Start with the living parts of the yard

Tell us which trees, shrubs and planting beds you want retained. Include them in photographs of the proposed work area so the discussion begins with the yard as it exists.

A smaller patio or a different route may meet your needs while leaving useful planting space. We discuss how much surface you need for furniture and walking while keeping the planting space you want.

Check protected plants before removal or excavation

West Hills is a Los Angeles neighborhood. The city's Urban Forestry Division has authority over certain protected native trees on private property as well as trees in the public right-of-way.

The city's protected species include qualifying native oaks, western sycamores and other listed trees and shrubs. Confirm identification and applicable protections before planning removals or work close to roots.

Los Angeles requires a permit to remove or relocate a protected tree or shrub. Its ordinance can also treat damaging activities, including certain root damage or grade changes, as removal when they cause the protected plant to die.

Check proposed excavation, grade changes and equipment access for effects on protected roots before work begins. Any necessary tree assessment or permitting should be arranged with the appropriate provider; it is not assumed to be part of our hardscaping service.

Keep access away from sensitive areas where possible

Show the available route from the street or driveway to the backyard. Tell us about gates, narrow passages and landscaping that should remain outside the work area.

Discuss where materials can be staged and where debris can leave the property.

Use the patio footprint to solve a specific need

A dining area, a place to cook and a path beside the house require different amounts of room. We discuss those activities with your actual furniture and appliance dimensions.

Mark the areas you use now and the places where movement is awkward. That information helps decide whether a new surface, a targeted change or a broader backyard project is appropriate.

Leave useful planting and maintenance access

Think about access to irrigation valves, equipment and garden areas that will stay. Show their locations so the new surface does not turn an ordinary task into an obstacle.

If you want an open border for planting, include its dimensions in the plan. A narrow leftover strip may not serve the purpose you had in mind when you pictured a planted edge.

Consider the meeting points

The connections at a door, an existing walkway or a pool edge often need more discussion than the central paving pattern. Ask how the proposed surface will meet those retained elements.

We can discuss hardscaping together with pool remodeling when both are needed. Identify the boundary between the two scopes, especially where the patio meets coping or other pool materials.

Compare paving by construction and upkeep

Ask which materials are available for your project before settling on a particular surface. A photograph can help communicate style, but approval should identify the actual product and the construction system.

For interlocking concrete pavers, the units are only the visible layer. Subgrade preparation, the aggregate base, bedding, joint material and edge restraints all contribute to the finished pavement.

Look below the pattern

Discuss how the proposed base is suited to the intended use and existing ground conditions. The base needs its intended grade and compaction before the bedding layer is placed.

The proposal should describe the system rather than naming only the paver color. If the ground needs additional work, ask how that will be addressed before installation continues.

Edge restraints help keep an interlocking surface in place. Ask how restraints will be detailed at garden borders and other exposed edges.

Ask how the surface will be maintained

Review the chosen product's cleaning instructions, especially if cooking will take place nearby. Compatible cleaners and sealers should be selected for the material and the particular concern.

If you notice wide joints, uneven units or recurring low areas in existing paving, discuss the possible cause before deciding to replace everything. Have the cause and extent assessed to decide whether a localized repair can retain sound surrounding paving.

Sealing is a separate material and maintenance decision. Ask whether it is proposed, what it is intended to do and which care instructions will apply after it is used.

Place the BBQ before building around it

We offer BBQ-area work as part of our backyard services. Bring the grill's dimensions and installation manual so the surrounding layout can be discussed around the actual appliance.

Keep space for the cook and the route past that area. A counter or seating arrangement should not require other people to crowd the grill to reach the rest of the patio.

Follow the manufacturer's installation and clearance requirements and maintain service access. Establish separately whether any gas, electrical or plumbing work is included and who will perform it.

If you are still choosing the grill, settle that choice before enclosing it in a fixed surround. A change in appliance dimensions can affect openings and adjoining work.

Confirm Los Angeles review before changing the yard

Ask LADBS which requirements apply to the complete proposal. Additional structures, retaining walls or utility changes can introduce review that a simple surface discussion does not capture.

If work involves grading in a hillside grading area, LADBS's grading guidance is relevant. Confirm the property's status and the exact earthwork instead of assuming all West Hills yards follow one process.

City Planning also publishes a Valley Circle/Plummer Street Scenic Corridor overlay within the broader community plan area. Confirm the parcel's overlay status and any review required for the proposed work with City Planning.

Tree protections and applicable planning controls should be resolved before work that affects them begins. Put any separately required assessments or documents into the project responsibilities so their inclusion is clear.

Talk with us about your West Hills backyard

Send us the address, photographs and a description of the area you want to use differently. Include any trees or planting you want retained and the approximate furniture or BBQ dimensions.

We can discuss patios and backyard hardscaping as a focused project or alongside pool work. Ask for removal, material selection, finish details and cleanup boundaries to be stated in the agreed scope.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep a mature tree beside the new patio

Possibly, but species, condition and the proposed work need assessment. Confirm any protected status and the effect of excavation before treating that location as ready for paving.

Are pavers automatically a permeable surface

No. Permeable pavement requires a suitable system of joints, bedding and underlying layers, with site conditions considered; ordinary pavers alone do not establish that performance.

Do I need to replace every uneven paver

Not necessarily. The extent and cause of movement matter, so discuss whether a targeted repair is reasonable before selecting wholesale replacement.

Can the patio be planned around an existing pool

Yes, we offer backyard hardscaping and pool services. Show which pool components will remain so adjoining levels and material connections can be discussed together.

Does hardscaping include tree removal or utility installation

Those services are not assumed to be included. Identify any related work and its provider explicitly before approving the project.