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Trade 22 of 33Updated June 2026

A research dossier · 260 trade-region files across 8 states & territories · AS 3727 verified

Hiring a Paver
is buying what's under the surface.

Pavers are decoration. The base layer, the bedding sand, the edge restraint, and the falls cut into the screed are what decide whether the paving stays flat in five years. The cheap paver skimps on base depth + skips the edge restraint. Two seasons later the pavers wobble + water pools.

100mm

Minimum compacted road-base for residential paving.

1:60

Falls to drain — minimum gradient.

AS 3727

Pavement Design + Construction Standard.

In a hurry? Start here

I've got quotes

Compare them properly

Most paver quotes price different scopes. See what a real quote contains, line by line.

I need someone now

Handle it urgently

Make-safe price first, full quote second — and verify the licence before anyone starts.

Is this one legit?

Verify this tradie

The free 60-second routine: licence, insurance, ABN, history — before you pay a deposit.

My state

Check your state rules

Licensing, deposit caps and the common gotcha for your state and territory.

Or grab the four printable buyer checklists →

90-second briefing

Read this first

Before you hire a paver, know this.

  1. 1

    Pavers are priced per m² plus base prep — and the base is where pavers fail.

  2. 2

    Permeable, clay, concrete and natural stone are different products and costs — confirm the spec.

  3. 3

    Confirm edge restraints, falls for drainage and jointing are included.

  4. 4

    Get the paver product, base depth and pattern specified in writing.

  5. 5

    Get the insurance details and a written scope before any deposit.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit + Whirlpool + ProductReview, AS 3727 (Pavement Design), CMAA (Concrete Masonry Association).

Verification

Pricing cross-checked. Base depth + edge restraint + drainage falls specs verified.

Funding

No paver pays for placement. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at tradies.needatrade.com.au/flyers/.

Before we start

The pavers are the show.
The base is the job.

The visible work — the pretty paver pattern — takes one day to lay. The invisible work — excavation, base compaction, bedding sand, edge restraint, drainage falls — takes three. The cheap paver saves on the three days you can't see.

Watch the excavation. If they're digging less than 150mm for a driveway, they're cutting the base depth — and the pavers will shift.

01

How much should it really cost?

Paving priced per m². Base preparation often a separate line. Edge restraint per linear m. Decorative pavers + natural stone significantly more than standard concrete pavers.

Indicative ranges · AU 2026

Standard concrete pavers (supply + install · per m²)$120 – $220/m²
Premium concrete / stamped$180 – $320/m²
Natural stone (travertine / bluestone)$280 – $480/m²
Driveway (50m² · standard pavers · all-in)$8,500 – $14,500
Permeable paving (eco-friendly)$180 – $320/m²

Ask this, exactly

"What's the base depth + compaction method, bedding sand, edge restraint material, and falls cut into the screed?"

02

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

Red flags

  • !

    Base depth under 100mm

    Residential pedestrian = 100mm minimum. Driveway = 150mm. Anyone going less = pavers shift inside 2 years.

  • !

    No edge restraint

    Pavers need a solid edge — concrete kerb, polymer edging, or fixed border. Without it, edges crumble + pavers spread.

  • !

    No drainage falls

    1:60 minimum gradient. Pools of water on paving = wrong falls. Cheap installer lays flat to save effort.

  • !

    Wrong bedding sand

    Coarse washed sand to spec. Fine sand or builder's mix = bedding washes out + pavers settle.

  • !

    No polymeric joint sand

    Standard sand washes out of joints. Polymeric sand sets between pavers + holds them in place. Quality-job standard.

Verification — 5 min, free

  1. ✓
    State licence above threshold (NSW $5k+ / QLD $3.3k+ / VIC $10k+).
  2. ✓
    ABN + Public liability.
  3. ✓
    Two reference jobs at year 3+. Drive past. Check flatness + edges + water pooling.
  4. ✓
    Base depth + edge restraint + sand spec all named in quote.

Ask this, exactly

"Base depth, edge restraint type, polymeric joint sand, drainage falls — all in writing + named?"

03

Licence + threshold.

Paving — licensing & compliance by state

Choose your state:
NSW $5,000

Regulator

Building Commission NSW

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

VIC $10,000

Regulator

Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC, formerly VBA)

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

QLD Licensed

Regulator

QBCC

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

WA Licensed

Regulator

Building Services Board (Building and Energy)

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

SA Licensed

Regulator

Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

ACT Licensed

Regulator

Construction Occupations Registrar (Access Canberra)

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

NT Licensed

Regulator

Building Practitioners Board

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

TAS Licensed

Regulator

CBOS (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services)

Common gotcha

Written quote/scope; drainage compliance where applicable

Half-time

Watch the excavation. The base depth tells the story.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the licence. The first three sort the working pavers from the operators skimping on base + edges. The next seven are how working pavers tell themselves apart.

04

When can they fit you in?

Pavers 4–8 weeks out. Weather sensitive — base compaction needs dry conditions + polymeric sand setting requires no rain for 24 hours. Spring + autumn ideal seasons.

