Investment
What the work costs.
Honest ranges. No catalog pricing. Every number on this page assumes a custom project — because that is the only kind we build.
Most outdoor contractors will not tell you what anything costs until they have given you a proposal — and the proposal arrives after a site visit, a sales presentation, and often a light version of the pressure that comes with both. We think that is the wrong way to begin a relationship, and we have tried to do something different here.
What follows is an honest set of ranges for the categories of work we do. They are wide because the projects are genuinely different — a 900-square-foot patio poured in La Mesa is not the same build as a 3,000-square-foot stone terrace in Rancho Santa Fe, even if they both show up on an estimate as "patio." We are not going to pretend otherwise by quoting you a number before we have walked the property, understood the scope, and priced the actual materials your project requires.
What we will tell you is where you are likely to land, what drives you toward the top or bottom of a range, and what to expect when a project crosses from one scope category into two. Use this page before you call us — it will make the first conversation more useful for both sides.
Investment ranges
By scope of work.
Hardscape & Paving
typical project range
A single-scope paving project — patio, driveway approach, courtyard, or front-entry hardscape. Scope, material, and site conditions drive the number. Concrete block pavers at the low end; natural stone with complex pattern-work or significant base engineering at the high end.
Retaining Walls
typical project range
Simple garden walls in concrete block at entry-level; engineered stone or concrete retaining systems over 4 feet — which require a licensed engineer, plan review, and inspections — at the high end. The drainage system behind the wall is almost always a meaningful portion of the budget.
Pergolas & Shade Structures
typical project range
Cedar or redwood lattice-style structures at entry-level; solid-roof insulated or steel pergolas with integrated lighting, fans, and electrical at the high end. Permitting, footings, and HOA review are often required and are included in the scope.
Outdoor Kitchens & BBQ Islands
typical project range
A basic stone island with a built-in grill and side burner at entry-level; a full outdoor kitchen with integrated appliances, refrigeration, cabinetry, stone countertops, and full electrical and gas rough-in at the high end. Most of our clients are in the middle of this range.
Fire Features
typical project range
A simple gas fire pit with a concrete or stone surround at entry-level; a fully masoned outdoor fireplace or large custom fire table with elaborate stonework and integrated gas systems at the high end. Gas line installation, electrical for the valve, and permit costs are typically within scope.
Artificial Turf
typical project range
Turf replacement as a standalone scope — base preparation, infill, and installation — at entry-level; larger multi-zone installations with complex edging, drainage integration, and pet turf variants at the high end. Price per square foot varies with sub-base condition and turf grade.
Landscape Lighting
typical project range
A basic path-and-accent system on a single transformer at entry-level; a full integrated lighting design — low voltage, architectural uplighting, in-grade fixtures, RGBW color zones, and smart-controller integration — at the high end. Most clients who have invested in the hardscape want lighting that does the build justice.
Full Backyard Remodel
typical project range
A coordinated design across the entire outdoor footprint: patio and hardscape, structure, fire feature, kitchen or bar, planting plan, lighting, and irrigation — built as a single project by a single crew. This is the work we do most of. The range is wide because the properties are different. A 1,200 sq ft La Mesa patio is not the same as a 5,000 sq ft Rancho Santa Fe estate renovation.
What moves the number
The five variables that matter most.
Material selection
Concrete block pavers and poured concrete are durable and appropriately priced. Natural stone — travertine, bluestone, limestone, granite — is in a different category. The gap between a CMU retaining wall and a natural boulder wall of the same height can be fifty percent of the total project cost.
Site conditions
Slope changes the excavation equation. Poor drainage or expansive soils change the base engineering. A property with restricted access — narrow gates, locked streets, fragile neighboring landscaping — changes the logistics. We read these at the site walk and price them honestly, not optimistically.
Permitting jurisdiction
The City of San Diego DSD, City of La Mesa, San Diego County PDS, City of Encinitas, and Carlsbad all process permits on different timelines and with different fee schedules. Coastal Commission overlay adds another layer. Permitting cost and lead time are built into the proposal, not invoiced as surprises.
HOA and covenant requirements
Some HOAs require design review before groundbreak — with a submission fee, a review period, and occasionally a revision cycle. Covenant communities like Rancho Santa Fe's CDRC have their own approval processes on top of the county permit process. We know how to navigate both.
Scope integration
Two scopes built together cost less than two scopes built six months apart. If you are planning a patio and a pergola, building them simultaneously saves mobilization, avoids double-trenching for electrical, and produces a more cohesive result. The proposal reflects this — combined scope is more efficient.
Finish work and detail
How a paver edge is finished. Whether a grout line is raked or bullnosed. Whether a stone cap is a standard piece or a custom-cut radius. Whether the lighting is a stock fixture aimed at a tree or a custom-focused lantern set into a niche. The difference between acceptable and excellent lives in the detail, and it costs proportionally.
How we price
One number. Not three.
We do not run budget tiers. There is no good-better-best menu. We give one honest number for the project we intend to build, with the materials and crew we will actually use. Line-item detail is in the proposal, so you understand exactly what you are paying for.
We do not price-match. When a competing estimate comes in lower, the most common explanations are a different material specification, a different crew, a thinner base, or a different definition of what "finished" means. We would rather explain the difference than lower our number to match a scope we do not recognize as the same work.
We do not take on small-scope work. Below the scope that warrants a dedicated crew, the overhead of our process — design, permitting, procurement, single-crew execution — cannot be delivered properly. We will tell you that clearly in the first call rather than waste your time or ours.
Change orders exist to handle scope changes you ask for, or site conditions no one could have known before the grade was opened. They are not a revenue lever. If something is in the proposal, it is in the price. If something new emerges, we bring it to you before we address it, and we price it in writing.
Start here
An honest number starts with a site visit.
The ranges on this page will tell you whether we are roughly in the same conversation. A real proposal requires walking the property, understanding the scope, and pricing the specific materials your project needs. The first call is thirty minutes, at no cost. If we are right for the work, we will tell you what the next step looks like.
All investment ranges on this page reflect current San Diego County material and labor conditions. Actual project cost is determined at proposal, following a site walk and design consultation. Licensed and insured general contractor, operating under Mike's Class B license — CSLB #1139785.