Paving Gold Coast
Crazy paving, natural stone and tiling laid across the whole property, from the front entry and side paths to the verandah, the steps and the terrace, designed and built by one team.
Bella Terra Group is a paving and landscape construction company based in Nerang, working across the Gold Coast. We lay crazy paving, travertine, natural stone, porcelain and ceramic across the whole property, including front entries, stepping stones, side paths, steps, verandahs, courtyards, terraces and pool surrounds. Quotes are free and measured on site.
A paving project with us starts with the levels. Before any stone is chosen, we work out where the water will run, how each paved area meets the house, the lawn and the garden, and where a sloping block needs steps. The same team then lays every area to that one plan. You won’t need to line up separate paving contractors, landscapers and wall builders and hope their work meets.
Planned that way, the entry, the side path and the back terrace read as one property, with the same stone or a deliberate change between them. Our owner, Dion McGirr, runs each project on site from the first measure to handover.
The two layers
What Makes Paving Last?
Paving lasts when two layers are done properly: the base you never see and the surface you walk on every day. The base is the compacted road base or concrete slab, set to a fall that carries water to a drain. The surface is the stone or tile itself, with its cuts, its joints and its seal.
A poor base lets even good stone fail, as pavers rock, joints open and water sits against the house after a summer storm. On a sound base, the wrong surface can still be slippery when wet, mark easily or look out of place beside the house.
We settle both at the design stage. The material, the base beneath it and the drainage are chosen together for each area, so the paving is built for the way that part of the property is used.
The work
Our Paving Services on the Gold Coast
Our own team lays the paving and tiling below under our QBCC builder’s licence. Choosing the stone for each area is part of our job. Tell us how each part of the property is used and we’ll recommend a material to suit it.
Crazy paving and natural stone
Crazy paving is irregular natural stone laid like a jigsaw, with each piece cut by hand to fit the ones around it. It suits verandahs, garden paths, steps and stepping stones, where a softer, hand-laid surface sits comfortably beside planting and timber. The skill shows in the joints, which should stay an even width with no long straight lines running through them.
Here's what our crazy paving and natural stone work covers.
- Crazy paving for verandahs, terraces and courtyards
- Stepping stones across lawn and garden beds
- Natural stone steps, treads and landings
- Sandstone and limestone paving
- Pool surrounds, as part of our pool landscaping work
- Stone cladding for the walls, planters and pillars beside the paving
Porcelain, ceramic and travertine tiling
Tiling bonds larger, flatter pieces of porcelain, ceramic or travertine to a concrete slab with adhesive, which gives a cleaner and more formal finish than crazy paving. It suits entertaining terraces, verandahs and entries that run straight off the house, where the outdoor floor can be laid to line up with the doors.
Here's what our tiling work covers.
- Porcelain and ceramic tiling for terraces and entertaining areas
- Travertine pavers for entries, paths and side passages
- Concrete slabs poured as the base for tiled areas
- Paved floors for outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas
- Falls and drainage that carry water away from the house
- Sealed joints on our tiling projects, carried out with Archiseal
Every paving quote begins with a visit to the property. We measure each area you’d like paved and see how it meets the house before anything is priced.
During the visit we look at the levels, any existing concrete and where the water goes in heavy rain. We talk through crazy paving, natural stone and tiles for each area, how each one wears, how much upkeep it needs and what it costs, so you can choose what suits your budget.
The process
Our Process
Every paving project starts with how each area of the property is used. From there, it runs in three stages.
- Consultation and site assessment. We measure each area, check the levels, drainage and any existing slab, and ask how you use each space.
- An itemised quote. Every part of the job is priced separately, so you can see what each element costs and stage the work if that suits you better.
- The work itself. Our team lays the paving in the order below, and Dion walks the finished project with you at handover.
Why Does the Order of Works Matter?
The order matters because paving is hard to undo. Drains and light cabling run beneath it, so they go in first, or finished stone has to be lifted to reach them.
- Design, levels and set-out. The finished heights are set against the house floor, the doorways and the lawn, so each area meets the next without an unplanned step.
- Excavation and drainage. Pits and pipes go in while the ground is open, so stormwater has somewhere to go.