Ask this, exactly

"Real start date + your rule for rain during base compaction or after polymeric sand?"

05

What happens next, step by step.

  1. 1Step

    Excavation

    Dig to depth (150–200mm for driveway, 100mm for pedestrian). Soil tested. Drainage falls planned.

  2. 2Step

    Base preparation

    Compacted road-base layer. Plate compactor pass 3+ times. Levels checked.

  3. 3Step

    Bedding sand

    Coarse washed sand layer (30mm typical). Screeded flat with falls cut to drain.

  4. 4Step

    Paver laying

    Pavers laid in chosen pattern. Cuts at edges with diamond blade. Joints maintained at 3–5mm.

  5. 5Step

    Edge restraint

    Concrete kerb / polymer edging / fixed border installed. Pavers locked against movement.

  6. 6Step

    Joint sand + clean

    Polymeric sand swept into joints. Activated with light watering. Surface cleaned + photographed.

06

Concrete paver, exposed agg, or stone?

Option A · most common

Concrete pavers

Manufactured pavers. Affordable. Re-layable + replaceable. Wide colour + shape range.

Right when: driveway, path, courtyard, pool surround. Most residential.

Option B

Exposed aggregate concrete

Poured concrete. Different trade (concreter). Slip-resistant + decorative. See Concreter.

Right when: large driveway, modern aesthetic, prefer poured over paver.

Option C · premium

Natural stone

Travertine, bluestone, granite. Premium look. Each piece unique. Requires sealing.

Right when: premium homes, pool surrounds, alfresco areas.

07

Warranty — settling vs failure.

  1. Layer 01

    Statutory structural

    6 years (NSW · VIC) / 6.5 years (QLD) on structural paving above threshold.

  2. Layer 02

    Workmanship

    Typically 1–5 years. Settling, water pooling, edge failure.

  3. Layer 03

    Paver manufacturer

    Concrete pavers warranted 10+ years. Natural stone — nature-warranted, no manufacturer cover.

  4. Layer 04

    Settling vs defect

    Hairline settling joints in first year = normal. Wobble + significant pooling = defect.

Ask this, exactly

"What's the workmanship warranty + the rule on settling vs structural defect?"

08

Drainage, slope, vehicle load.

  • Drainage falls

    1:60 minimum. Water shed away from house. Ag-drain at low points where needed.

  • Slope

    Anything over 1:20 needs grading. Steep driveways need rougher textures for traction.

  • Vehicle load

    Pedestrian: 100mm base + 60mm paver. Vehicle: 150mm base + 60mm+ paver. Heavy vehicle (boats / trucks): engineered base.

  • Soil class

    Reactive clay = thicker base + reinforced edge. Sandy = good drainage but base can wash if edges fail.

Ask this, exactly

"Soil class, slope, vehicle load — what base depth + edge restraint suits my site?"

09

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

  • Steep driveway

    Engineered base + structural design. Anti-slip texture mandatory. Specialist sub-trade.

  • Heritage Conservation Area

    Council may restrict material + pattern. Bluestone / sandstone often required.

  • Pool surround

    Slip-resistance + chemical resistance. Falls away from coping. AS 1926 implications.

  • Permeable paving

    Specific paver types + drainage layer. Different sub-trade speciality.

  • Heavy vehicle access

    Engineered base. Truck loadings = different specs. Boat trailer regular use included.

  • Tree root proximity

    Tree roots will lift pavers. Root barrier or strategic gap required.

  • Existing damaged paving

    Diagnose base failure vs surface issue. Sometimes overlay works; usually full strip required.

  • Strata common-property paving

    OC approval. Common-property pathways + driveways.

  • Bushfire zone (BAL)

    Non-combustible paving materials in defensible space.

10

After they leave.

Polymeric sand sets in 24 hours — no water on the paving for that day. Sealing (decorative pavers) every 3–5 years. Re-sanding joints occasionally if standard sand. Settling cracks at lintels are normal in first 12 months.

Ask this, exactly

"What's the cure window, sealing schedule, and 6-month walkthrough rule?"

If you've read this far

A paver who names the base depth + edge restraint + falls before the paver pattern is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

The verification routine below is how you confirm any paver you find — their licence number, insurance certificate, ABN, specialist endorsements, and references — before you sign or pay a deposit. We don't introduce, list or recommend specific tradies. No paid placement.

Verify any paver's licence 60-second routine · 6 free checks

Editorial position: we don't list, rank or recommend tradies on this site.
The separate operator platform — members.needatrade.com.au — opens later this year.

The toolkit

Use these before you sign.

The four components below apply to every Australian trade contract. The trade-specific sections above add the layer on top.

49 homeowner quotes · Reg State trade regulator + work-safety regulator · AS AS 3727 · 9 operator quotes · Last reviewed June 2026

Quote anatomy

What a real quote should contain

01

Operator + ABN

Full legal name + active 11-digit ABN

Verify on the Australian Business Register before paying any deposit. If the ABN isn't active, the contract has no enforceable counterparty.

