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.
Request a Quote
A pool is only as good as the space around it. We build the full poolside setting: the coping, the paved surround, the terraces and steps, the barrier and the planting that ties it into the rest of the garden. Most of our clients choose sandstone, travertine or honed porcelain for coping and surrounds. Every stone is laid on a full mortar bed or with flexible adhesive over a properly prepared slab, with expansion joints placed where the pool shell and surround move independently. That detail is what stops coping from drummy spots, cracking and lifting a few summers down the track.
Conditions across Sydney North Shore shape every material and drainage decision we make. Humid coastal air and shaded corners under gums and jacarandas encourage algae and black mould on porous stone. Saltwater pools and harbourside salt spray can eat into unsealed sandstone. On hot summer days and during dry westerly spells, dark pavers can get uncomfortably hot under bare feet. Then the summer storms arrive and dump heavy rain in a short burst. We specify slip-resistant finishes, lighter-toned stone that stays cooler, penetrating sealers suited to salt exposure, and strip drains and falls that move water away from the pool rather than into it.
Many North Shore pools sit on sloping blocks with sandstone outcrops or reactive clay. That usually means terracing, so we often build retaining walls and the pool landscape in one scope with one team managing the sequence. A typical job might include a sandstone-clad wall holding up the pool terrace, wide travertine steps down to the lawn, a compliant glass or aluminium barrier, and a cabana or shade structure. Plenty of clients also connect the pool to an outdoor entertaining area with a kitchen or fire pit, so the whole backyard works as one space.
From levels and drainage to coping, barriers and sealing
We walk the site with you, take levels and look at how water moves across the block during heavy rain. We check access for machinery, existing sandstone, tree roots and where the pool equipment sits. The design then sets out coping profiles, surround materials, steps, barrier lines and drainage on one plan.
Our crew excavates the surround areas, builds any retaining walls and installs agricultural drainage behind them. We lay and compact a crushed rock base, or pour a reinforced slab where the design calls for it. This stage sets the falls that carry water away from the pool edge.
Coping goes on first, bedded and pointed to the pool shell with a movement joint between the coping and the surround. We then lay the paved surround, cutting stone on site with wet saws to keep edges clean. Strip drains and channels go in as the paving goes down, so they sit flush and fall correctly.
We install or coordinate the pool barrier to suit NSW pool safety requirements, then complete planting, turf edges and any lighting. Natural stone is cleaned and sealed with a penetrating sealer once it has cured. We walk you through the finished job and explain how to care for each surface.
Safer surfaces, less upkeep and a backyard that flows
Slip-resistant finishes and lighter-toned stone make the pool edge safer for kids and guests running in and out of the water. Cooler surfaces mean you can walk barefoot to the pool on a hot summer afternoon. Good drainage also means fewer puddles that turn green in shaded spots.
Correct bedding, movement joints and salt-resistant sealing help protect coping and paving from cracking, lifting and surface erosion. Proper falls and strip drains keep storm runoff and garden debris out of the pool. That means less time scrubbing, less chemical balancing and fewer repairs down the track.
When the pool, terraces, walls and entertaining areas are designed together, the levels line up and the materials match. You get a garden that flows from the house to the water to the lawn. It also tends to add appeal for buyers if you ever sell.
We design, build and project-manage the full scope, from retaining walls and terracing to coping, decking and pergolas. You deal with one team instead of juggling several trades. The levels, drainage and finishes all line up because one crew plans them together.
North Shore blocks often come with slopes, sandstone outcrops and reactive clay. We know how to terrace a pool area, work around natural rock and drain hillside sites properly. Where it suits the design, we keep existing sandstone as a feature.
We pick stone, sealers and drainage with humidity, salt air and summer storms in mind. That means slip-resistant, cooler surfaces near the water and sealers suited to saltwater pools. We explain the trade-offs so you can choose with confidence.
Full mortar beds, correctly placed movement joints and careful falls are standard on our pool jobs. These are the details that stop coping from cracking and paving from holding water. We take the time to get them right before anything is sealed.
Common questions answered
Sandstone, travertine and honed porcelain are the most popular choices, and each behaves differently. Sandstone suits the local landscape and stays fairly cool, but it needs good sealing near saltwater. Travertine is dense and comfortable underfoot, while porcelain needs very little maintenance and resists staining well.
Yes. We often coordinate with the pool builder so the shell, plumbing and coping height are set up to suit the surrounds, walls and drainage. Getting that sequence right early avoids cutting into new work later.
The main factors are the size of the surround, the stone you choose, how steep the block is and whether retaining walls or rock removal are needed. Site access matters too, especially on tight harbourside lots where materials may have to be carried in. We give you a detailed quote once we have seen the site and agreed on a design.
It depends on the scope, the weather and whether walls, structures or a new pool build are part of the job. A simple surround is much quicker than a full terraced backyard with retaining walls and an entertaining area. We map out the stages with you before work starts so you know what to expect.
Rinse the coping with fresh water now and then to wash off salt residue, and sweep away leaves before they stain. Resealing with a penetrating sealer every so often helps protect the stone, with timing depending on sun, salt exposure and use. Avoid acid-based cleaners, which can etch natural stone.
We provide Pool Landscaping 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 →
Premium paving and natural stonework: sandstone, travertine and porcelain pavers for terraces, courtyards, paths, steps and pool areas.
Learn More →
Exposed aggregate, burnished and honed concrete for driveways, paths, slabs and entertaining areas, finished to suit the house and landscape.
Learn More →