP codes at this scope (paver field, concrete pour, drainage, turf, and lighting combined) typically range from $25,000 to $35,000, with drainage complexity and concrete work being the primary cost drivers.

Neighborhood Context

Tierrasanta is a hillside community in central San Diego where compact residential lots and varied terrain often require drainage solutions before any hardscape can be installed flat.

The Plan

Project plan
  • Angelus 12x24 60MM pavers in a field-run pattern across 509 sf of backyard patio, with NextGel gray polymeric sand for joint stabilization
  • Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf (290 sf) with SGW Envirofill infill and SGW weed cloth barrier beneath
  • Concrete pour under the covered pergola area with saw-cut control joints and colored finish, sloped to drain toward the new channel drain at the garage threshold
  • Channel drain plus pop-up drain connected to 125 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line, routed to resolve the site elevation variance that blocked other drainage options
  • Eleven Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground lights with antique brass trim rings wired to a Pro-Trade 150W stainless steel transformer (NEC Article 411 compliant, low-voltage system) on a smart socket timer
  • Concrete mow strip (80 lf) set in concrete at the turf perimeter to define the edge between hardscape and turf zones

The Build

Apache Fencing relocated the yard gate before crew arrived. Once access was clear, the team demolished the existing concrete patio slab with jackhammers, removed old pavers, and hauled all rubble. Demo of roots, soil, and existing wall footing followed. A roll-off dumpster staged on the driveway handled the debris load.

The team excavated and graded the patio footprint, verified slope with string lines and spirit levels, and compacted the subgrade. Crushed aggregate base was spread and compacted across the 509-sf paver area and the concrete pour zone. Welded wire mesh was laid in the concrete zone before the pour.

The 3-inch SDR35 drain line was trenched and connected with couplers and elbows. The channel drain at the garage threshold and the pop-up drain outlet were set to grade. Concrete was pumped and poured in the covered patio area, finished with saw-cut control joints and colored to match the design. The garage threshold was poured to slope toward the channel drain.

Bedding sand was screeded over the compacted base and the Angelus 12x24 60MM pavers were set field-run across the 509-sf area. The 80-lf concrete mow strip was formed and poured at the turf boundary. Gray polymeric sand was swept and activated across all paver joints.

SGW weed cloth was laid in the turf zone, followed by the Imperial Coronado Platinum turf roll (290 sf). SGW Envirofill infill was spread and nailed with Imperial 5-inch 40D nails. Two existing sprinkler heads were relocated. A new drip valve with pressure regulator and up to 40 feet of Schedule 40 3/4-inch PVC was installed for the planting areas.

Eleven Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground fixtures with antique brass trim rings were set in the patio surface and wired back to the Pro-Trade 150W transformer with 12/2 low-voltage wire. The smart socket timer was configured. A client walkthrough confirmed the finished result, and lighting fixtures were positioned in planters per the client's furniture placement preference.

The Result

509 square feet of Angelus 12x24 interlocking pavers replaced the demolished concrete slab, and 290 square feet of Imperial Coronado Platinum turf replaced the bare side yard. Eleven in-ground lights now activate automatically at dusk, and a new channel drain at the garage door eliminates the pooling that occurred with every rain.
Narrow residential side yard with an existing concrete patio and planting beds. Mature shrubs and potted plants, a stone border and bench seating are visible under partial pergola shade, showing the current site condition prior to hardscape work.
BEFORE

Narrow residential side yard with an existing concrete patio and planting beds. Mature shrubs and potted plants, a stone border and bench seating are visible under partial pergola shade, showing the current site condition prior to hardscape work.

Installed artificial turf in a narrow side yard between the house and a block wall, trimmed to follow a curved concrete walkway. Adjacent soil planting beds, a palm tree, and irrigation/valve components are visible indicating a finished turf installation and landscape prep for planting.
AFTER

Installed artificial turf in a narrow side yard between the house and a block wall, trimmed to follow a curved concrete walkway. Adjacent soil planting beds, a palm tree, and irrigation/valve components are visible indicating a finished turf installation and landscape prep for planting.
Narrow side yard showing an existing concrete walkway/slab between a stucco house wall and a wood fence. A planter with flowering bougainvillea and several boulders sits at the far end; wall-mounted exterior lights are visible on the house. No construction activity or materials present, suitable for pre-construction assessment.
BEFORE

Narrow side yard showing an existing concrete walkway/slab between a stucco house wall and a wood fence. A planter with flowering bougainvillea and several boulders sits at the far end; wall-mounted exterior lights are visible on the house. No construction activity or materials present, suitable for pre-construction assessment.

Finished broom-finished concrete slab panels with visible control joints forming large squares, adjacent to a small artificial turf patch next to the house. The image shows a clean residential side-yard/patio area with a materials box near the wall, indicating a completed outdoor surface installation.
AFTER

Finished broom-finished concrete slab panels with visible control joints forming large squares, adjacent to a small artificial turf patch next to the house. The image shows a clean residential side-yard/patio area with a materials box near the wall, indicating a completed outdoor surface installation.

Installed artificial turf in a narrow side yard between the house and a block wall, trimmed to follow a curved concrete walkway. Adjacent soil planting beds, a palm tree, and irrigation/valve components are visible indicating a finished turf installation and landscape prep for planting.

