Gray paver patio meeting a bark planting bed with a boulder and new plantings along the wood fence.

Pavers, Lighting and Planting in Palo Alto

Palo Alto paver, drainage and lighting project with Belgard hardscape, mulch beds, wood fencing and planter areas by Sequoia Outdoor.

Location
Palo Alto
Completed
March 2025
Style
Modern

The Problem

Older concrete, leaf-covered planting areas and bare soil left the front and backyard without clear finished routes.

Drainage and irrigation needed to be planned with the new paving, mulch beds and planter areas.

The outdoor layout needed defined zones for entry, driveway, patio and garden areas.

Our Approach

Sequoia Outdoor installed 3,800 sq ft of Belgard pavers, wood fencing and gates, drainage pipe, irrigation valves, low-voltage fixtures, mulch, decorative rock and planter boxes. The finished layout gives the Palo Alto property clear hardscape routes, planted edges and lighting across the front, side and backyard.

The Plan

Coordinate the front yard, side yard, backyard and pool-deck access from a 2D landscape plan.

Install 3,800 sq ft of Belgard paving across driveway, walkway and patio zones.

Add wood fencing, two gates, planter boxes, a fountain base and 57 linear ft of Belgard Melville curb edging.

Route drainage with 260 linear ft of 3 in SDR-35 pipe, 77 linear ft of perforated SDR-35 pipe, channel and grate drains, pop-up emitters, downspout adapters and a dry well pit.

Finish planting surfaces with bark mulch, mini bark, topsoil, 178 sq ft of decorative rock, 39 linear ft of steel edging and 9 irrigation valve zones.

The Build

The Result

The finished project added 3,800 sq ft of Belgard paving, wood fencing with two gates, 57 linear ft of Melville curb edging, 260 linear ft of SDR-35 drainage pipe, 77 linear ft of perforated SDR-35 pipe, 9 irrigation valve zones and 33 low-voltage fixtures. Front, side and backyard areas now have paver routes, mulch and rock beds, planted zones and lighting.
Bark planting bed with new plantings and path lighting around a mature tree, edged by a gray paver walkway. After
Backyard area with surface mostly stripped to soil and organic mulch, showing a spray-painted layout line marking a... Before
Bark planting bed with new plantings and path lighting around a mature tree, edged by a gray paver walkway.
Finished backyard paver patio with large rectangular raised planters and a metal trellis arch. Clean gray interlocking... After
Backyard site photo showing existing concrete patio with outdoor furniture and a storage shed, adjacent to a wood... Before
Gray paver patio with raised metal planter boxes, a garden trellis arch and path lighting along the fence.

Gallery

Investment Range

Toggle components on or off to estimate your project at a similar scope in Palo Alto.

  • $81,000 – $94,000
  • $22,500 – $26,000
  • $16,000 – $18,500
  • $12,000 – $14,000
  • $9,000 – $10,500
  • $8,000 – $9,500
  • $6,500 – $7,500
Estimated total

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

FAQs

What does a similar paver, drainage and landscape lighting project in Palo Alto cost?
A similar Palo Alto project with pavers, fencing, drainage, irrigation, mulch beds, decorative rock, planter areas and low-voltage lighting may run around $155k to $180k depending on access, drainage routing, lighting count and material selections.
Can one outdoor project combine pavers, drainage, fencing and lighting?
Yes. This project combined 3,800 sq ft of Belgard paving with drainage pipe, irrigation controls, mulch and rock beds, wood fencing and gates, planter boxes and low-voltage lighting from one landscape plan.
Does a Palo Alto project with pavers and drainage need permits?
Requirements depend on drainage discharge, electrical scope and property rules. Review the plan with the City of Palo Alto or the local building department before construction. Verify current requirements with a licensed contractor or attorney.
Why include drainage with a large paver installation?
Large paver areas change how water moves across a yard. This project included SDR-35 drain pipe, perforated drain pipe, drain grates, pop-up emitters, downspout adapters and a dry well pit so water routing could be planned with the new hardscape.
What maintenance comes with pavers, mulch beds, irrigation and lighting?
Paver joints should be kept clear of debris, and drain grates should be checked seasonally. Irrigation valve zones, mulch beds, decorative rock areas and low-voltage fixtures also benefit from periodic inspection as plants establish and seasons change.

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