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Our Process

How We Build Paving That Lasts — Step by Step

Most paving that sinks, cracks or pools water fails because of what's underneath it. Here's exactly how our team demolishes, prepares, lays and finishes every job — shown with real photos from recent Melbourne projects, not stock images.

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Reply the same day (Mon–Sat) · Free site visit · Written fixed price

Real photos from our own jobs Fixed price in writing $20M public liability insurance 70 five-star Google reviews1-year workmanship warranty
On site · Demolition
1

Free On-Site Visit & Written Quote

Antonio comes to your property, measures up and looks at the things that decide how the job has to be built — before a single price is written down.

  • Existing surface and what has to come out
  • Levels, falls and where water will drain to
  • Access for machinery and deliveries
  • Material, pattern and edging options for your home
You get: a clear, itemised quote in writing — demolition, base, materials, laying and clean-up all listed. The price agreed is the price you pay.
Front entry path assessed on site before a paving quote, Melbourne
Existing front entry, assessed before quoting
 Old cracked asphalt courtyard before being replaced with limestone crazy paving
Old asphalt courtyard, before
2

Demolition & Excavation

Old concrete, cracked pavers and asphalt are broken out with the right machine for the space, then the ground is excavated to the depth your new paving needs.

  • Mini excavators that fit narrow side paths and backyards
  • Excavation to the full depth needed for the base
  • Rubble loaded and removed from site — not left behind
  • Existing pipes, pits and services located and protected
Why it matters: laying new paving over old, unstable material is the most common shortcut — and the most common reason paving sinks within a few years.
Time-lapse: old brick path and garden cleared, ground excavated to depth.
Mini excavator with hydraulic breaker removing an old concrete path in a Melbourne side yard
Breaking out an old concrete side path
 Broken concrete rubble next to a mini excavator ready for removal
Concrete broken up, ready to load out
 Trailer loaded with old paving rubble being removed from site
Rubble taken away — not left on site
3

Base Preparation & Edge Restraint

This is the part you never see once the job is finished — and the part that decides how long your paving lasts. The base is built up in layers of crushed rock and compacted with a plate compactor.

  • Typically 100–150mm of compacted crushed rock, deeper for driveways
  • Compacted in layers, not dumped and levelled in one go
  • Falls set away from the house so water runs off
  • Concrete or timber edge restraints so pavers can't creep
Why it matters: Melbourne's reactive clay soils move with the seasons. A properly compacted base spreads the load and stops the surface dropping or rocking.
Compacted base prepared along a narrow side path before paving
Compacted base along a side path
 Team member setting out timber formwork and edging for a new paved area
Setting out formwork & edging
 Garden path excavated and prepared with a levelled base ready for pavers
Path base prepared and levelled
 Concrete edge strip poured inside timber formwork around a new paved area
Concrete edge poured in formwork
4

Screeding & Levels

Before a single paver goes down, the bedding layer is screeded dead-flat off steel rails set to the exact level and fall. This is what gives a finished surface that looks right and drains properly.

  • Rails set with a spirit level and string lines
  • Even bedding thickness across the whole area
  • Falls checked again before laying starts
Why it matters: uneven bedding is what causes wobbly pavers and puddles after rain.
Setting screed rails to exact levels and falls before laying.
Sand bedding screeded off steel rails and checked with a spirit level before laying pavers
Bedding screeded off rails and checked with a level
5

Laying, Pattern & Cutting

The pattern is set out from a straight line so it stays true across the whole area — herringbone, stretcher bond, French pattern or curved garden paths. Edge pieces are cut to fit, not filled with slivers.

  • Pattern set out from a string line or the house wall
  • Clean cuts around edges, pits and curves
  • Stone and porcelain laid on a full mortar bed where required
  • Joints kept consistent as the job progresses
Tradesman laying a curved red brick garden path in Melbourne
Laying a curved brick path
 Bluestone pavers being installed along a side path next to a modern home
Bluestone going down on a side path
 Brick paving being laid in stages across a backyard courtyard
Brick courtyard laid in stages
6

Drainage, Finishing & Handover

Drainage channels are set flush with the surface, joints are filled and the paving is compacted and washed down. Then Antonio walks you through the finished job.

  • Grated drainage channels where water needs somewhere to go
  • Joints filled and the surface compacted
  • Full clean-up — no rubble, offcuts or slurry left behind
  • Final walk-through with you before we call it finished
Our standard: the job isn't done until the site is clean and you're happy with it.
Finished bluestone side path washed down, with a grated drainage channel along the fence
Finished bluestone side path
 Grated drainage channel set flush with new bluestone paving
Drainage set flush with the paving
 Finished recycled red brick courtyard paved around established trees, Melbourne
Recycled brick courtyard, handed over
Recently On Site · September 2026

A Job in Progress: Pool Surround Renovation

Old paving around a pool being replaced in Melbourne. Photos straight from site, in the order they were taken.

Old crazy paving around a kidney-shaped pool before renovation
18 Sep · Morning

Before

Uneven old paving around the pool and spa, ready to come out.

Paving team setting out levels around a pool after removing the old paving
18 Sep · Same day

Old paving out, levels set

Old surface removed and the team setting out levels and falls away from the pool.

New base prepared around a swimming pool ready for new paving
21 Sep

New base down

New base in place around the pool, ready for the finished surface.

See more jobs as they happen on Instagram and Facebook.

Real Transformations

Before, During & After

Every photo below is from one of our own jobs. Tap any image to see it full size.

