Landscape & Hardscape
Yards, patios and driveways built on real grading and drainage — not just a nice photo on day one.
Most of the failed patios and cracked driveways we get called out to look at have the same root cause: the surface was beautiful and the base was an afterthought. Pavers set on two inches of loose sand, a concrete slab poured over uncompacted fill, a planting bed that dumps every winter storm straight at the foundation. It looks finished, then the first wet year moves it.
We build the outside of the house the way we build the inside — grading and drainage first, then structure, then the finish you actually see. One licensed crew handles the excavation, the base, the concrete or paver work, the irrigation and the planting, so there's no gap between the guy who dug the hole and the guy who set the stone.
Base and drainage first
Compacted aggregate, correct slope away from the house, and a plan for where the water goes before a single paver is set. The part nobody photographs is the part that lasts.
One crew, one scope
Grading, concrete, pavers, irrigation and planting under the same license — no handoff between a hardscaper and a separate landscaper who blame each other later.
Fixed written price
You approve a line-item scope and a number before we break ground. Rock, roots or bad soil we can't see are handled as written change orders, never a surprise.
Drainage decides whether any of it lasts
In Southern California the rain is rare, then it all comes at once. A yard that sat fine for three dry years can flood a garage in one January storm because nothing was ever graded to move the water. Before we design anything decorative, we figure out where the water comes from and where it needs to go — usually a combination of positive slope away from the house, a French drain or channel drain where it collects, and a legal point of discharge.
Getting that wrong is expensive twice: once when the patio heaves or the pavers sink, and again when water finds its way to the foundation or the slab. We'd rather spend a bit more on the base and the drains and less on redoing the pretty part in five years.
Pavers, poured concrete, or a mix
Poured concrete is the workhorse for driveways and big flat runs — cheaper per square foot, fast, and strong when the base and the control joints are done right. But it cracks on its own schedule, and a cracked slab is a repair, not a fix. Pavers cost more up front and take longer to lay, but they flex with the ground, a stained or broken one lifts out and gets swapped, and they don't need the same control joints to look intentional.
We'll tell you honestly which one fits the use and the budget. A load-bearing driveway, a shaded patio and a narrow side yard often want three different answers, and we're comfortable mixing materials on one job rather than forcing the whole yard into a single product.
Water-wise planting that survives the dry months
Lawns are getting harder to justify here — the water bills, the local restrictions, and the plain fact that turf browns out every summer. We plant for the climate we actually have: drought-tolerant and California-native species, mulched beds that hold moisture, and drip irrigation on a smart controller instead of spray heads watering the sidewalk. Done right, a low-water yard reads as lush, not as a gravel lot.
And in the wildfire-interface neighborhoods, plant choice and spacing matter for more than looks. We keep defensible-space guidance in mind near the structure — the right plants, the right gaps, non-combustible materials close to the walls — without turning the yard into a moonscape.
A process built around no surprises
Walk the yard & measure
We check the existing slope, where water pools after a storm, the soil, the property lines and any HOA rules, then talk through what the space needs to do.
Design & fixed quote
You get a layout, a materials list and a line-item price — grading, base depth, materials and planting all spelled out before anything is ordered.
Excavate & grade
We cut to the right depth, set the fall away from the house, install drains and sleeves for irrigation and lighting, then compact the base in lifts.
Hardscape & install
Concrete, pavers or stone go down on a proper base, edges are restrained, joints are locked, and the planting and irrigation go in last.
Clean-up, walk & warranty
We run the irrigation with you, confirm the drainage works, haul everything off, and hand over the paperwork and a written labor warranty.
Everything, under one scope
- Excavation, grading and soil prep
- Drainage — French drains, channel drains, downspout tie-ins
- Compacted base for driveways, patios and walkways
- Poured concrete, pavers and natural stone
- Retaining walls and seat walls
- Drip and spray irrigation with smart controllers
- Drought-tolerant planting, mulch and low-voltage lighting
Built with the good stuff
Landscape & Hardscape — common questions
Do I need a permit for a patio or driveway?
It depends on size, drainage and whether you're changing the footprint or a retaining wall over a certain height. When a permit is required we pull it under our license and schedule the inspections; for straightforward replacements it often isn't needed. We tell you either way before we start.
How long does a typical yard take?
A patio or walkway is often a week to two on site; a full front-and-back with grading, hardscape and planting can run several weeks. Concrete and paver work also need cure and settling time, which we build into the schedule up front.
Can you match my HOA's requirements?
Yes. In HOA neighborhoods we work from the approved materials and colors and can provide the scope and drawings you need for the architectural committee before we order anything.
Will new hardscape drain toward my house?
No — the whole point of the grading is to move water away from the structure. We set positive slope on every flatwork surface and add drains where water collects, and we walk the finished drainage with you before we call it done.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes. Our labor is warrantied in writing, and we pass through the manufacturer warranties on pavers, irrigation components and other materials we install.
What landscape & hardscape customers say
“They gutted our 1980s bathroom and turned it into something out of a magazine. The crew showed up on time every single day and cleaned up before they left. Worth every penny.”
“Our AC quit during a July heat wave and they had a new unit in the next morning. Honest pricing, no upselling, and the house has never been this comfortable.”
“We had engineered hardwood put in across the whole first floor. The installers were meticulous about the transitions and baseboards. Looks seamless.”
Homeowners often pair this with
Planning landscape & hardscape? Let's talk.
Tell us what you're planning and we'll set up a free, no-pressure estimate — usually within a day.
Licensed & insured — CSLB #1033999