Concrete patios and outdoor areas in Trafalgar

Outdoor living, Gippsland style

West Gippsland summers are made for long evenings outside, and the views from many Trafalgar homes, across green paddocks to the Baw Baw ranges or the Strzelecki hills, deserve a good place to sit. A concrete patio or alfresco area extends your living space, gives the kids somewhere to play off the grass, and keeps winter mud away from the back door.

Planning a patio

Good patios start with a few questions: – how will you use it: dining, a barbecue or outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, kids' play, a spa? – will it be covered by a roof, pergola or verandah, now or later? – where does the sun fall in summer and winter, and where does the wind come from? – how does it connect to the house, the garden, the lawn and the paths?

We talk these through on the visit, and design the size, shape and level of the slab to suit.

Levels and drainage next to the house

The most important detail of any patio is how it meets the house. The slab must sit below the floor level, door sills and weep holes, and fall gently away from the walls so rain cannot reach the house. Where the backyard slopes toward the house, a drain along the edge of the patio catches water. On clay, we also isolate the slab from the house with a joint so movement does not crack either.

Covered areas and footings

If you plan to add a roof, pergola or verandah, the posts need footings designed for the structure. We can pour the footings with the slab, or thicken the slab at post positions, to the roofing supplier's or engineer's details. Planning this upfront avoids cutting into a new patio later.

Finishes for outdoor areas

– honed concrete, ground back to reveal fine aggregate, looks refined and suits covered alfresco areas – exposed aggregate gives grip and hides dirt, and suits uncovered areas – coloured or stamped concrete adds warmth and pattern – broom finish is practical for uncovered areas that get wet – a smooth trowel finish suits fully covered areas, but can be slippery when wet outside

We show samples and recommend finishes based on cover and use.

Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and spas

Outdoor kitchens need a level, strong slab, and often conduits for power, gas and water cast in. Fire pits need a suitable non-combustible surround. Spas need a slab designed for the weight of a full spa. We plan these with you before the pour.

Connecting paths

Patios often connect to side paths, the clothesline, the garden shed or a pool. Pouring these together gives consistent levels, falls and finish.

Written quotes

After a site visit we provide a written, itemised quote covering excavation, base, steel, footings, finish, drainage and clean-up.

Sun, shade and wind in the valley

Trafalgar's weather shapes how an outdoor area works. North-facing patios get winter sun and are pleasant for much of the year, but can be hot on summer afternoons without cover. East-facing areas get gentle morning sun. South-facing areas stay cool and shaded, but can grow moss in winter, so a textured finish and good sealer help. Westerly winds sweep along the valley, so screening, plantings or the house itself may be used to shelter an entertaining area. We take these into account when planning the size, position and finish of the slab.

Linking indoor and outdoor floors

Many new homes have sliding or stacking doors opening onto the alfresco area, and owners want the outdoor slab to feel like an extension of the indoor floor. The slab still needs to sit below the door sill and fall away from the house, but the step can be kept small, and a grated drain at the threshold can catch water. Honed concrete in a tone that complements indoor tiles or timber can create a visual connection.

Extending a builder's alfresco

Builders often provide a small alfresco slab under the roofline. Extending it into the yard with a larger patio means matching levels, finishes and joints as closely as possible. Because an exact colour match is rarely achievable, we often suggest a deliberate change in finish or a border between old and new, which looks intentional rather than patched.

Patios on sloping blocks

On sloping blocks, a patio may need to be built up on one side with fill and a retaining edge, or set into the slope with a retaining wall behind it. Steps lead down to the lawn or garden. Drainage is especially important where water runs down the slope toward the patio.

Lighting, power and water

Outdoor lighting, power points for heaters or appliances, and a tap for cleaning are easier to install before the slab is poured. We can leave conduits in place for your electrician or plumber to use later.

Pool surrounds

Concrete around pools needs grip when wet, a comfortable feel underfoot, falls away from the pool and toward drains, and compatibility with pool fencing footings. Fine exposed aggregate, honed concrete with an anti-slip sealer, or a textured coloured finish all work well.

Clotheslines, sheds and paths off the patio

A patio is often the hub of the backyard, with paths heading to the clothesline, shed, vegetable garden or play area. Planning these connections at the same time means the levels and finishes link up and the yard works as a whole rather than as a series of separate pads.

Gippsland clay, river flats, red hill soil and two councils

Around Trafalgar the ground changes with the landscape. Town blocks and most new estates sit on yellow and grey clay that swells with winter rain and shrinks in a dry summer. The river flats hold softer silt that stays wet for weeks. South toward Trafalgar South and Thorpdale, the Strzelecki foothills bring deep red volcanic soil that drains freely but goes soft when saturated and scours on a slope. On clay we remove topsoil and soft material and build up compacted crushed rock in layers; on wet flats we may go deeper and lift the finished level; on hill soils we focus on edge support and stopping runoff before it undercuts the slab.

Work inside your boundary is usually permit-free. Crossovers, nature strips and public footpaths are road reserve, which needs consent from Baw Baw Shire for Trafalgar, Yarragon, Warragul, Drouin, Darnum, Thorpdale and Narracan, or Latrobe City for Moe, Newborough and Morwell. Rural entrances on main roads may also involve the state road authority, and slabs for houses, garages and large sheds need a building permit and engineering. We list whatever applies in the quote.

How a Trafalgar Concreting quote is put together

Every quote we send is in writing and itemised, so you can see where the effort goes. It sets out the measured area, any break-out of old concrete and disposal, the excavation depth, the crushed rock under the slab and how it will be compacted, the slab thickness and reinforcement, the finish and colour or stone blend, where the joints will run, drains and pits and where water ends up, any steps, edges or retaining, sealing, and any crossover, road authority or building permit work. Anything that changes the job on the day, such as pump hire for a back yard, a long barrow run or a paddock that needs a temporary track, is spelled out rather than left as a surprise.

We do not advertise a square-metre rate. A driveway on firm clay in a Trafalgar estate, the same driveway on soft Moe River silt, and one climbing a red-soil hill toward Thorpdale each need different preparation, and that is where much of the work sits. Seeing the block first means the quote reflects your job, not an average.