Paving installation is the actual construction work: excavation, base preparation, laying and jointing. That turns pavers into a driveway, path, patio or courtyard you can actually walk, sit and drive on. If you've already picked a paver and just need it installed properly, or you haven't chosen a paver yet and want advice on what actually suits your site, this is the difference between a paving contractor and a paver showroom: we do the installation, not just sell you the material.
Laying pavers as part of a landscaping project goes hand in hand these days, especially with people looking at laying pavers under a verandah, around a pool or creating paths throughout the garden in lieu of plain grey concrete. With an amazing array of materials, sizes, colours and patterns to consider, you can be forgiven for feeling a little daunted by the number of decisions you need to make when looking at having an area paved. Having over 45 years experience paving Adelaide gardens, Martyn Hand is not new to hearing this dilemma, but don't despair, help is at hand!
The number of decisions you need to make can be reduced by simply contacting Hand Made Gardens. Your budget and the size of the area to be paved will have a significant impact, so it's important to know before you start what dollar amount you're comfortable with for completing the project.
The dimensions or size, the thickness and texture of the paver will ultimately be chosen based on the type of traffic it will be subjected to and its location. Whether pavers should be sealed depends on the paver and where it is laid: a patio or entertaining area usually benefits from sealing to protect it from staining, while a driveway generally does not. Dirt, leaves, bird droppings (which are surprisingly acidic) and chlorine if laid around a pool are all elements that can cause permanent staining, especially after it rains. Then there's human factors to take into account if you're looking at entertaining outdoors under a verandah: perhaps with a BBQ, many foods and red wine! For driveways, clay brick or a thick textured concrete paver is popular and strong enough to handle the weight of cars and trucks driving and turning on them. Large format natural stone pavers look amazing if your budget allows, especially under verandas or around a swimming pool.
Base preparation is what actually determines how paving performs over the years, more than the paver itself. On a recent job at a Willunga winery, laying Basket Range sandstone over notoriously reactive Bay of Biscay soil, the sub-base went down as 75mm of compacted rubble over geofabric (to stop the rubble sinking into the soil), with a further 100mm of cement-treated rubble under the mortar bed. That extra layer is what kept the reactive clay from cracking the joints as the ground moved through the seasons. Most Adelaide sites don't need that level of treatment, but it's exactly the kind of site-specific call made before a single paver goes down, and it's the difference between paving that lasts decades and paving that needs relaying in five years.
Pattern affects both look and durability, not just style. Stretcher bond (pavers laid in simple offset rows) is the most economical and common choice for paths and driveways. Herringbone, pictured above from a large-scale brick job in Verdun, sets pavers at 45 or 90 degrees in an interlocking zigzag that locks together under vehicle weight better than any other pattern, which is why it's the standard specified for driveways. Basketweave and stack bond suit paths and courtyards where a clean, formal look matters more than load-locking strength.
How Paving Installation Actually Works
Excavation comes first. The area is dug out to the right depth for the base and paver thickness combined, typically 100–150mm total for a path or patio, more for a driveway carrying vehicle weight. Getting this depth right before anything else happens is what stops the finished surface sitting too high or too low against a doorway, existing path or garden edge.
Base compaction is the step most DIY paving jobs get wrong, and it's the one that actually determines whether a job lasts. Road base or crushed rock goes down in layers, each one compacted with a plate compactor before the next goes on top: compacting the whole depth in one pass leaves the bottom loose no matter how solid the top looks. A bedding layer of coarse washed sand goes over the compacted base, screeded level, for the pavers to sit into.
Edge restraints (concrete, steel or timber edging pinned or set along the perimeter) stop the whole job creeping outward under foot or vehicle traffic over time. Skipping them is a common corner-cut that shows up as spreading joints and a wandering edge line within a year or two.
Pavers are laid to the chosen pattern, cut to fit edges and around obstacles with a wet saw for a clean line rather than forced or chipped pieces, then compacted into the sand bed with a plate compactor fitted with a protective pad so it doesn't chip or polish the paver faces. Jointing sand goes in last, swept into the gaps and compacted in, sometimes followed by a sealer depending on paver type. This is what locks the whole surface together as one interlocking unit rather than a collection of loose tiles.
Choosing Between Paver Types
Concrete, clay brick and natural stone (sandstone, travertine, granite) each behave differently underfoot, in the sun, and over the years. The right choice depends on budget, the look you're after and how the area's actually used, not just which one looks best in a supplier's brochure. See our full sandstone versus concrete pavers comparison for cost, durability, heat and maintenance if you're still deciding.
Paving a small courtyard or side garden comes with its own decisions. Paver size and pattern read very differently at a small scale than across a big driveway. See our small courtyard paving ideas for real examples.
Don't despair. The local licensed paving contractors Adelaide residents have trusted since 1981 from Hand Made Gardens have paved thousands of situations using imported and local pavers, adding visual appeal to your garden, increasing its functionality and property value too.
For a real example, see the Basket Range sandstone paving we laid at a Willunga winery. It's also worth planning the overall landscape design first so the paving ties into paths, beds and the rest of the layout rather than being an afterthought.
Paving FAQ
What's the difference between paving and concreting?
Paving uses individual pavers laid over a compacted base, so it flexes slightly with minor ground movement and individual pavers can be lifted and reset if needed. Concrete is one continuous poured slab: harder to repair in sections if it ever cracks.
Do I need council approval to lay a paved path or patio?
Generally no for a standard ground-level path or patio: it's not something most councils regulate unless it affects stormwater drainage or is part of a larger development. Worth checking for your specific council if in doubt.
How much does paving cost in Adelaide?
It depends on paver choice, base preparation and site access, so it's quoted individually, but as a guide, 30 square metres of basic paving typically starts from around $5,000, while 30 square metres of natural stone paving typically runs to around $13,000 (both incl. GST). A free on-site quote gives you a real number for your project.
What paver materials are available?
Concrete, clay brick and natural stone pavers, chosen to suit your budget and the existing look of the garden.
Can pavers be used for a driveway?
Yes. Clay brick and thick textured concrete pavers are strong enough for regular car and truck traffic and are a popular driveway choice. A driveway needs a more heavily compacted base than a path or patio to handle the extra weight, which is factored into the quote.
How long does paving last?
A properly prepared base determines lifespan more than the paver material itself: done right, paving lasts decades with little more than an occasional re-sand of the joints.
Would you like an area paved? If you know what your budget is and have something in mind, ask us to quote on it.
Book a Site Consultation