Where outdoor living begins

I am genuinely fascinated and excited by creating stunning hardscape installations. From patios and walkways to retaining walls, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens, I have the experience to turn your yard into a beautiful oasis where you can relax and entertain in style.

What I build

Paver and natural stone patios

The patio is usually the center of the yard. I build with concrete pavers and natural stone on a compacted base sized for Treasure Valley soils, so it stays flat through freeze-thaw. More on paver patios.

Retaining walls

Block, natural stone and boulder walls that turn slopes into usable space, built with the drainage that keeps them standing. More on retaining walls.

Walkways and paths

A path decides how people move through a yard. Main walkways are wide enough for two people side by side, and stepping stones or pads work where a lighter touch fits, like a side yard or garden path. Walkways get the same base preparation as a patio, because a heaved paver on a path is a trip hazard.

Steps and grade changes

Steps make a slope part of the design instead of an obstacle. I build them in stone, block or pavers with comfortable, consistent risers, and plan lighting into them so they're safe after dark. Steps typically run about $500 to $2,000 each, depending on material.

Fire pits, outdoor kitchens and lighting are covered under outdoor living, and most hardscape projects include at least one of them. For materials that hold up here, see our guide to hardscape materials for Idaho's freeze-thaw, and for budgets, what a patio costs in Boise.

What Sets Hockema Apart

I am a local designer who brings artistry, quality, and detailed focus to each project, and I do it all when it comes to hardscapes. Using only the best materials, I meticulously match designs to your vision, but I'm not afraid to think outside the box to find innovative solutions that exceed your expectations. 

My Approach

Your outdoor space is an extension of your home, and I treat it with the same level of care. The process is simple yet effective. I listen closely and work with you to bring your hardscape dreams to life while contributing my years of experience and knowledge to the final result. Whether it's an elegant patio, a functional outdoor kitchen, or a cozy fire pit, I am confident I can create the perfect outdoor sanctuary for you.

How Hardscapes Solve Problems

When a yard lacks hardscaping, it often means mud where there should be pathways, awkward transitions between spaces, and outdoor areas that go unused because they simply aren’t functional. I help homeowners turn that chaos into structure, creating patios, walkways, and retaining walls that bring order, beauty, and purpose to the space. With the right hardscape design, your yard becomes a place you actually want to spend time in.

Hardscape and softscape: why you need both

Hardscape is everything built: patios, walls, walkways, steps and the structures that sit on them. Softscape is everything growing: trees, shrubs, perennials and lawn. A yard that's all hardscape feels hot and hard, and a yard that's all plants has nowhere to sit. The best designs balance the two, with stone setting the layout and planting softening the edges, adding shade and bringing color and beauty through the seasons. I design both together so the patio, walls and beds read as one plan.

Hardscape materials for the Treasure Valley

The right material depends on where it's going, how it will be used and the look you want. These are the ones I use most:

• Concrete pavers: the most versatile choice for patios, walkways, pool decks and driveways. They come in many shapes, colors and patterns, handle freeze-thaw well and can be lifted and reset if anything ever moves.
• Natural stone: flagstone, granite and sandstone for patios, paths, steps and wall veneer. No two pieces are the same, which gives stone a character manufactured materials can't match.
• Poured concrete: the lowest upfront cost for utility areas and some sidewalks, though slabs crack more readily in freeze-thaw than pavers.
• Segmental wall block: engineered block for retaining walls, seat walls and raised planters, in a range of textures and colors.
• Boulders: for walls, slopes and accents on larger and foothill properties, where the hardscape should look like part of the land.
• Gravel and decomposed granite: for casual paths, fire pit areas and side yards where a fully paved surface isn't needed.

Front yard hardscapes and curb appeal

The front of the house is where hardscaping does the most for curb appeal. A wider entry walkway in pavers or stone, a clean connection from the sidewalk and driveway, comfortable front steps and a low wall around a planting bed can change how a whole house looks from the street. A paver border along the driveway edge or a small seating area by the front door adds detail without a big footprint. Add landscape lighting to the walk and steps, and the entry looks just as good at night.

Back yard hardscapes built around your lifestyle

The back yard is where hardscape turns into living space. I start with how you want to use it: dinners outside, a quiet place for morning coffee, room for kids to play, or a pool deck that handles a crowd. From there, the patio is sized for the seating you'll actually use, seat walls give permanent seating around a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen sits close to the back door, and fountains or other water features add sound and movement near the seating. On sloped lots, walls and steps create level areas that didn't exist before.

What hardscaping costs in Boise

Every site is different, so I give an estimate only after seeing the property. These ranges are a realistic starting point for planning:

• Paver patios: about $8 to $15 per square foot installed for mid-grade concrete pavers, $15 to $22 for premium pavers and $18 to $30 or more for natural stone.
• A typical 300 to 400 square foot patio: about $12,000 to $20,000, or $20,000 to $35,000 with walls and steps.
• Retaining walls: about $30 to $60 or more per square foot of wall face, depending on height, material and access.
• Steps: about $500 to $2,000 each, depending on material.
• Complete outdoor living spaces with a patio, kitchen, fire feature and lighting: about $40,000 to $100,000 or more.

Prices move with site access, soil conditions, the amount of excavation and how much grade has to be managed. When you compare a quote from one contractor to another, compare what's included: base depth, compaction, drainage and edge restraint. For more detail, see what a patio costs in Boise and how much landscaping costs in Boise.

The standards behind the craftsmanship

Craftsmanship in hardscape is mostly precision in the parts nobody sees. These are the standards I hold every project to:

• Excavation down past topsoil and organic material, to stable subgrade.
• A crushed gravel base, typically 4 to 6 inches for patios and deeper where vehicles drive, compacted in thin lifts.
• Surfaces sloped about 1/4 inch per foot away from the house so water never sits.
• Edge restraint around every paver field and polymeric sand in the joints.
• Drain gravel, a perforated pipe and filter fabric behind every retaining wall.
• Licensed trades for any gas, electrical and plumbing work.

That commitment to the base is what keeps a patio flat and a wall standing after years of Idaho winters. It's also where cheaper bids usually cut corners, because none of it shows on the day the job is finished.

Hardscaping across Treasure Valley communities

I build hardscapes in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Nampa, Caldwell and Middleton. Each area brings its own conditions. Foothill lots in Boise and Eagle often need walls and steps to handle the grade. Newer subdivisions in Meridian, Star and Nampa usually start with compacted builder fill and HOA guidelines. Larger lots in Caldwell and Middleton have room for bigger patios and complete outdoor living spaces. The construction standards stay the same everywhere.

How a hardscape project comes together

1. Consultation and site visit. We walk the property, talk through how you want to use it, and I look at soil, slope, drainage and access.
2. Design. I draw the layout and, where it helps, produce 3D renderings so you can see the space before construction.
3. Estimate and materials. You get a clear estimate tied to the design, and we pick pavers, stone and finishes together.
4. Construction. My crew and I build it to the design, with me on site through construction.
5. Final walkthrough. We walk the finished project together and I go over anything you need to know about caring for it.

You can see finished patios, walls and outdoor living spaces in the portfolio.

Ready to Get Started? Schedule a Consultation Today

If you're ready for true luxury in your outdoor living experience, contact me to schedule a consultation. Let's discuss your ideas, explore hardscape design possibilities, and start turning your property into a masterpiece.