BeforeBefore: cracked asphalt courtyard with a lemon tree AfterAfter: limestone crazy paving courtyard with steps and a lemon tree

Old asphalt courtyard replaced with hand-laid limestone crazy paving — same courtyard, same lemon tree.

Before and after: bare backyard turned into a recycled red brick courtyard around established trees

Brick Courtyard Around Trees

Bare dirt to a recycled red brick courtyard, cut neatly around two established trees.

Before and after: broken old brick courtyard relaid as a new recycled brick courtyard

Courtyard Relaid

Sunken, broken bricks lifted, a new base built and the courtyard relaid in recycled brick.

Stages of a travertine herringbone patio from base preparation to finished surface

Travertine Herringbone Patio

From prepared base to a finished travertine patio in herringbone.

Before and after: side path with a new drainage channel installed and paved

Side Path with Drainage

Drainage channel installed first, then paved — so water runs away from the house.

Before and after: overgrown side path paved in brick herringbone

Brick Herringbone Side Path

An overgrown, unusable side path turned into a clean brick walkway.

Before and after: front path of a weatherboard home relaid in brick herringbone

Front Path, Weatherboard Home

Old front path replaced with brick herringbone to suit a period home.

Before and after: dirt courtyard paved in recycled brick

Recycled Brick Courtyard

Excavated, based and laid — a dirt courtyard turned into usable outdoor space.

Stages of a backyard paving job with drainage, from bare ground to finished pavers

Backyard Paving & Drainage

Bare ground, drainage and base, then the finished paved area beside the deck.

Before and after: dirt side path finished with large stepping pavers and gravel

Stepping Paver Side Path

A muddy side path finished with large-format stepping pavers and gravel.

See the Full Project Gallery
Our Standards

What We Never Cut Corners On

These are the steps a cheap quote usually leaves out. They're built into every job we price.

01

Full-depth base

Old material removed and a compacted crushed rock base built to suit the job — not new pavers laid over old problems.

02

Falls & drainage

Surfaces graded away from your house, with drainage channels wherever water needs somewhere to go.

03

Edge restraint

Concrete or timber edging so pavers stay locked in place instead of spreading and opening up.

04

Written, fixed price

Everything itemised in writing before we start. No surprise extras halfway through the job.

05

Owner oversight

Antonio personally oversees every project from the first site visit through to handover, with an experienced local team on the tools.

06

Clean site

Rubble, offcuts and slurry removed. We leave your property the way we'd want ours left.

Google Reviews

What Melbourne Homeowners Say

⭐ 5.0 Google · 70 reviews · $20M insured · 1‑year workmanship warranty

★★★★★
Antonio completed our bluestone paving in Hampton and the result is outstanding. The levels, drainage and finishing details are flawless. Highly recommended for high-end paving.
Karlo Juric — HamptonBluestone paving
★★★★★
We had a fairly complicated drainage issue on the site, but Antonio came up with a solution and executed it perfectly. The workmanship was top quality, and there were no unexpected surprises along the way.
Richard Clifton — OakleighPaving & drainage
★★★★★
Antonio runs a very professional small business. Friendly, punctual and hard working. Built 2 retaining walls and remodelled our driveway paving. Would use Antonio's service again.
Andrea Frier — Glen WaverleyRetaining walls & driveway paving
★★★★★
Antonio and his colleague did a great job with our backyard brick laying. Easy to deal with, on time and professional.
Aakash — Glen IrisBackyard brick paving
★★★★★
Antonio just completed some brick paving alongside our front fence. The paving looks fabulous and was completed in 2 days. He was reliable and the work was completed to a high standard.
Carmel Heaney — SpringvaleBrick paving
★★★★★
Antonio cleared out our small backyard, laid some pavers and built a step around our existing deck. He was quick to respond, well priced, and was happy to change and vary the scope of works as needed.
Laura De Rango — BlackburnBackyard pavers & step
Read all 70 reviews on Google
Common Questions

Questions About the Process

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes. Every job comes with a 1-year workmanship warranty, written into your quote.

How long does a paving job take?

A standard driveway or patio of around 20m² usually takes 3–5 working days from excavation to final clean-up, weather permitting. Larger jobs, demolition-heavy sites and pool surrounds take longer — your written quote includes an expected timeframe.

How deep is the base under your paving?

Most Melbourne jobs need 100–150mm of compacted crushed rock, with driveways at the deeper end because they carry vehicle loads. Soft or reactive clay ground can need more. We confirm the base depth for your site in the written quote.

What happens to my old concrete or paving?

We break it out, load it and remove it from site as part of the job. Demolition and disposal are itemised in your written quote so there are no surprises.

Do I need to be home while you work?

No. As long as we have access to the work area, water and somewhere to park, you don't need to be home. Antonio keeps you updated as the job progresses and walks you through the finished work at handover.

When can I walk or drive on new paving?

Sand-bedded pavers can usually be walked on once they're compacted and jointed. Stone and porcelain laid on a mortar bed need time to cure first. We'll tell you exactly when your paving is ready for foot traffic and cars.

What if it rains during the job?

Base work and laying stop in heavy rain because wet materials don't compact or bed properly. We reschedule around the weather rather than rushing — it's one of the main reasons paving fails early.

Get Started

Ready to Start Your Paving Project?

Book a free on-site visit and get a fixed, written quote from Antonio — with a reply the same day (Mon–Sat).

Got photos? Text them to 0406 170 544 for a quick price range.

Reply the same day (Mon–Sat) · Free site visit · Written fixed price

Prefer to talk? Call Antonio directly — 0406 170 544