Patio paving in Officer & Cardinia Lakes.

• Bluestone (Australian basalt): Charcoal-grey, dense, mostly uniform, ages to soft graphite over decades. The default for modern builds and the longest-lasting. ~$90–$140/m² supplied for 30mm pavers, ~$180–$220/m² installed.
• Sandstone (Australian or Indian): Honey-gold to rust mix, textural, warm in afternoon light. Slightly porous — benefits from a penetrating sealer every 5 years. ~$80–$130/m² supplied, ~$160–$200/m² installed.
• Travertine (Turkish or Mexican): Creamy-beige with characteristic pitting, Mediterranean feel, cooler underfoot in summer. Needs sealing for stain resistance. ~$90–$160/m² supplied, ~$170–$240/m² installed.
• Porcelain pavers (20mm format): Through-coloured, frost-proof, zero porosity, slip-rated to R11. Increasingly popular for pool surrounds and modern alfresco. ~$110–$180/m² supplied, ~$200–$260/m² installed.

Why we polymeric-sand every joint (and why most local jobs don’t).

The joint between pavers does two structural jobs: it stops sideways movement, and it stops water from getting under the pavers and washing out the bedding sand. White silica sand — the cheap default — washes out within 2–3 Officer winters, opens the joints, lets water and ants under the pavers, and lifts them within 4–5 years. Polymeric sand (Techniseal, EnviroSAND, Adbri Pavelock) is fine joint sand pre-mixed with a polymer binder. Sweep it dry into joints, mist-wet it, the polymer activates and sets to a flexible-rigid joint that resists rain wash-out, weed germination and ant infestation. ~$80–$120 per 22kg bag covering ~12m² of joints. We use polymeric on every paving job, no exceptions.

Drainage falls — AS 3727 compliant.

Every paved patio needs a minimum 1:80 fall away from the house wall (12.5mm per metre). We default to 1:60 where space allows. Falls also need to direct water to a drainage point — grated linear drain at the patio edge, spoon-drain into the lawn or sump connected to existing stormwater. Getting the falls wrong is the most common DIY-patio failure: water pools at the house wall, wets the slab edge, and causes foundation movement within a few seasons.

Edge restraints — the bit that stops creep.

Without an edge restraint the perimeter pavers slowly walk outward under load — especially in the high-traffic doorway zone. We install one of three restraint types depending on the look: concrete haunching (hidden under turf line, strongest), aluminium snap-edge (modern minimal look), or a soldier course of pavers bedded in mortar (traditional, visible). Without restraint, even a polymeric-sanded patio loses its edge geometry inside 5 years.

Typical patio pricing (Officer 2026).

• 25m² bluestone back patio installed: $7,500–$11,500
• 25m² sandstone back patio installed: $6,800–$10,500
• 25m² travertine back patio installed: $7,500–$12,000
• 25m² porcelain back patio installed: $8,500–$12,500
• 40m² alfresco-extension patio in bluestone: $11,500–$16,500

Honest tradeoffs.

• Natural stone has natural variation. Sandstone batches vary in colour mix; bluestone has occasional lighter inclusions. We lay from multiple pallets blended to even the look out, but you’re buying the natural product, not a printed one.
• Sealers wear off. Sandstone and travertine want a refresh penetrating-sealer coat every 4–6 years. Bluestone and porcelain don’t.
• Polymeric joints need re-set if a paver is lifted later. Once cured the joint is rigid; you can’t just lift a paver without breaking the joint either side. Plan service trenches before laying.