Patio Design & Hardscape in Somerville

Somerville has some of the smallest backyards we work in — and that's exactly why design matters so much here. A good plan turns a cramped space behind a two-family into a spot you'll actually use all summer. We've been building around Davis, Winter Hill, and East Somerville for over 37 years.

Most jobs here come down to making every foot count: a clean patio for a table and chairs, greenery for privacy, and lighting so it's still nice after dark. And yeah, we know the Somerville drill: no driveway, street parking, and carrying everything down a narrow side yard. Normal day for us.

Where we work in Somerville

All over the city — Davis Square, Union Square, Teele Square, Ball Square, and Magoun Square, plus Winter Hill, Spring Hill, and the blocks near Assembly and Porter.

What we usually build here

• Compact paver and stone patios for small city lots
• Backyard makeovers with plantings, screening, and lighting
• Walkways, steps, and grading between tight houses
• Fire pits and seating areas for hanging out
• Low-maintenance setups, including modern paver-and-turf designs
• Permeable pavers and Green Score–friendly drainage

Permeable pavers & Somerville’s Green Score

Adding or replacing hardscape in Somerville? The city’s Green Score stormwater ordinance can factor into your project — and we’re permeable paver installers, so we can design a patio, walkway, or driveway that drains on-site and helps your lot meet the requirement instead of pushing water (and stormwater fees) toward the street. Here’s how Somerville’s Green Score works and how permeable pavers help.

Why Somerville homeowners pick us

Somerville throws things at a backyard project that other towns don’t — and after 37 years here, we build around all of them:

• Small urban backyards are our specialty. A tight lot behind a two- or three-family isn’t a limitation — designed as one outdoor room, it becomes the best space in the house.
• Tight access is normal for us. No driveway, no truck access, a narrow alley, or a walk straight through the house — we bring materials in by hand or small equipment and protect your floors and your neighbors while we do it.
• Rat-resistant builds. Somerville’s density means rats, and a rushed patio or raised bed can hand them a home. We build to deny them harborage — a properly compacted base with no voids, sealed edges and steps, and hardware cloth under raised beds or sheds where it makes sense. It’s one of the reasons people call us specifically.
• Design and build under one roof. One company from the first sketch to the last paver — no handoff between a designer who draws it and a crew who’s never seen the plan. That’s how the drainage, the Green Score, and the finished look actually line up.

From a customer

“Allan was amazing to work with! We designed our backyard into a mini oasis with lots of plants and good lighting. He has experience with Somerville and knows the area very well, which makes it even more seamless.” — Nitasha & Tejas

Common questions

What parts of Somerville do you serve?

Davis, Union, Teele, Ball and Magoun Squares, plus Winter Hill, Spring Hill, East Somerville and the blocks near Assembly and Porter.

Can you build a patio in a tiny Somerville backyard with no driveway?

Yes — that's most of what we do here. We plan delivery down narrow side yards, keep the site tight, and design so every foot of a small lot gets used.

Do you install permeable pavers for the Green Score requirement?

We do. We're permeable paver installers and can design hardscape that drains on-site to help your lot meet Somerville's Green Score.

Can you build a patio that won’t invite rats?

Yes — it’s something we’re known for in Somerville. Rats move into the voids and loose edges a rushed job leaves behind, so we build a properly compacted base with no gaps, seal the edges and steps, and add hardware cloth under raised beds or sheds where it helps. A patio built right is one less place for them to live.

American Elm Landscape also builds across the area — see our paver patios in Medford and patio design in Cambridge.