Surface, shade, seating, lighting and power are designed together instead of added on later.
What we build
- Paver, flagstone and concrete patios
- Dining and lounge zoning
- Built-in seat walls and fire features
- Shade structures and pergolas
- Patio lighting and outlets
- Drainage away from the house
Built by us · Real project
Hillcrest Covered Deck & Gravel Lounge
Hillcrest
Dining and lounge seating occupy distinct spaces connected by a strong timber focal point. The tall hedge forms a green backdrop, and visible step lights accent the changes in level.
See This ProjectSize it to the furniture
Most undersized patios were drawn to fit a leftover space rather than a real table and chairs with clearance behind them. We lay out furniture footprints during design so the finished space works.
Sun, shade and afternoon heat
West-facing patios in San Diego need a shade plan. Pergolas, sails, trees or structure orientation are decided before the surface goes in.
Outdoor living spaces, zone by zone
Most San Diego backyards work best split into zones: a dining terrace near the house, a lounge or fire area a step away, a cooking counter, and planting or lawn beyond. Patio design is mostly deciding how those zones connect and how people move between them.
Materials and surfaces
Pavers, flagstone, concrete or a combination with planting bands between. The surface sets the tone of the whole yard, so we look at samples outdoors, at the actual scale, before anything is ordered.
Fire, shade, seating and light
A fire feature gives the lounge zone a center, shade decides whether the space is usable in August, built-in seating adds capacity without more furniture, and lighting is what keeps people outside after dark.
Our work
Patio Projects We've Built
Real Staples Landscaping project pages — same trade, around San Diego County.
Read first
Before you start your patio project
Planning and cost guides from our own build experience.
Cost & Pricing
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost in San Diego?
What paver patios actually cost across San Diego County, what's hiding in the base layer, and how to read three wildly different bids.
3 min readMaterials & Hardscape
Flagstone Patios in San Diego: Types, Costs and Joint Options
Stone selection, dry-set vs. mortar-set, and the joint decision that determines how your flagstone ages.
3 min readMaterials & Hardscape
A Guide to Concrete Finishes for San Diego Yards
Six concrete finishes, what each costs, how each handles sun and wet feet, and which ones age gracefully.
3 min readServing San Diego County
We take on patio projects in La Jolla, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Poway, Scripps Ranch, Point Loma, Coronado, North Park, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Mission Hills, Clairemont, University City and surrounding communities. See all service areas.
Licensed C-27 Landscape Contractor — CSLB License #1159370
Common questions
- How big should a patio be?
- For a six-person dining table plan on roughly 12 by 14 feet so chairs can pull out. A lounge seating area with a fire feature wants about 14 by 16 feet. Undersized patios are the most common regret we see.
- Do I need shade over the patio?
- Inland, almost always — an unshaded patio in El Cajon or Poway sits unused from June through September. On the coast, wind protection often matters more than shade.
- What is the best patio material for San Diego?
- Pavers for durability and soil movement, flagstone for character and natural texture, concrete for budget and clean modern lines. Soil conditions and access usually narrow the choice quickly.
- What does an outdoor living space cost?
- It depends on the surface material, the size, and how much shade, masonry, lighting and fire feature work is included. Zoning the yard during design is what keeps the budget aimed at the parts you use.
- Can you add a patio to an existing backyard without redoing everything?
- Yes. Plenty of our projects are a single patio, its drainage and its lighting, designed to fit a yard we may extend later.
- Are you licensed for patio work in San Diego?
- Yes. Staples Landscaping holds California contractor license #1159370, carries liability and workers' compensation coverage, and pulls permits on any work that requires them. You can verify the license directly with the CSLB.
- Do you serve my part of San Diego County?
- We work across San Diego County — coastal, central, inland, East County and South Bay. Each area has its own soil, climate and permitting reality, which is why we publish neighborhood-level pages rather than one generic service area list.
