A San Mateo backyard transformation by Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape
San Mateo · California · Since 2004

Let the Experts at Black Diamond Create Your Dreamscape!

San Mateo Custom Design & Installation

About San Mateo

San Mateo’s Bay Area dreamscape specialists.

Our San Mateo Office
3 East Third Ave. Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94401
(800) 942-1955
Mon–Fri 9a–7p · Sat 9a–5p · Sun closed

We make San Mateo beautiful with our "expert" hardscape and landscape services, including paver stones, driveways, artificial grass, full-scale landscape design, installation and more. Use this page to explore the services we offer for San Mateo, learn more about Black Diamond, and contact us for a Free Basic Digital Design, Consultation and Estimate. Let us build your Dreamscape at the highest quality and value!

Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape is Northern California's premier family owned hardscape and landscape company. For over 20 years, owners Roger and Tiffany Van Alst have been leading the way in San Mateo County outdoor transformations.

San Mateo is nestled in the heart of the Silicon Valley and offers a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. Its central location between San Francisco and San Jose makes it the perfect location for commuters and a gateway to tech innovation. With a bustling downtown full of shops and entertainment options, San Mateo also has excellent schools, family friendly neighborhoods and scenic parks.

Hardscape design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Hardscape Design & Installation

Black Diamond leads the way with our 27 Year installation warranty. Upgrade your old, ugly, cracked driveway, patio, and/or landscape with paver stones – the long lasting, long term money-saving alternate to concrete! Not only are pavers more attractive than other products like asphalt or concrete – pavers will also outlast, outperform and make repairs fast & easy. Paver stones have unlimited design and installation options which can increase your curb appeal. Our pavers have a lifetime manufacturer warranty on all paver stones – while the only thing concrete is guaranteed to do is crack!

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Landscape design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Landscape Design & Installation

At Black Diamond, our award winning team is committed to turning your dream landscape design into a reality. From beginning to end, your Project Design Specialist will remain involved through the entire installation, backed by a large operations team and experienced Crew Foremen. Our mission is to create your home's landscape and surrounding elements at the highest quality and value.

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Paver driveway design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Driveway Design & Installation

One question we are frequently asked is "Can paver stones be used in my driveway?" The answer is "Yes! Pavers can be used in any driveway!" Most people are not aware that pavers are 3-4x stronger than standard concrete. Pavers also add a look to your home that is unmatched by any product on the market. Not only are pavers more attractive than other products – pavers are a money saving solution that will outlast, outperform and make repairs fast & easy. A Free Basic Digital Design by Black Diamond can create a beautiful driveway that is sure to make the neighbors do a double take!

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Paver patio design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Patio Design & Installation

Add a warm and inviting head-turning look to your San Mateo front or backyard by installing a new paver stone patio. Work with one of our talented Project Design Specialists, at your San Mateo home, to choose from hundreds of different styles, colors, and patterns. Let us help you create your dream patioscape today.

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Synthetic lawn and putting green installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Synthetic Lawn, Putting Green Design & Installation

A Synthetic Lawn provides a beautiful, eco-friendly solution to help you save valuable time, money & water while doing your part for the environment. When your San Mateo neighbors are busy pulling weeds, fertilizing, mowing and maintaining their water hungry natural lawns – you can relax and enjoy the low-maintenance, money-saving beauty that comes from a modern eco-friendly waterless lawn.

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Outdoor kitchen design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Outdoor Kitchen Design & Installation

Elevate your outdoor grilling experience in San Mateo with our custom BBQ Islands. We design personalized outdoor kitchens using high-quality materials that look stunning and withstand the elements. With features like built-in BBQs, outdoor refrigerators and storage, you'll be ready to host unforgettable outdoor family gatherings. A custom BBQ Island adds value to your home and creates lasting memories with loved ones. We make the process stress-free, so you can relax and enjoy your new outdoor grilling space in San Mateo.

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Walls and steps design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Walls & Steps

Whether you need a garden, decorative, or freestanding wall, Black Diamond can design and install a custom wall or step solution for your San Mateo home's needs. Whether it is a decorative wall, a single-step up to an entryway or a full paver staircase – there are many different ways to incorporate walls and steps into your new front or backyard. Add step or wall cap lights for added beauty, safety & ambiance.

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Pergola and patio cover design and installation in San Mateo

San Mateo Pergolas & Patio Covers

Durable aluminum pergolas are the best way to add style to your outdoor living space in San Mateo and help protect you from the elements. A freestanding pergola can be an attractive accent above a lounge/seating area and a BBQ island, or attached directly to your home to extend your living space. Pergolas can be made with lattice or closed-top, and can include features such as a fan or electrical outlets.

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Recent projects

San Mateo project gallery

Real San Mateo transformations, designed and installed by Black Diamond.

