Hardscape & Outdoor Living in Monrovia
Most hardscape that fails doesn’t fail at the surface. It fails underneath, in a base that was too thin or water with nowhere to go. Horizon Construction & Remodeling builds hardscape in Monrovia: patios, driveways, entries, retaining walls, steps and fire pits, with drainage planned in from the start. Monrovia was built in waves from the 1886 to 1887 townsite boom through the Pacific Electric years of 1903 to 1910 and the 1920s, when the city set a building permit record in 1923, so many yards still carry original slabs, walks and walls that have settled, cracked or started to lean. We work in neighborhoods such as Old Town Monrovia, the Wildrose Historic District, the Encinitas Historic District, Canyon Park, and we handle design, permits and construction under one contract.
Services We Offer
Drainage & Grading
Fire Pits & Fireplaces
Entries, Walks & Steps
Our Hardscape & Outdoor Living Process in Monrovia
Every hardscape job in Monrovia starts with a site visit. We look at grade, where water goes now, the soil, existing slabs and walls, utilities and how equipment will reach the yard. From there we draw the layout, materials, finished grades, drain locations and wall details in-house, so changes happen on paper rather than in wet concrete.
Structural or geotechnical engineers come in where a wall or the soil calls for it, and we pull the building, plumbing or encroachment permits the scope requires. Demolition and excavation come next, with utilities located before digging. Drain lines, sub-drains, gas lines and lighting conduit go in while the ground is open. The base is placed in compacted lifts with slope built in, then walls, steps and the finished surface. Final inspections and a walk-through with you close out the job.
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Permits for this work go through the City of Monrovia Community Development Department Building Division. One local factor worth knowing: the city has designated 164 historic landmarks under its 1995 preservation ordinance and reviews work on them by Certificate of Appropriateness, with Mills Act contracts available to owners. A patio laid at grade usually doesn’t need a building permit on its own, but retaining walls over the exemption, gas lines to fire features, lighting circuits and attached patio covers do. We confirm what applies to your lot in Monrovia before the design is final.
Retaining walls are where most of the code questions land. The common exemption covers walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and only if the wall isn’t supporting a surcharge such as a slope, driveway, pool or structure above it. A wall that shows three feet above grade can be over four once the footing is counted. Some cities are stricter near slopes. Every wall we build, permitted or not, gets a perforated drain line and gravel behind it with outlets to carry water out, because saturated soil is what pushes walls over.
Drainage matters as much as the surface. Parts of Southern California sit on expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks as it dries, so we grade away from the house, add area or channel drains where paving can’t shed water, and tie downspouts into the system. Stormwater rules increasingly favor keeping rain on the lot. Los Angeles County’s Low Impact Development rules for homes, for example, kick in when a project alters half or more of a lot’s impervious surface. Permeable pavers can help, though on heavy clay they need an underdrain.
Driveway approaches, curb cuts and sidewalk sections usually sit in the public right-of-way and need their own permit, and some cities limit how much of a front yard can be paved or how tall a wall can be in the front setback. Many HOAs review front-yard hardscape, so we prepare the drawings and samples their committee asks for. On lots in a mapped fire hazard zone, CAL FIRE guidance treats the first five feet around the house as the most important, and pavers, concrete or gravel belong there instead of bark or mulch.
Other Remodeling Services We Offer
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than any other room in the house: layout, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and finishes. Horizon designs and builds kitchen remodels under one contract, from the measured layout to the final inspection.
Whether you envision a classic Southern California pool or a fully customized backyard oasis, Horizon Construction & Remodeling delivers the highest level of quality and service. Our comprehensive pool design and remodeling services cover everything from layout and decking to built-in BBQs and final touches like landscaping. Let Horizon be your trusted partner in transforming your backyard into the perfect outdoor retreat.
If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel or simply want to change your tub, shower, update your plumbing fixtures, or make the space more efficient, our team at Horizon will help you through the process with expert advice, professional craftsmanship, and affordable options with beautiful results. Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services.
