Stone Fireplace and Pergola Living in Torrey Del Mar
Overview
A dated concrete backyard in Torrey Del Mar was transformed into a full outdoor living space with new paver surfaces, a stone fireplace, a 12-foot BBQ island, an expanded pergola, and landscape up-lighting. The project also included new drip irrigation, planting, and concrete staining throughout.
Quick Facts
City San Diego
Neighborhood Carmel Valley / Del Mar Heights
Constraints/Challenges The site required saw-cutting 82 linear feet of existing concrete for paver extensions. An aging irrigation line serving the planter and fountain area was replaced during site preparation.
Goals The homeowner wanted to convert a worn concrete backyard into a true outdoor living destination, with separate spaces for cooking, dining, and gathering around a fire feature, all tied together under an expanded pergola and finished with landscape lighting and fresh planting.
Scope 1,145 sf Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers, 425 sf Belgard Mega Arbel Patio Slab, stone-veneer fireplace, 12-ft BBQ island, expanded timber pergola, 30 up-lights, 4-zone drip irrigation, concrete staining (~2,251 sf + coping), 100 1-gal/50 5-gal/7 24-in box plantings
Style Mediterranean
Timeline About 6 weeks
Price Range $93k–$114k
The Challenge
- The backyard's aging concrete surface offered nowhere comfortable to cook, dine, or gather in the evening, leaving the outdoor space essentially unused.
- Dry, compacted soil, aging irrigation, and overgrown tree roots from a neighboring yard made the space difficult to maintain and unattractive year-round.
- The existing covered patio area under the old pergola was too small and dark to function as a true outdoor room, limiting how the household could use the space.
How Install It Direct Helped
Market Context
Neighborhood Context
The Plan
Two paver materials were specified to serve distinct zones: Angelus Courtyard Combo for the main patio field and Belgard Mega Arbel Patio Slab (60mm pedestrian-rated) for the extension areas, creating visual differentiation while keeping the overall palette consistent.
Concrete staining was applied across approximately 2,251 sf of main areas plus coping and wall caps (~171 sf) to unify existing concrete surfaces with the new paver work, avoiding a full demo.
The existing timber pergola was enlarged and reinforced to cover the expanded patio, creating a shaded outdoor room suitable for dining and entertaining.
A Burn Tech stone-veneer fireplace kit was positioned as the backyard’s focal gathering point, served by a new 50-linear-foot, 3/4-inch gas line with two sweeps and two connections run to the fire feature and BBQ island.
Thirty 3W 2700K aluminum bronze up-lights were laid out to illuminate the structure, plantings, and hardscape after dark, powered by a 300W stainless steel transformer sized for low-voltage landscape lighting systems.
Four drip valve zones were designed to serve new planting beds, replacing an aging irrigation line that was upgraded during site preparation and providing long-term coverage for 100 one-gallon, 50 five-gallon, and 7 twenty-four-inch box plantings.
The Build
Work began with saw-cutting approximately 82 linear feet of existing concrete at the patio perimeter to create clean edges for paver extensions. Approximately 750 sf of existing grass and organic material was demolished to a depth of up to 4 inches, with six large haul-away loads removed. Neighboring tree branches and roots encroaching from an adjacent yard were cut and cleared before subgrade work could proceed.
With demolition complete, crews graded the exposed subgrade across the patio footprint and adjacent areas. Aggregate base was spread, wetted, and compacted with a plate compactor to achieve a stable, level substrate. Perimeter trenches were established, and bedding sand was screeded to a consistent depth before paver installation began.
Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers were set across the main patio field totaling 1,145 sf, with Belgard Mega Arbel slabs installed in the 425-sf extension areas. Joints were filled and the completed surface was sealed with Techniseal joint-stabilizing sealant in a natural-look semi-gloss finish. Concrete staining was applied concurrently to existing slabs, coping, and wall caps to tie old and new surfaces together visually.
The Burn Tech fireplace kit was constructed and finished with stone veneer while the 12-foot straight BBQ island was built alongside it. A new 50-linear-foot 3/4-inch gas line was trenched to 18 inches, fitted with tracer tape and two sweeps, and connected at two points to serve both the fireplace and the BBQ. Separately, the existing wooden pergola was modified and enlarged, with new timber posts, rafters, and slatted roof members installed over the expanded patio area.
Thirty low-voltage bronze up-lights were positioned throughout the space and wired back to the 300W stainless steel transformer. Four drip valve zones were installed, each with up to 40 linear feet of Schedule 40 3/4-inch PVC supply, 100 feet of drip line, pressure regulators, and emitters. Planting crews installed 100 one-gallon shrubs and perennials, 50 five-gallon shrubs, and 7 twenty-four-inch box trees and shrubs to complete the landscape.
A final walkthrough was conducted after substantial completion. Photos and site walkthroughs confirmed all scopes were finished, and closeout was completed approximately 10 days after the final installation date.
The Result
Concrete patio slab with a curved edge sits adjacent to a compacted dirt yard and a metal picket fence enclosing a play area with playground equipment. A raised wooden planter/retaining bed and mature trees border the space, indicating an existing yard likely staged for future turf or hardscape work.
Residential backyard shows a finished stamped/sealed concrete pool deck and curved patio with integrated seat walls and a stone outdoor fireplace. Planting beds with fresh soil and small shrubs border the pool coping; protective material remains in the fireplace opening suggesting recent completion.
