Premium paving and natural stonework: sandstone, travertine and porcelain pavers for terraces, courtyards, paths, steps and pool areas.
Request a Quote
A good paved area starts well below the stone. We excavate to firm ground, lay and compact a crushed rock road base in layers, and set falls so stormwater runs away from your house and into proper drainage. Then we lay your chosen stone on a screeded bed or a full mortar bed, depending on the material and how the area will be used. We work with Sydney sandstone, travertine, granite, bluestone and porcelain pavers, cut on site with wet saws so edges, steps and pool copings fit cleanly.
Conditions on Sydney North Shore are hard on paving. Many ridge-top suburbs sit on reactive clay that swells after summer storms and shrinks in dry spells. If the base is thin, pavers rock and joints open up. Shaded backyards in leafy gully streets stay damp, so moss and black mould build up on porous stone. Harbourside homes cop salt air, and saltwater pools can cause salt attack in softer sandstone. We choose stone, sealers and base depths to suit your block, so a terrace under a big gum or a pool deck facing the water still looks right years later.
Most of our paving is part of a bigger job. It might be a new entertaining terrace with an outdoor kitchen, sandstone steps cut into a sloping block, or a full pool surround with matching coping. We often build it alongside retaining walls on steep sites and pool landscaping for new and renovated pools. That way one team manages the levels, drainage and finishes across the whole backyard.
From levels and base preparation to cutting, laying and sealing
We measure the site, check existing levels and work out where stormwater needs to go. We look at soil type, tree roots, shade and pool proximity, then help you choose stone that suits those conditions. Samples are viewed on site so you can see how they look in your light.
We dig out to firm ground and remove reactive clay or loose fill where needed. Crushed rock road base goes down in layers and each layer is compacted with a plate compactor. We set falls and install strip drains or grated pits so water leaves the paved area quickly.
Each piece is laid on a screeded bed or full mortar bed and tapped down with a rubber mallet to hold level and fall. We cut edges, steps and coping with a wet saw so joints line up and pool edges sit square. Pattern and joint width are checked as we go, not at the end.
Joints are filled with grout or jointing sand to suit the stone and how the area drains. Once cured, we clean off residue and apply a penetrating sealer that suits your stone and exposure. We walk you through how to look after the surface before we hand it over.
Level, safe and good-looking surfaces built for local conditions
A deep, compacted base stops pavers rocking and joints opening when clay soils swell after storms and shrink in dry spells. You avoid trip hazards and patchy repairs. Your terrace stays flat for furniture, barbecues and kids on scooters.
We choose stone with suitable slip resistance for wet bare feet around the pool. Lighter stones like travertine and pale sandstone stay more comfortable underfoot in summer than dark surfaces. Sealing helps protect the surface from salt and chlorine around the waterline.
Natural stone gives a finished, considered look that matches period homes, new builds and waterfront properties. Done well, it ties the house to the garden and pool. It also gives buyers a clear sign that the outdoor areas were built properly.
We know which streets sit on reactive clay, which have sandstone just below the surface, and which backyards hold water. Base depth, compaction and drainage are planned for your block, not copied from a standard spec. That is what keeps paving level long term.
Paving rarely stands alone on larger projects. We design and build the terraces, retaining walls, pool surrounds, decks and pergolas together, so levels and finishes line up. You deal with one project manager instead of juggling separate trades.
Harbourside homes, shaded gully gardens and exposed pool decks all need different stone and sealers. We match material and finish to your exposure, slip resistance needs and the style of your home. You get a surface that suits how and where you live.
The details are where natural stone succeeds or fails. We cut steps, bullnose edges and pool coping on site so joints line up and edges sit square. Clean junctions with walls, decks and lawn edges give the finished job a crisp look.
Common questions answered
Both can work, but softer sandstones can suffer salt attack, where salt crystals form in the pores and the surface flakes. We recommend denser stone grades for pool areas and seal them with an impregnating sealer suited to saltwater. Travertine is a popular choice because it is dense, stays cooler underfoot and comes in matching coping profiles.
The usual causes are a thin or poorly compacted base, reactive clay soil moving with wet and dry seasons, or tree roots growing under the slab. Poor falls that let water sit under the paving make it worse. We lift the affected area, fix the base and drainage, and relay the original stone where it is still sound.
The main factors are the stone you choose, the size of the area, how much excavation and base work the site needs, and access for machinery. Steps, pool coping, curved edges and detailed patterns take more cutting time. Sloping blocks that need retaining walls or extra drainage also add to the scope, so we give you an itemised quote after a site visit.
Shaded, damp backyards in leafy North Shore streets are prone to growth on porous stone. A good penetrating sealer slows water absorption, and correct falls stop puddles sitting on the surface. Regular sweeping and a gentle clean with a stone-safe treatment keeps it under control. Avoid high-pressure blasting on sandstone, as it can damage the face.
It depends on the size of the area, the stone, site access and whether paving is part of a larger build with walls, a pool or a pergola. Wet weather can also pause excavation and base work, as we will not compact a soaked base. We give you a realistic schedule once we have seen the site and agreed on the full scope.
We provide Paving & Natural Stone throughout Sydney North Shore, NSW and surrounding suburbs.
Don't see your area? Contact us to check if we service your location!
View All AreasExplore our other services
Design-and-construct landscaping managed as one project: complete backyard transformations, new-home landscapes and major renovations, combining paving, walls, turf, planting, drainage and outdoor living in a single scope.
Learn More →
Engineered and feature retaining walls in sandstone, block and timber for sloping blocks, sandstone escarpments and waterfront sites, usually built as part of a wider landscape project rather than as a standalone wall.
Learn More →
Pool surrounds, coping and pool paving, pool fencing, planting and entertaining areas that tie a new or existing pool into the rest of the garden.
Learn More →
Exposed aggregate, burnished and honed concrete for driveways, paths, slabs and entertaining areas, finished to suit the house and landscape.
Learn More →