Paving and exposed aggregate paths
Pavers or exposed aggregate for Mickleham patios and side paths: base, falls and drainage, permit position, and published Melbourne price ranges.
Most new homes in Mickleham need a side path, a back patio and a hard pad for bins and the clothesline, and the two common finishes are pavers on a compacted base or exposed aggregate concrete. Published Melbourne guides list paving with pavers at $54 to $145 per sqm and exposed aggregate at $125 to $210 per sqm, laid. This site passes your enquiry to an independent paver or concreter, and that business sets the price and carries out the work.
Pavers or exposed aggregate?
| Factor | Pavers on a compacted base | Exposed aggregate concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Many colours, sizes and patterns | Stone exposed in the surface, one continuous slab |
| Repairs | Individual pavers can be lifted and relaid | Cracks or patches are hard to hide |
| Access for services | Can be lifted to reach pipes underneath | Has to be cut |
| Weeds and ants | Joints can let weeds and ants through | Fewer joints |
| Slope and tree roots | Flexes a little with movement | Can crack if the ground moves |
| Typical use in estates | Patios, alfresco extensions, garden paths | Side paths, driveways, bin pads |
Stepping stones in gravel and crushed granitic sand paths are cheaper options for low-traffic garden areas, and gravel helps meet a permeable-surface rule in some estate front yards.
Signs your existing paving needs work
- Water lying against the house wall or running towards the slab after rain.
- Pavers sinking along the edge of the house, which often points to a poor base or a leaking downpipe connection.
- Cracked exposed aggregate along control joints that have opened and lifted.
- Weeds growing through every joint.
- Paving level with or above the weep holes in the brickwork.
Rules that apply to paving
Paving and driveways do not need a building permit, according to the Building and Plumbing Commission’s landscaping page. It also says incorrectly laid paving can cause water damage to a house, so using a registered building practitioner is a good idea, and that paving can interfere with plumbing such as drainage. Before paving over or near stormwater pits, ask your council or water corporation about any requirements for your street.
A contract limited to driveways and paving is generally not domestic building work. That changes if the paving is part of a bigger contract that includes a home renovation, a retaining wall or fencing, as explained on the retaining walls page.
Any change to the stormwater drains themselves, such as moving a pit or adding a grated drain connected to the system, is plumbing work for a licensed plumber.
What a paving provider will check before quoting
- Area and shape, and how many cuts are needed around pits, meters and corners.
- Levels: the fall away from the house and where surface water will go.
- Weep holes and the damp-proof course in the brickwork, so the finished paving sits low enough.
- Ground condition: compacted fill, soft clay, existing concrete to break out.
- Access for an excavator, a concrete pump or a line of barrows down the side of the house.
- Services under the area: gas, water, NBN and electrical lines. A Before You Dig Australia enquiry shows the network assets in the street.
What the work involves
Pavers: excavate, lay and compact a crushed rock base in layers, screed a bedding layer, lay the pavers with the planned fall, cut edges, fit edge restraints, and sweep in joint sand.
Exposed aggregate: excavate, compact the sub-base, set formwork, place reinforcement, pour, then wash or treat the surface to expose the stone. Control joints are cut or formed, and a sealer is often applied once the concrete has cured.
Local notes for Mickleham and nearby suburbs
In new estates the side path is often the first thing an owner needs, because the builder hands over with bare clay down both sides of the house. On narrow lots a side path may be the only access to the back yard, so it is worth doing before the lawn and garden beds go in.
Some estate guidelines limit how much of the front yard can be hard surface. Merrifield’s guidelines require at least half the front garden to be permeable. See the Mickleham area page and Kalkallo notes for estate context.
What a careful provider will never skip
- A fall away from the house on every hard surface.
- Paving kept below the weep holes and damp-proof course.
- A compacted base suited to the load, more for areas a car or trailer will use.
- Control joints in concrete at sensible spacing.
- A written note of the product, colour and sealer so repairs can be matched later.
Related guides
Paving usually goes in after retaining walls and before turf and synthetic grass. For a full yard plan see new home landscaping, and compare prices in the Mickleham landscaping cost guide.
What to do next
Sketch where the paths and patio will go, measure the square metres and take a photo of the side of the house showing the weep holes. Then ask for a paving or exposed aggregate quote and say which finish you are leaning towards.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to pave my back yard in Mickleham?
The Building and Plumbing Commission says a building permit is not required for laying paving or a driveway. Estate design guidelines can still limit how much of the front yard is hard surface, so check yours first.
- Is exposed aggregate slippery?
A properly washed exposed aggregate surface has stone texture that gives reasonable grip. Some sealers make the surface slicker when wet, so ask the provider about anti-slip additives if the area is near a pool or slopes.
- How long before I can walk on a new exposed aggregate path?
Concrete needs time to cure before loading. The provider should tell you in writing when foot traffic is fine and when heavier loads such as a car or trailer can go on it.
- Why do pavers sink next to the house?
The usual causes are a thin or poorly compacted base, soft clay underneath, or water from a broken downpipe or stormwater connection washing out the bedding. Fixing the water source comes before relaying the pavers.
- Can I pave over a stormwater pit?
Avoid it. A covered pit cannot be reached to clear a blockage, and water has nowhere to go. A provider can raise or adjust the surround to suit the new level, and any change to the drain itself is work for a licensed plumber.