- Conduit and irrigation. Conduit for step and garden lights, and the irrigation pipes, run beneath the paving before it's laid.
- The base. Road base is compacted in layers, or a concrete slab is poured, to the falls set out in the design.
- Laying, cutting and jointing. Steps and edges go down first, then the larger areas are laid to meet them, each piece cut to fit.
- Sealing, then planting and turf, last. Joints are sealed once the paving has cured, and the planting and turf go in after the heavy work.
Recent work
Recent Paving Projects Around the Gold Coast
Recent paving projects include steps off a pool terrace in Hope Island, crazy paving under a verandah in Currumbin Valley, and stone steps out to the street. Our customers’ names and addresses stay private, so each project is shown by suburb only.
Hope Island: a paved patio beside a side lawn, with hedges in raised rendered planters along the pool fence.
Currumbin Valley: irregular crazy paving laid under the verandah, each piece cut to fit its neighbours.
Dark natural stone steps and stepping stones leading out to the street.
Why Bella Terra Group
Choosing Bella Terra Group for Your Paving
Our owner, Dion McGirr, has been in the trade for over 14 years, and our paving work ranges from crazy paved verandahs and entries to complete backyard renovations. One client’s renovation included “laying new concrete slabs, extensive sealed paving”. You can see more in our project gallery.
Each project is designed and laid by the same company, under QBCC licence 15452813, with Dion managing the work on site. Another client wrote that other tradesmen had praised “how the tiles have been laid for water runoff” and were “very impressed with the concealed drains.” Archiseal, who seal the joints on many of our tiling projects, wrote of “A+ workmanship, very clean site and finish”. A third client wrote that “every step of the process was clear and well thought out.”
Quotes are free, measured on site and itemised, with no obligation to go ahead.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does paving cost on the Gold Coast?
The cost depends on the material, the size of each area, whether a new base or slab is needed, and the number of steps and cuts. Crazy paving and natural stone take longer to lay than large porcelain tiles, because every piece is cut to fit. We measure each area on site and provide a detailed, itemised quote at no charge.
Is crazy paving a good choice for a Gold Coast home?
Yes, crazy paving suits Gold Coast homes where a relaxed, natural surface is wanted, such as verandahs, garden paths, steps and pool terraces. Most crazy paving stone has a textured face that suits areas walked on wet, and lighter stone such as sandstone stays cooler in summer. It needs a sound concrete base and well-filled joints, which is where most of the labour goes.
Can you lay new paving over existing concrete?
Often, yes. Tiles and natural stone can be laid over an existing slab if it's sound, close to level and falls away from the house. We check the slab for cracks, movement and drainage at the site visit, and repair or replace it first where it isn't suitable.
How do I choose paving contractors on the Gold Coast?
Ask what the paving will be laid on, how water will drain from it and how it will meet the house and the lawn, then look at finished projects. A good answer explains the base, the falls and the joints as well as the stone, and names who runs the work on site.
Does a paving contractor need a QBCC licence in Queensland?
Yes, in most cases. The QBCC lists laying paving for landscaping as licensed building work, so a paving contractor should hold a licence that covers it. You can check any contractor's licence on the QBCC register before you sign. Ours is QBCC 15452813, Builder - Low Rise.
Source: the QBCC.
Areas We Serve Across the Gold Coast
We’re based in Nerang and lay paving from the hinterland to the coast. We don’t have a showroom, so we talk through stone and tile options on site, where you can picture them against your house.
If you’re comparing paving contractors or looking for crazy paving on the Gold Coast, we may well have worked in your area already. Our recent projects include Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Currumbin Valley, Casuarina, Benowa, Hope Island, Oxenford, Robina, Carrara, Parkwood, Bundall.
Not on that list? Contact us. We cover most of the Gold Coast, and we’ll confirm on the first call whether your property is within reach.
Written by Dion McGirr, who runs Bella Terra Group and has been in the trade for over 14 years. You can talk to Dion directly about your project.
Get a free quote
Share a few details about the areas you’d like paved and Dion will be in touch to arrange an on-site consultation. The quote is free, itemised and carries no obligation. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.
Let’s discuss your paving project
Get a free, no-obligation quote from our team.
Get a free quoteEvery quote is free, prepared on site and carries no obligation. Or call 0423 188 691.