Case study
Pavers, Turf and Walls in Hillsborough
Sequoia Outdoor paver, turf, wall, drainage and lighting project in Hillsborough, CA, with Belgard hardscape, artificial turf and planting areas.
- Location
- Hillsborough
- Scope
- Artificial Turf
- Completed
- July 2024
- Investment
- $240,000–$275,000
The challenge
A low brick-and-iron wall and an overgrown hedge fronted the property, closing off the house and the entry from the street.
The lawn had browned out and the old hardscape paths were cracked and disconnected, so there was no clean way to move from the driveway up to the front door.
The hillside grade wasn't held, and drainage, irrigation, and lighting had been patched separately over the years rather than planned into the frontage.
Our approach
The build started from the grade. Because the frontage climbs a hillside, Sequoia Outdoor set the tiered Belgard Melville retaining wall first — about 180 linear feet of it standing three feet high, plus a 22-foot stair-wall run — and let the rest of the plan follow that line. The grand entry staircase and its two capped pillars were built into the wall, the paver fields and turf were fitted to the terraces the wall created, and the drainage, irrigation, and low-voltage lighting were routed underneath before any surface went down. Because the Town of Hillsborough's landscape review and Fire Department approval were cleared first, the spring build ran without stopping for permits.The outcome
Today the approach works as one piece. From the driveway, the paver walk runs past the stone entry pillar and the new turf lawn to the grand staircase that climbs between capped pillars to the front door. The tiered wall holds the hillside behind fresh mulched planting beds, and after dark the low-voltage fixtures wash the wall faces and pick out the steps. Where there had been a cracked path, a browned lawn, and an overgrown hedge, the frontage now has clear circulation, held grade, and a lawn that stays green without water.
The plan
Coordinate the full frontage — walls, steps, pavers, turf, planting, drainage, irrigation, and lighting — from a single 2D landscape plan rather than as separate surface updates.
Hold the hillside grade with a tiered Belgard Melville segmental wall under graphite caps, tie in a 22-foot stair-wall run, and frame the entry with two 16-square-foot capped pillars.
Lay roughly 1,300 square feet of Belgard pavers — about 1,068 square feet of Catalina Grana on the drives and paths, with about 225 square feet of Quarziti 2.0 stone as an accent — and set nine Belgard landing steps for the staircase.
Set the artificial-turf lawn across the front and side yards, held to the planting beds by about 184 linear feet of Belgard Anglia edging.
Route a 3-inch SDR-35 storm-drain and perforated-pipe system with pop-up emitters, run a drip-irrigation system on new anti-siphon valves, and light the wall faces and steps with low-voltage fixtures.
Build highlights
Demo and Removal
Remove the existing wall and footing, overgrown shrubs, old hexagonal pavers and brick edging so the new frontage could be set out.
Grading the Slope
Regrade the cleared hillside frontage to the new terrace lines the retaining wall would hold.
Base Preparation
Spread and compact the crushed-rock base for the paver drives, walks and stair landings.
Turf and Finish
Set the artificial-turf lawn beside the finished paver walkway, then complete edging, planting areas and clean-up.
Before and after
Project gallery
Frequently asked questions
What does a similar paver, turf, and retaining-wall project in Hillsborough cost?
A similar Hillsborough frontage with pavers, artificial turf, a tiered retaining wall, an entry staircase, drainage, irrigation, lighting, and planting-area installation typically falls around $235k to $270k, depending on wall scope, site access, drainage needs, lighting count, and material selections.How long did the project take?
About 17 weeks of active construction, though the calendar ran from a fall 2023 start to completion in July 2024. The gap was the Town of Hillsborough's landscape review and Fire Department approval, which were cleared over the winter before the spring build.Does a project like this need Town of Hillsborough review?
Yes. This project went through the Town of Hillsborough's Administrative Review of Landscaping and Fire Department approval before construction started. Requirements vary by property and scope, so a licensed contractor can tell you what your specific plan triggers before you mobilize.Can pavers, turf, drainage, and lighting all be built from one plan?
Yes. This frontage coordinated the Belgard pavers, artificial turf, storm-drain and perforated pipe, drip irrigation, planting beds, and low-voltage lighting from a single landscape plan, so the surface layout and the underground work were set to fit together rather than retrofitted later.What maintenance should homeowners expect with artificial turf and drip irrigation?
Artificial turf still needs periodic rinsing, grooming, and debris removal, but no mowing or watering. The drip-irrigation zones and valve assemblies feeding the planting beds should be checked seasonally for coverage and timing, especially where mulch and new plants are part of the same install.Project topics
Project location
Approximate neighborhood near Hillsborough. The pin is displaced by approximately 150 metres to protect client privacy.