Finished broom-finished concrete slab panels with visible control joints forming large squares, adjacent to a small artificial turf patch next to the house. The image shows a clean residential side-yard/patio area with a materials box near the wall, indicating a completed outdoor surface installation.

Narrow side/back yard showing newly installed artificial turf up against a stucco house exterior with visible metal edging and exposed soil along the perimeter. Small palm and fence in the background, looks like final edge work or clean-up remains.

– Angelus 12×24 60MM pavers, 509 sf installed (field-run pattern)
– NextGel polymeric sand, gray, 8 bags (joint stabilization per ICPI base prep standards)
– Imperial Coronado Platinum artificial turf, 290 sf
– SGW Envirofill green infill, 9 bags
– SGW weed cloth, 6-foot x 250-foot roll
– Imperial Nails 5-inch 40D, 50 lb box
– Concrete mow strip, 80 lf, set in concrete
– 2 cubic yards topsoil for planting areas
– Porta potty and materials delivery on-site throughout build

– 125 lf of 3-inch SDR35 drain line, installed with 12 straight couplers and 8 elbows (45-degree and 90-degree fittings)
– Channel drain at garage threshold, connected to the SDR35 line
– Pop-up drain outlet at the discharge end
– Saw cut concrete at the garage threshold poured to slope toward the channel drain
– All hardscape graded to direct surface water away from the foundation per CRC R401.3 (minimum 6 inches of fall within 10 feet)

– 11 Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground lights, composite housing, antique brass trim ring cover (no lamp pre-installed)
– Pro-Trade PTH1 150W stainless steel transformer (TR1), 1 unit
– 12/2 low-voltage wire, 250-lf roll
– Smart socket timer, 1 unit
– System wired per NEC Article 411 (low-voltage lighting, 30V or less)

– 1 drip valve with pressure regulator installed (includes up to 40 lf Schedule 40 3/4-inch PVC, 100 lf drip line, up to 15 emitters, connection to water source)
– 2 existing sprinkler heads relocated to accommodate new layout

– Total project duration: approximately 4 weeks
– Phase 1 (access and demo): Days 1-3
– Phase 2 (grading and base prep): Days 3-5
– Phase 3 (drainage and concrete pour): approximately Week 2
– Phase 4 (pavers and mow strip): approximately Week 2-3
– Phase 5 (turf and irrigation): approximately Week 3
– Phase 6 (lighting and closeout): final week, including client walkthrough and brief rain delay

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Investment

What would a similar project cost in San Diego?

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Pavers and Hardscape (509 sf Angelus 12x24, mow strip, polymeric sand) $8,500 – $10,500
Concrete Work (patio pour, control joints, garage threshold) $5,000 – $6,000
Artificial Turf and Landscaping (290 sf Imperial Coronado Platinum, infill, weed cloth, topsoil) $5,000 – $6,000
Drainage (125 lf SDR35 pipe, channel drain, pop-up, fittings) $2,000 – $2,500
Lighting (11 Pro-Trade IG1 fixtures, 150W transformer, wire, timer) $1,000 – $1,500
Demo and Site Work (slab removal, grading, disposal, irrigation) $2,000 – $2,500
Estimated Total

Frequently Asked Questions

A project at this scale in Tierrasanta (92124) runs $25,000 to $31,000. That range covers 509 sf of interlocking pavers, a new concrete pour, 290 sf of artificial turf, a full drainage system, and 11 in-ground lights. Smaller patio-only projects in San Diego typically start around $8,000 to $12,000. Drainage complexity and concrete work push the cost up on lots with elevation issues.

This Tierrasanta project took approximately four weeks from demo through final walkthrough. That includes slab removal, re-grading, concrete pour, paver installation, turf, and lighting. Projects without a concrete pour or drainage work often finish in two to three weeks.

California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf outright. Any CC&R provision that effectively bars synthetic turf is void and unenforceable. HOAs may still set appearance standards, but they cannot deny installation. The Tierrasanta homeowner confirmed no HOA approval was required before work began.

When the lot grade prevents natural drainage away from the foundation, a channel drain at the garage threshold connected to a subsurface pipe is the standard fix. On this project, 125 linear feet of 3-inch SDR35 drain line runs from the channel drain to a pop-up outlet. The adjacent concrete was poured with positive slope toward the drain, meeting the CRC R401.3 requirement to direct surface water away from the foundation.

The turf installed here is Imperial Coronado Platinum (290 sf) with SGW Envirofill infill. Envirofill is a coated silica sand infill that helps the turf blades stand upright and keeps the surface cooler than uncoated sand. SGW weed cloth was laid beneath the turf field before installation.

The 11 Pro-Trade IG1 in-ground fixtures on this project run on a 12-volt low-voltage system powered by a 150-watt transformer with a smart socket timer. Low-voltage landscape lighting systems fall under NEC Article 411 and do not typically require a separate electrical permit in San Diego when installed as a listed system. The timer turns lights on automatically at dusk.

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

Install It Direct has handled projects across Tierrasanta and the surrounding San Diego communities for years, managing drainage-heavy lots and tight backyard access. Every project runs through a dedicated project manager from permit coordination through final walkthrough.

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