Terraces & paving
Large-format stone and porcelain on pedestal or mortar systems, with drainage designed into the layout.
Stone, concrete, decking, and walls
Surfaces set to the same tolerances as the house.
Terraces, driveways, stairs, walls, and decking laid out from the architecture's own grid, with joints and grades resolved on paper first.
Hardscape is where precision is most visible. A paving field that starts from the wrong reference line will be wrong at every edge, and no amount of planting hides it.
We set out every terrace from the building's own datum: full-size joint layouts, calculated falls to drainage, and cuts planned so the awkward piece never lands at the doorway.
What’s included
Hardscape, end to end.
Retaining & seat walls
Engineered retaining structures, board-formed and stone-clad walls, integrated bench seating.
Stairs & level changes
Consistent risers, generous treads, and lighting built into the structure.
Driveways & motor courts
Cobble, stone, and concrete fields engineered for real vehicle loads.
Decking
Ipe, thermally modified ash, and mineral composites with hidden fastening.
Drainage & grading
Area drains, channel drains, and dry wells sized for actual storm volumes.
Everything lines up, or it gets redrawn.
Paving joints, wall ends, step nosings, drain slots, and door mullions belong to one grid. Holding that grid across an entire property is the hardest and least negotiable part of the build.
Materials & finishes
Specified with real samples.
Stone
Limestone, travertine, bluestone, and granite in honed, sandblasted, or split finishes.
Concrete
Board-formed, sandblasted, and steel-troweled, with control joints placed by design.
Porcelain
Large-format outdoor porcelain for pool decks that stay cool and stain-free.
Wood
Ipe and thermally modified hardwoods detailed with even, aligned gaps.
Common questions
Hardscape questions, answered.
What counts as hardscape in a project like this?
Terraces, patios, stairs, driveways and motor courts, retaining and seat walls, planter edges, pool decks, and the drainage beneath all of it — the built ground plane of the property.
Which paving material works best in Los Angeles sun?
It depends on where you walk barefoot. Light limestone and large-format porcelain stay cooler at the pool, while denser stone and board-formed concrete hold up better on drives and heavily used terraces. We sample every option on site in daylight before specifying.
How do you keep paving from cracking or settling?
With the work you never see: compaction, base depth, subsurface drainage, movement joints placed on the drawing rather than improvised, and reinforcement sized for the actual soil conditions on your lot.
Do hardscape projects need permits?
Often, yes — retaining walls above a certain height, grading, stairs, and structures near property lines usually require permits, and hillside lots have additional requirements. We identify what applies to your property during design and handle the submissions.
Hardscape across Los Angeles
EncinoTarzanaSherman OaksStudio CityWoodland HillsCalabasasHidden HillsBeverly HillsAll service areas