02

State trade licence

Licence number + class on the quote

Cross-check on the relevant state regulator (linked in the glossary licence-check section). Confirms they can legally do the work.

03

Public liability insurance

$10–20 million cover, still current (not expired)

This is what pays if they damage your home — or a neighbour's — or someone is injured during the job. Ask them to email you the insurance certificate; "I'm covered, mate" is not proof.

04

Workers' insurance

In place if they bring any workers onto your property

If a worker is hurt on your property and the operator has no workers' insurance, you can be the one left liable. A genuine sole trader with no employees may not need it — just ask.

05

Itemised scope of work

What's included, what's not, line by line

"Standard installation" means nothing in court. Specific scope items are what get enforced.

06

Materials specification

Brand, grade, quantity, AS standard where applicable

Prevents the "we used what was on the truck" substitution that turns up under failure inspections.

07

Variations clause

How changes get priced + agreed, in writing

No written variation = unenforceable. Verbal "we'll work it out" is how budgets blow out by 40%.

08

Deposit + progress

Within your state's legal cap (e.g. NSW 10%; VIC 10%/5% by threshold; QLD tiered 20%/10%/5% by job value)

Above-cap deposits are illegal. Caps differ by state — check your state's current regulator guidance. Progress payments should align with completed stages, not arbitrary dates.

09

Warranty terms

Workmanship period + manufacturer warranty pass-through

Statutory warranty applies regardless, but written terms accelerate enforcement.

10

Completion definition

What "practical completion" means for this job

Triggers final payment + starts the defects liability period.

11

Dispute path

Named regulator/tribunal for disputes (e.g. NCAT, VCAT, QCAT)

Knowing the path before signing makes you a less attractive target for a dispute.

If a quote you receive is missing any of these, ask for them before you sign or pay a deposit.

The working operator vs the cowboy

Where
✓ Working operator
✗ Cowboy

Quote

Written, itemised, with named scope + exclusions. Numbered + dated.

A number on a text. "I'll do it for $X."

Licence

Licence number on the quote; matches the name on the state register.

"I'll send the licence later." Never does.

Insurance

Emails you the insurance certificate the same day you ask.

"I'm insured, mate." Never actually sends the certificate.

Deposit

Within statutory limit. Held in their account, receipted.

Asks for cash up front. Above the legal limit.

Variations

Written. Cost + time impact. You sign before work changes.

Verbal "we'll sort it out". Surprise invoice at the end.

Warranty

Written workmanship period. Manufacturer cert handed over.

"My word's my warranty." No paper.

References

Three recent jobs with photos + contact for past clients.

"All my reviews are on Google."

Clean-up

Final clean defined in scope. Photos taken at handover.

Site left messy. Promises to "come back tomorrow".

Ask this, exactly

Could you send your state trade licence number, current Certificate of Currency for public liability, and ABN before I confirm — and please put the itemised scope, deposit terms, and variation clause in writing too?

Send via SMS or email before booking. A working operator replies the same day with all of it attached. A cowboy stalls.

Deposit checklist

Before you pay a paver deposit, collect these

  • Licence number

    State trade licence + class, printed on the quote. Verified on the regulator register.

  • ABN

    Active 11-digit ABN, entity name matching the licence. Checked on abr.business.gov.au.

  • Certificate of currency

    Current public-liability certificate (and workers comp if they bring workers). The insurer’s one-page proof — not “I’m covered, mate”.

  • Written, itemised quote

    On letterhead, numbered and dated. Not a number in a text message.

  • Scope inclusions / exclusions

    What’s in, what’s out, line by line. “Standard installation” is not a scope.

  • Deposit amount

    Within your state’s statutory cap (NSW 10%; QLD tiered 20% / 10% / 5% by job value; VIC 10% / 5% by threshold; other states vary). Check your regulator before paying.

  • Variation clause

    How changes get priced and agreed — in writing, before the work changes.

  • Warranty terms

    Workmanship period + manufacturer pass-through, with year limits and what triggers a callback.

  • Compliance / handover paperwork

    The certificate or compliance document you’ll receive at completion (varies by trade and state).

  • Defects / callback process

    The defects-liability period and how you call them back for an obvious fault — in writing.

  • Base depth and edge restraints included

    Paver-specific

  • Paver product and pattern specified

    Paver-specific
Collect every item before you transfer a deposit. If a tradie stalls on any of them, that is the answer.

Related references

Briefing

The 12 questions →

 Operational

Verify a tradie →

 Translation

Glossary →

 Provenance

Source ledger →
← Back to all 33 trades

Trade 22 of 33.

Standards

Standards often relevant to this trade

These are orientation references only — not a complete or job-specific list. Ask the licensed contractor to confirm the current standards, the NCC, and any state or territory requirements that apply to your job.

Plain-English definitions, who’s responsible, and an “ask this” for each → see the glossary.