  • San Mateo backyard transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 1
  • San Mateo paver patio transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 2
  • San Mateo driveway transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 3
  • San Mateo landscape design transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 4
  • San Mateo synthetic lawn transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 5
  • San Mateo outdoor kitchen transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 6
  • San Mateo walls and steps transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 7
  • San Mateo pergola and patio cover transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 8
  • San Mateo front yard transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 9
  • San Mateo backyard hardscape transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 10
  • San Mateo full landscape transformation by Black Diamond — featured project 11
  • San Mateo backyard before-and-after by Black Diamond
A little local history

San Mateo Historical Factoid

In 1776, Spanish explorers came to today's San Mateo. During a scouting trip to locate a place to start a colony on the Peninsula, Lieutenant Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza, Padre Pedro Font, Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga, and eleven soldiers set up camp in San Mateo. Father Font named the creek that they slept by "San Mateo Creek." In 1822, California received word of Mexico's independence from Spanish rule. This would bring changes to San Mateo with the missions becoming secularized and the opening of free trade. The Mexican Land Grants (1835) would leave a few residents owning vast expansions of land in the area. In fact, these ranches were so large that what is now the City of San Mateo is comprised of portions of two of them—Rancho San Mateo and Rancho de las Pulgas. In May 1861, under the direction of Charles B. Polhemus, the construction of a railroad to link San Francisco with San Jose began. The track was completed in January 1864 and the first service through San Mateo was on October 17, 1863. The train made the trip from San Francisco to San Mateo in thirty-seven minutes. The opening of railroad service in San Mateo attracted many wealthy San Franciscans to the area. San Mateo became an ideal place for building summer and weekend homes for people who worked in San Francisco. These estates were built for some of the most powerful people in the West.

San Mateo reviews

What San Mateo homeowners are saying.

  • We first heard of Black Diamond from receiving fliers in our mailbox. When we finally made the decision to renovate our backyard, we contacted them for a consult and from our very first meeting with Jeremy O, we were convinced that he was the one that was going to bring our vision to life. We had a very rough sketch of what we wanted, and Jeremy was able to incorporate it into a beautiful design… We are very happy with the results and the continued service we receive. We host gatherings in our new backyard often and have received many compliments. We hope to be able to remodel our front yard in the future and plan to use Black Diamond again.

    Cherylle M.
    San Mateo, CA
  • It's been a month since our project was finished and we're still so happy with the result and are planning several get togethers over the holidays to show it off! No water pooling, leveled pavers, beautiful lighting, quality craftsmanship! Michael Leija, our project manager, and Giovanni the foreman were great and easy to work with. From the initial consult to the finished project, I felt comfortable talking to both of them if and when anything came up. We love looking at our backyard now, and our favorite part is the paver lights!

    Jackie T.
    San Mateo, CA
  • Thank you to Sahar D. and Black Diamond for the flawless work performed at my residence. She was a pleasure to work with from the very beginning all the way until the end. She has a great eye for landscape design. She was polite, respectful, and caring the entire way through. My new landscaping has received countless compliments from the entire neighborhood. It was done perfectly and very cleanly, exactly as I wanted.

    Sam A.
    San Mateo, CA
Free Basic Digital Design & Estimate

Tell us about your project. We’ll handle the rest.

Send us a few details and one of our designers will reach out within one business day. There’s no charge for the basic digital design or the estimate — this is how we earn the project.

27-year paver installation · Lifetime manufacturer warranty · 10-year synthetic lawn
12 months No Payments, No Interest
Licensed: CA #841042 · AZ #ROC 358923
Mon–Fri 9a–7p · Sat 9a–5p · Sun closed
Prefer to talk?
(800) 942-1955
Or text us at (408) 357-2035

We respond within one business day.

Common questions

San Mateo FAQ

  • Why should I use Black Diamond?

    Expert Project Installation with a FREE Basic Digital Design. Best Prices for Highest Quality Work. 27-Year Warranty on Concrete Paver Installation & Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty on Concrete Pavers. A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. Fully Licensed CA License #841042 & Insured with Workers' Comp. & Liability Insurance. Honest & Trustworthy, 100% Committed to Customer Satisfaction. Won Numerous Certifications, Awards & Over 3,800 5-Star Reviews!

  • Does adding hardscaping and landscaping increase my home's value?

    Yes! By adding hardscaping and landscaping to your property you can increase your home and property's value. A well designed and installed landscape, including both hardscaping and softscaping, can not only increase the curb appeal but has a recovery value of 100% to 200%.

  • What is the average cost of a landscape designer?

    The average cost of a landscape designer can range between $50–$100 per hour. Black Diamond offers a FREE Basic Digital Design with all our estimates, allowing our clients to visualize their project and have their vision become a reality.

  • What is the average cost of a landscape project?

    Since all projects are different, the cost varies depending on the size of the project, the complexity of the design and the materials used. A reasonable amount to spend on your project is typically around 10% of your home's value and can range from about $7,000 to $50,000 or more. For example, if your home is worth $800,000, a good landscaping installation budget could be $80,000.

Explore by service

San Mateo services we install.

Localized service pages for San Mateo are coming online with the new site. Use the buttons below to start a request — your project designer will handle the rest.

Buttons currently route to the design request form while individual service-combo pages are being rebuilt.

Accredited & recognized

The credentials behind every project.

  • BBB Accredited
  • Diamond Certified
  • Western Hardscape Association
  • Belgard Master Craftsman
  • Angi's
  • Houzz
  • Yelp
  • Nextdoor
Talk to a San Mateo designer
Free design and estimate, anywhere in San Mateo.
(800) 942-1955