Concrete driveway apron meets a dark asphalt driveway adjacent to a dry, brown lawn with palm trees and sparse planting. Scene appears to show an existing front yard in need of landscape work, likely prior to turf or paver installation.
Residential front entry showing a finished paver patio and curved seat wall with capstone surrounding a planted bed with a sago palm. View looks out to the driveway and street with neighboring homes visible, indicating a completed exterior landscape installation.
Residential backyard showing a completed pool deck and adjacent covered patio. Broom-finished concrete deck with control joints and a curved capstone retaining wall/seat wall surrounding the pool, plus planted landscaping and pool coping tile.
Residential backyard shows a finished stamped/sealed concrete pool deck and curved patio with integrated seat walls and a stone outdoor fireplace. Planting beds with fresh soil and small shrubs border the pool coping; protective material remains in the fireplace opening suggesting recent completion.
Completed residential pool deck and surrounding patio showing a concrete deck with tile waterline and stone-faced outdoor fireplace. Low seating/retaining wall separates the pool area from the adjacent lawn and planting beds, indicating a finished landscape installation.
Stamped and stained concrete patio with a contrasting flagstone-patterned band and decorative square tile insets. A masonry-wrapped pillar supports an overhead structure; surface appears finished with a sealed look and clean control joints.
Finished concrete pool deck with visible control/expansion joints and several embedded anchor plugs. The deck ties into a low seat/retaining wall with planting bed and natural lawn in the background, indicative of a completed exterior hardscape phase.
Backyard shows a completed pool deck and adjoining patio beneath an attached timber pergola. Integrated raised spa with concrete/stone coping, planters and outdoor seating indicate a finished residential outdoor living space.
Finished residential pool deck and patio area featuring a curved concrete pool deck with integrated coping, curved steps, and an outdoor stone fireplace with low seating walls. Mature trees and planted beds border the completed landscape and no construction equipment or materials are present.
Completed interlocking paver patio adjacent to a residential exterior with a raised stone planter and fountain. Concrete banding borders the pavers and the surface shows clean joints and even compaction consistent with finished installation.
Residential front entry showing a finished paver patio and curved seat wall with capstone surrounding a planted bed with a sago palm. View looks out to the driveway and street with neighboring homes visible, indicating a completed exterior landscape installation.
Investment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Projects of this scope in the Torrey Del Mar area of 92130 tend to range from $93,000 to $114,000 when they include a large paver field (in this case approximately 1,600 combined square feet of Angelus and Belgard Mega Arbel pavers), a stone-veneer fireplace, a 12-foot BBQ island, an enlarged pergola, and landscape lighting. The biggest cost drivers are paver square footage, the complexity of the fire feature and gas line run, and whether site prep involves saw-cutting existing concrete and removing root intrusions from neighboring trees, all of which applied here.
This project ran approximately 6 weeks from first demo day through project closeout. That timeline included demolition and site prep, grading and base compaction, paver installation and sealing, fireplace and BBQ construction, gas line trenching, pergola modification, lighting installation, drip irrigation, and planting. Larger or more complex backyards can run longer, particularly when concrete saw-cutting, unexpected utility upgrades, or tree root removal add scope mid-construction.
Yes. Installing a new gas line for an outdoor fireplace or fire feature in San Diego requires a Simple (No-Plan) MEP permit under California Plumbing Code Chapter 12 and City of San Diego requirements. The line must be buried at the proper depth with tracer tape, and a pressure test inspection is required before backfilling the trench. A licensed contractor with the appropriate gas piping license must perform the work. This project included a 50-linear-foot 3/4-inch gas line with two sweeps and two connections to serve both the fireplace and the BBQ island.
The main patio field uses Angelus Courtyard Combo pavers and the extension areas use Belgard Mega Arbel Patio Slab (60mm, pedestrian-rated). Both surfaces were sealed at completion with a Techniseal joint-stabilizing sealant in a natural-look semi-gloss finish. Maintenance is straightforward: rinse with a garden hose periodically, avoid pressure washing at high angles directly over joints, and plan on resealing every 3 to 5 years depending on sun exposure and traffic. Joint-stabilizing sealants harden the polymeric sand in the joints, which reduces weeds and ant activity over time.
It depends on the site. In this Torrey Del Mar project, the existing wooden pergola was already in place but undersized, so the team enlarged and reinforced the structure instead of replacing it from scratch, which kept that portion of the budget more contained. The BBQ island and fireplace were built as part of the broader hardscape renovation, which made sense because the concrete was being ripped out anyway for paver installation. If your patio surface is already in good condition, a targeted outdoor kitchen and pergola addition is often feasible without touching the rest of the yard. A site visit is the best way to assess what's practical.
Low-voltage landscape lighting systems operate at 12 volts DC, well below household current. They require a listed transformer (in this project a 300-watt stainless steel unit), and all components must be UL-listed. Wet-location fixtures like the 30 aluminum bronze up-lights installed here are specifically rated for outdoor and poolside use. The low operating voltage makes them safe to work around even in damp conditions, and they draw far less energy than line-voltage fixtures. The 2700K color temperature used here produces a warm amber light that flatters stone, wood, and plantings without the harshness of cooler fixtures.
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
Troy Silva
Install It Direct is a San Diego design-build contractor specializing in full outdoor living renovations. Every project is managed from initial design through project closeout by a dedicated project team, with 3D design packages, transparent investment breakdowns, and direct communication keeping homeowners informed at every phase.
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