Hardscaping Adelaide
Hardscaping across Adelaide — paving, retaining walls, concrete, edging and driveways. Tell us about your project and we'll reply within 24–48 hours.
Hardscaping is the built, non-living side of a landscape: paving, retaining walls, concrete driveways and paths, garden edging and site preparation. In Adelaide, paving typically costs $70–$250 per square metre supplied and laid, and concrete sleeper walls $250–$450 per linear metre. Tell us about your site and we'll get back to you within 24–48 hours.
The structural backbone of any landscape — paving, retaining walls, concrete, edging, driveways, site preparation. Hardscaping is where a lot of Adelaide projects live or die: get the levels wrong, the wall fails; pick the wrong paver, it cracks in two summers; skip drainage, the whole job rebuilds in five years.
We’re an Adelaide hardscaping team who know SA conditions — clay-heavy soils, hot dry summers, and the South Australian regulations governing retaining walls over a metre high.
What we cover
Paving
Concrete pavers, brick, bluestone, travertine, sandstone, limestone, exposed aggregate, stamped concrete, crazy paving. Driveways, paths, courtyards, pool surrounds, alfresco floors.
Retaining walls
Concrete sleeper, timber, block, stone, besser block, limestone, modular systems. Garden retaining, level changes, terracing, structural retention.
Read more about retaining walls →
Concrete and decorative concrete
Driveways, slabs, paths, exposed aggregate, stamped concrete, polished concrete. Site prep, formwork, reinforcing, pouring, finishing.
Garden edging
Concrete kerbing, steel edging, timber edging, paver edging. Defines bed lines, contains mulch, separates lawn from garden.
Site preparation and earthmoving
Bobcat work, mini excavator, soil removal, level changes, drainage. Most landscape jobs start here.
Typical pricing
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Paving (supply + lay, concrete pavers to natural stone) | $70–$250 per square metre |
| Concrete sleeper retaining wall | $250–$450 per linear metre |
| Timber retaining wall | $180–$320 per linear metre |
| Block retaining wall (besser) | $350–$600 per linear metre |
| Concrete driveway (exposed aggregate) | $90–$160 per square metre |
| Garden edging (concrete kerb) | $55–$95 per linear metre |
| Bobcat hire (with operator) | $90–$140 per hour |
Pricing varies by access, ground conditions, and finish. A wall that needs engineering certification (over 1m high in most SA councils) costs more.
What separates a good hardscape job
- Drainage. Retaining walls fail when water builds up behind them. Ag-pipe, gravel backfill, weep holes — non-negotiable.
- Compaction. Pavers move when their base isn’t compacted to spec. Two layers of crushed rock, plate-compacted, screeded flat.
- Levels. Cross-falls of 1:50 to 1:100 on paved areas; otherwise water pools.
- Edge restraint. Pavers without proper edge restraint walk over time. Concrete kerb or hidden steel.
- Engineering certification. Walls over 1m generally need engineering. Don’t trust a contractor who skips it.
Get a free quote
Request a free hardscaping quote — tell us about your project and we’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a retaining wall?
In South Australia, a retaining wall that holds back a difference in ground levels of 1 metre or less usually doesn't need approval; higher walls generally need engineering and development approval. Overlays, boundaries and tiered walls can change this, so check with your council or PlanSA. We check your site before quoting.
Concrete vs paving — which is cheaper?
Concrete is usually cheaper per square metre to install but harder to repair. Pavers cost more upfront, but individual pavers can be lifted and replaced, so over 20 years the costs tend to converge.
Why are some pavers so much cheaper?
Thinner pavers (40mm instead of 50mm), lower-grade materials or a lighter base specification. A paved area only lasts as long as its base and edge restraint.
What's included in a hardscaping quote?
Excavation and site preparation, the compacted base, materials and labour, drainage, edging and removal of spoil. Access, ground conditions, levels and any engineering are itemised so you can see where the money goes.
Hardscaping services we quote
Hardscaping guides for Adelaide homeowners
Last updated 8 October 2026
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