Transform your space with our expert interior work services. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions — from space planning and custom design to the selection of high-quality finishes and materials. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with you to create a space that’s both functional and stylish, tailored to your unique needs, goals, and budget. Whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire interior, we bring precision, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project.
At Horizon, we believe your home is more than just four walls — it’s where life happens. It’s the place you relax, gather with family and friends, and create lasting memories. That’s why we offer a full range of exterior work services designed to elevate your outdoor living space. From patios and hardscaping to custom decks and exterior renovations, we help turn your vision into a dream yard that complements your lifestyle and enhances curb appeal.
At Horizon Construction & Remodeling, our expert team includes a dedicated design and planning division that works hand-in-hand with licensed architects and structural engineers. We take care of everything — from detailed plans and blueprints to securing city permits — so you don’t have to deal with delays or red tape. Our goal is to streamline the process and provide a fully approved set of documents that aligns with both your vision and city regulations, saving you time and stress.
Why Choose Horizon Remodeling For Hardscape & Outdoor Living in Monrovia
Horizon Construction & Remodeling is a licensed Class B general building contractor, bonded and insured, with a license active since 2009 and more than 18 years building in Southern California. We’ve completed more than 1,500 projects.
On hardscape, the value of design-build is that grading, drainage, gas lines and structural walls are planned together instead of handed from one trade to the next. One project manager runs the job from the first site visit through final inspection, and engineering and permits are handled in-house rather than left to you. Our proposals break out demolition, base, drainage, walls and surface so you can compare bids on the parts you won’t see once the pavers are down.
We’re an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, NARI and NKBA members, A+ rated with the BBB, and recipients of Best of Houzz in multiple years and the Angi Super Service Award. You can see materials at the Horizon Design Center in Fullerton, and our Laguna Hills office keeps us within reach of Monrovia. Call (714) 449-9035 to set up a site visit.
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Hardscape & Outdoor Living FAQ
Do I need a permit for hardscape in Monrovia?
A paver or concrete patio laid at grade usually doesn’t need a building permit by itself. Retaining walls over the exemption or carrying a surcharge, gas lines to fire pits, lighting circuits, attached patio covers and driveway work in the public right-of-way generally do. In Monrovia, those permits go through the City of Monrovia Community Development Department Building Division. We check the current rules and handle the applications as part of the design.
Pavers or concrete for a driveway?
Both work when the base is right. Pavers move as small units, so they flex with minor ground movement instead of cracking, and a section can be lifted and relaid if a utility line needs work. Poured concrete is one continuous slab that’s easy to keep clean, but it will crack, so control joints are cut to keep cracks in straight lines. On clay soil we often lean toward pavers.
How tall can a retaining wall be without a permit?
In most jurisdictions the exemption covers walls up to 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, as long as the wall isn’t supporting a surcharge such as a slope, driveway, pool or structure above it. Some cities set lower limits for walls on or near slopes. We confirm the rule with the building department before the wall is designed.
How long does a hardscape project take?
A patio or driveway replacement is often a few weeks on site once materials and any permits are in hand. Engineered retaining walls, gas lines, encroachment permits for the approach or HOA review add time before and during construction. A full yard with walls, drainage and a fire feature can run a couple of months. We give you a schedule with the proposal and update it if inspections or weather move it.
What drives the cost of hardscape?
Mostly the parts you can’t see. Breaking out and hauling old concrete, access for equipment, soil conditions and base depth, drainage pipe and drains, and engineered walls with footings, steel and sub-drains carry a large share of the budget. Surface material, pattern cuts, gas and electrical work, and permits add to it. Your written proposal breaks each of those out.
Can you work with my HOA and plan for later phases?
Yes. We prepare the drawings and material samples an architectural committee asks for and build their review into the schedule. If you plan to add a kitchen, patio cover or pool later, we lay out drains, gas stubs and conduit now so the next phase doesn’t mean breaking up new paving.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Monrovia and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.