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: February 2025
Timeline: Hardscape installation ran through December, with a winter pause waiting on client-supplied materials before planting and finish work wrapped in mid-February 2025.
Style: Modern

Project Story

The challenge, the design response, and what changed.

The Challenge

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 Outcome

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.

Outdoor living project in Palo Alto — design plan diagram. Sequoia Outdoor.

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

Bark planting bed with new plantings and path lighting around a mature tree, edged by a gray paver walkway.

Backyard area with surface mostly stripped to soil and organic mulch, showing a spray-painted layout line marking a... — 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... — Gray paver patio with raised metal planter boxes, a garden trellis arch and path lighting along the fence.

Backyard site photo showing existing concrete patio with outdoor furniture and a storage shed, adjacent to a wood... — 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.

Pavers & Hardscape $81,000 – $94,000
Drainage $22,500 – $26,000
Demo & Site Work $16,000 – $18,500
Artificial Turf & Landscaping $12,000 – $14,000
Structures $9,000 – $10,500
Pavers, Steps and Caps $8,000 – $9,500
Lighting $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.