Concrete patios and alfresco slabs in Lang Lang

Making the backyard usable

Many Lang Lang homes have generous backyards, and some look out over paddocks, horse properties or toward Western Port. A concrete patio or alfresco slab turns that space into somewhere you use every day, for meals, entertaining, kids playing or just sitting in the evening. On new estate homes, the builder often leaves a small alfresco area or nothing at all, and extending it is one of the most popular jobs we do.

Planning the patio

A good patio starts with how you want to use it. We talk about the size of the outdoor table and chairs, whether you want a barbecue, outdoor kitchen, fire pit or spa, where the sun falls at different times of day, and whether you plan a roof or pergola. We look at the levels: whether the patio should be level with the house floor, a step down or several steps down on a sloping yard. And we look at the access for concrete, which on established homes may mean pumping or wheelbarrowing through a side gate.

Levels and falls

A patio must fall away from the house so rain runs away from the walls. We set the fall carefully so it is enough to move water but not so much that furniture wobbles. Where the patio meets the house, we keep the slab below the floor level and any weep holes, and leave an isolation joint so the patio and house can move independently. On flat Lang Lang blocks, we also make sure the edges of the patio sit slightly above the lawn so garden water does not run onto it.

Roofs and pergolas

If you plan to add a roof, pergola or verandah over the patio, tell us early. The posts may need footings, which can be poured with the slab or separately, depending on the engineering. Some roof structures need a building permit. We coordinate with your builder or pergola supplier so the footings are in the right place.

Finishes for outdoor living

Patio finishes vary depending on whether the area is covered or open. Under a roof, a smooth trowel finish or honed concrete gives a clean, modern look and is easy to sweep. In open areas, a broom finish, exposed aggregate or a fine-textured finish gives better grip when wet. Coloured concrete, stamped patterns and stencil designs can add character. We bring samples to help you choose.

Steps, edges and walls

On sloping yards, a patio may need steps down to the lawn or a low retaining wall along one edge. We pour concrete steps with consistent rises and treads, and can include seating walls or edging. On flat yards, a simple raised edge or garden border can define the space.

Outdoor kitchens and fire pits

If you are planning an outdoor kitchen, barbecue bench or fire pit, we can include a slab or pad for it, and leave conduits for gas, power or water if your trades need them. A fire pit area is best in a non-combustible finish, and concrete suits it well.

Base and ground

Lang Lang's sandy ground drains well but must be compacted properly, while clay needs soft material removed and a solid base built up. We prepare the base to suit your block, place steel on chairs, plan joints and pour the slab so it stays flat and crack-free for years.

Extending an existing alfresco area

Many homes have a small builder's alfresco slab, and owners want to extend it. We can pour a new section that meets the existing slab at the same level, with an isolation joint between them. Matching the colour of old concrete exactly is not always possible, so some owners choose to cover both with a finish or tiles, or choose a contrasting finish for the new section.

Care and sealing

Sweep and hose your patio regularly. Sealing is optional but helps resist food and drink stains, especially around barbecues. On open patios, use a slip-resistant sealer.

Patios with a view

Many Lang Lang properties look out over paddocks, horse yards or toward Western Port, and the best patios are positioned to make the most of that. We talk about which direction you want to face, where the afternoon sun and the south-westerly winds come from, and whether a windbreak, screen or roof would make the space more comfortable. A slab facing north or north-east often gets the best of the winter sun while staying sheltered from the worst of the wind.

Sandy yards and clay yards

On sandy blocks east of town, a patio base needs good compaction and supported edges so sand does not wash away from under the slab. On clay blocks toward Western Port, we remove soft material, build a crushed-rock base and take care with falls, because clay holds water and a patio that sits low will puddle.

Patios for families and pets

For young families, we often suggest a broom or fine exposed aggregate finish that grips for running kids and does not get too slippery when wet. For dog owners, a patio and path that keep paws out of the sand or mud make a big difference to the house. A tap and a small hose-down area nearby are worth planning in.

Timing a patio with a new home

If you have just moved into a new estate home, it is often best to pour the alfresco extension at the same time as the driveway and paths, so the finishes match and access for the concrete truck is easier before fences and gardens go in.

Spa and hot tub pads

A spa needs a level slab sized for its full weight when filled with water and people. We pour spa pads with steel and a compacted base, and can leave a conduit for the power supply.

Sand ridges, swamp clay and Cardinia Shire rules

Lang Lang sits where two very different kinds of ground meet. East and north-east of town are the sand ridges that supply much of Melbourne's building sand, where blocks often have deep, free-draining sand. West and north-west, toward Western Port and the drained Koo Wee Rup swamp, the soil turns to grey clay, silt and in places peat, with water close to the surface through winter. Plenty of blocks have a bit of both.

On sand, the work is about compaction and holding the edges so the sand cannot wash out from under the slab. On clay and swamp ground, it is about digging out the soft and organic layers, building a compacted crushed-rock base and setting levels and falls so water leaves the slab on flat land. Pouring within the property line is normally permit-free. Anything out at the street, such as the crossover, the nature strip or a public footpath, is road reserve and usually needs Cardinia Shire to sign off, highway frontages may add the state road authority, and a house, garage or large shed slab needs a building permit plus engineering. Your quote lists whichever of these apply.

What goes into a Lang Lang concreting quote

Our quotes are written down and broken into lines you can check. Each one lists the measured area, the removal of any old concrete or topsoil and where it goes, the excavation depth, the crushed-rock base, the slab thickness, the reinforcement, the finish and colour, the joint layout, any drains or pits and where they discharge, steps or edges, sealing, the crossover and any council, road authority or building permit steps. If a pump, a long barrow run or a soft paddock affects access, the quote says so.

You will not find a rate per square metre on this website. Around Lang Lang the ground changes from deep quarry sand to wet swamp clay within a few kilometres, and that changes the preparation more than the size of the job does. A free visit lets us see the block, the access and the drainage, and price what your job actually needs rather than a guess.