Top Hardscaping Contractors in Inglewood, California Ranked

Transforming your outdoor space with stone, concrete, and other permanent structures requires careful planning and expert installation. Hardscaping, which includes patios, walkways, retaining walls, and other non-living landscape features, adds significant value, functionality, and aesthetic appeal to your Inglewood property. This guide will help you understand the local considerations for masonry, paving, and outdoor construction, from material selection to navigating soil and slope challenges, so you can confidently connect with skilled professionals for your project.

Gabriel´s Tree Service And Landscaping

11528 Felton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Gabriel's Tree Service And Landscaping is a full-service tree and landscaping company based in Los Angeles, CA. They offer a wide range of services including tree trimming, removal, stump grinding, emergency tree care available 24/7, landscape design, sprinkler installation and repair, land clearing, demolition, and hardscaping. Their certified arborists use professional equipment to safely manage tree emergencies and routine maintenance for residential and commercial properties. With over 20 years of experience, Gabriel's Tree Service And Landscaping also provides demolition services tailored to site preparation and renovation needs.

5.0

595 Reviews

Green Advisor Inc.

7660 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Green Advisor Inc. is a landscaping and remodeling company based in Los Angeles, CA. They provide comprehensive landscape design and construction services, including hardscaping, irrigation system installation, and custom outdoor renovations. Their expertise extends to pool construction, patio and deck building, and eco-friendly home remodeling projects. The company is recognized for its award-winning landscape designs and sustainable outdoor solutions. Green Advisor Inc. also offers 3D design services to help clients visualize their projects. They serve the Greater Los Angeles area, including the San Fernando Valley, and collaborate with trusted suppliers to ensure quality materials and craftsmanship.

5.0

250 Reviews

Fency Builders

5501 Laurel Canyon Blvd Unit 314, North Hollywood, CA 91607

Fency Builders is a fencing and hardscaping contractor based in Los Angeles, CA. They offer a range of services including metal and wood fence installation, block wall construction and repair, exterior painting, pillar design and installation, deck and patio cover installation, garage door services, automatic gate opener installation, and welding and metal fabrication. Their team provides customized solutions that combine security, functionality, and aesthetic appeal to enhance residential and commercial properties. Fency Builders emphasizes craftsmanship and precision in their work, with capabilities such as precision welding and smooth metalwork to ensure durable and visually appealing results.

5.0

109 Reviews

RainforestLA, Inc.

442 Alandele Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

RainforestLA, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based landscape company with over 20 years of experience. They offer landscape design, hardscaping, and outdoor lighting installation services throughout Los Angeles, Inglewood, and Santa Monica, CA. Their capabilities include creating detailed 3D landscape designs and installing LED low-voltage lighting to enhance outdoor spaces after dark. The company focuses on combining functionality with aesthetic appeal to create inviting outdoor living areas.

5.0

92 Reviews

Pacific Outdoor Living

8309 Tujunga Ave #201, Sun Valley, CA 91352

Pacific Outdoor Living is a landscaping and hardscaping company based in Los Angeles, CA. They offer a wide range of outdoor services including landscape design, swimming pools and spas, patios, driveways, outdoor kitchens, walkways, and water features. The company handles projects of all sizes, from small yard additions to full landscape designs, focusing on delivering projects that are designed and built right, on time, and on budget.

4.9

318 Reviews

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Popular Hardscape Materials for Inglewood Homes

Choosing the right materials is the first step toward a durable and beautiful outdoor living area. The mild Southern California climate allows for a wide range of options, but selecting materials that complement your home's style and stand up to local conditions is key. ^{1 2 3}

• Concrete Pavers: A top choice for driveways, patios, and walkways due to their exceptional durability, low maintenance, and vast array of colors, shapes, and textures. They offer a versatile look that can mimic natural stone or cobblestone while providing a stable, interlocking surface. ^{4 2}
• Natural Stone: For a timeless, organic aesthetic, flagstone, slate, and quartzite are popular selections. These materials are ideal for creating elegant patios, meandering garden pathways, and decorative accents that blend seamlessly with the landscape. ^{4 5}
• Poured Concrete: A common and cost-effective foundation for many outdoor projects. When finished with stamps, stains, or exposed aggregate, poured concrete can be a highly durable and attractive option for patios and walkways. ^{2 6}
• Brick: Known for its strength and classic, traditional appearance, brick is used for everything from architectural details to durable walkways. It offers a warm color palette that ages gracefully. ⁴
• Gravel and Decomposed Granite (DG): Excellent for low-traffic pathways, ground cover in drought-resistant (xeriscape) gardens, and informal seating areas. These materials are permeable, allowing for better water absorption, and offer a casual, rustic look. ^{7 6}

