Finished backyard landscape with a modern black pergola centered over fresh planting beds and sod lawn, connected by...

Paver Patio & Louvered Pergola in Los Gatos

Paver patio in Los Gatos: Belgard hardscape, a 16x10 louvered pergola, segmental retaining wall and an 800 sf sod lawn. Sequoia Outdoor project (95032).

Location
Los Gatos
Style
Modern

The Problem

The backyard was mostly bare dirt and tired lawn, so there was little usable open space outside the existing patio.

There was no shaded spot to sit or dine in the yard during warm afternoons.

Planting areas were overgrown or empty, with no irrigation or drainage to keep new landscaping healthy.

Our Approach

The homeowners had a worn backyard with bare ground, an aging wall, and nowhere shaded to relax outside. Sequoia Outdoor rebuilt the grade with a Belgard segmental retaining wall, laid a Belgard paver patio and walkways, and set a 16x10 louvered pergola with retractable side and front screens over the seating area. New planting beds, an 800 sf sod lawn, drip irrigation, and low-voltage landscape lighting finished the space. Now the yard reads as one connected outdoor room, shaded by the pergola and open across a green lawn.

The Plan

Replace the existing wall with a Belgard Diamond Pro Straight Face Victorian segmental retaining wall, capped with Belgard Air and Melville wall caps to hold the grade.

Lay a Belgard paver patio and curved walkways with Diamond Pro Victorian field, 6x12 Marina bullnose coping, and 26 set steppingstones, with curved paver steps and step foundations.

Build a 16x10 louvered pergola over the patio with retractable side and front screens, plus stucco cabinets at the patio edge.

Install an 800 sf sod lawn (90% Fescue, 10% Bluegrass) with amended soil, framed by new planting beds, a 24 in box tree, decorative rock, and an 8 ft redwood planter box.

Run drip irrigation on a Hunter WiFi smart controller, with SDR-35 perforated drainage to move surface water away from the patio and beds.

Add Pro-Trade low-voltage landscape lighting (path, up, and ledge lights on a 150W transformer) to light the patio, steps, and walkways after dark.

The Build

The Result

An 800 sf sod lawn, a Belgard paver patio with curved walkways and steps, and a roughly 103 sf segmental retaining wall replaced the bare dirt and tired grass. A 16x10 louvered pergola with retractable screens now shades the patio, and new planting beds, a redwood planter, and decorative rock define the edges, all served by drip irrigation and low-voltage lighting.
Finished backyard landscape with a modern black pergola centered over fresh planting beds and sod lawn, connected by... After
Wide view of the cleared and graded bare-dirt backyard before landscaping, with staged blocks and the edge of the kitchen... Before
Black louvered pergola over a gray paver patio with a curved seat wall and planted beds behind the sod lawn.
Finished wide view of the large black pergola over a patterned paver patio with bar seating and fire bowl set against the... After
Original-state wide backyard in good light showing a single-story house, a small existing patio with scattered furniture,... Before
Wide paver patio under the louvered pergola with a bar-height table, redwood planters, and the raised deck.
Wide finished low-maintenance landscape with square pavers set in a gravel field leading to a gray shed, cedar raised... After
Early base-prep view of the cleared dirt yard with a wheelbarrow, debris piles and bins staged under the deck and the... Before
Gravel garden with redwood planters, a steppingstone path, and new plantings by the detached studio.

Gallery

Investment Range

Toggle components on or off to estimate your project at a similar scope in Los Gatos.

  • $24,500 – $27,500
  • $24,000 – $27,000
  • $21,500 – $24,500
  • $18,500 – $21,000
  • $15,500 – $17,500
  • $7,000 – $8,500
  • $5,000 – $6,000
  • $3,500 – $4,500
  • $3,500 – $4,500
  • $3,500 – $4,500
  • $3,500 – $4,500
Estimated total

Estimates only — actual investment depends on site conditions, material selections, and scope.

FAQs

What does a paver patio and pergola backyard like this cost in Los Gatos?
A connected backyard build in Los Gatos with a Belgard paver patio, a segmental retaining wall, a louvered pergola, a new sod lawn, drainage, and lighting typically lands in the six figures, driven mostly by the hardscape, the pergola, and site demolition. Final cost depends on access, grade, square footage, and material choices. The best way to plan is a site-specific estimate for your yard.
How long does a backyard project like this take to build?
A backyard of this scope, with demolition, a new retaining wall, a full paver patio, a pergola, an 800 sf lawn, irrigation, drainage, and lighting, generally runs several weeks on site. Limited backyard access and the volume of soil to excavate and off-haul are the main factors that lengthen the schedule. We give a realistic timeline once we have walked the site.
Is the lawn real grass or a low-water alternative?
This yard uses real sod, an 800 sf lawn of 90% Fescue and 10% Bluegrass laid over amended soil. It is watered by drip irrigation on a Hunter WiFi smart controller, so the watering schedule can be managed from a phone. Real sod gives a soft, natural lawn surface and works well alongside the new planting beds.
How much maintenance does a yard like this need?
The sod lawn needs regular mowing and watering, which the WiFi smart controller helps automate. The Belgard paver patio and segmental wall need only occasional rinsing and joint upkeep. Planting beds with drip irrigation and decorative rock keep weeding low, and the low-voltage lighting runs on a transformer with little ongoing attention. Overall upkeep stays moderate for a yard this size.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a backyard like this in Los Gatos?
Permit and approval requirements for patios, retaining walls, and structures vary by jurisdiction, and the local building department sets the thresholds for wall height and structures in your area. A pergola, drainage, and a taller retaining wall are the elements most likely to trigger review. We help identify what your project needs before work starts. Verify current requirements with a licensed contractor or your local building department.

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