Understanding Inglewood's Soil and Critical Drainage Planning

The success and longevity of your masonry or paving project depend heavily on proper preparation for local soil conditions. Inglewood's native soils present specific challenges that must be addressed in the design phase. ^{8 9}

The area's soils are primarily clayey and sandy alluvium, which have two major implications for outdoor construction:

1. Low Infiltration Rate: High clay content means the soil has low permeability. Water drains very slowly, which can lead to pooling, prolonged moisture retention, and, if improperly managed, potential hydrostatic pressure against foundations and retaining walls. ^{8 10}
2. Expansive Potential: Some local soils can have a "very low" to "medium" expansion potential. This means the soil swells when wet and shrinks during dry periods, which can cause settling, cracking, or heaving of improperly installed hardscapes. ^{11 10}

Therefore, effective drainage integration is not an optional upgrade-it's a fundamental requirement. Any plan for patios, walkways, or other impervious surfaces must include a minimum slope of 2% directing water away from your home's foundation. ^{12 13} For properties with complex grading or limited space, incorporating area drains, channel drains, or swales into the hardscape design is often necessary to manage runoff effectively and protect your investment. ¹¹

Navigating Slopes and Building Codes

Inglewood features varied terrain, and many properties have sloped areas that offer both opportunity and complexity for outdoor living spaces. Proper engineering is crucial here.

Hardscaping on sloped land, such as building a tiered patio or a necessary retaining wall, requires careful stabilization to prevent erosion and ensure long-term stability. The City of Inglewood and Los Angeles County building codes have specific requirements. A geotechnical report may be required to assess soil stability before construction begins. ¹⁴ Codes typically specify setbacks from the top and bottom of slopes, and the maximum allowable slope for cuts and fills is generally 2 horizontal to 1 vertical, unless a licensed civil or geotechnical engineer provides an alternative, justified design. ^{15 16}

One significant advantage in Inglewood is the minimal frost concern. Unlike colder climates, deep frost lines and ground freezing are not significant design factors. This often simplifies foundation requirements for standard paving and masonry work, as footings do not need to be dug exceptionally deep to prevent frost heave. ^{1 17}

Key Structural Considerations: Retaining Walls and Permits

Retaining walls are a common hardscape feature for managing slopes and creating usable flat areas. They are also one of the most regulated.

Any retaining wall over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) requires a building permit from the City of Inglewood. ¹⁸ More importantly, walls of this scale almost always require design by a licensed engineer to ensure they can withstand the lateral pressure of the soil behind them. ^{19 16} Even walls under 4 feet need to be built correctly with proper compaction, drainage (like a gravel backfill and weep holes), and a solid base to prevent failure.

For all hardscaping projects, it's wise to check with the city's planning or building department early in your process. While simple patios or walkways at grade may not always need a permit, any project that alters drainage patterns, involves electrical work (for lighting), or includes structural elements likely will. A reputable contractor will handle this permitting process for you.

Project Investment and Value

The cost of hardscape installation in Inglewood varies based on the materials chosen, the complexity of your site (grading, drainage, access), and the contractor's expertise. ²⁰ As a general guide, you can consider the following estimated price ranges for installed projects:

• Patios (using Concrete Pavers or Poured Concrete): $15 - $35+ per square foot.
• Walkways (Pavers, Natural Stone, or Decomposed Granite): $12 - $30+ per square foot.
• Retaining Walls (Concrete Block or Poured Concrete): $30 - $60+ per square foot of the wall's face.

Remember, the lowest bid is not always the best value. Quality site preparation, proper drainage, and skilled craftsmanship are investments that prevent costly repairs down the line and ensure your outdoor living space is both beautiful and built to last.

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