Paving in Northcliff

A ridge that is not granite

Most of the suburbs around Northcliff sit on the granite of the Johannesburg Dome. Northcliff is different. A University of Pretoria study of the Dome describes the Northcliff Promontory as a ridge of West Rand Group rocks along the southern margin of the granite, the hard quartzites and shales that form many of Johannesburg's ridges. That is why the hill is there at all, and why many Northcliff stands are steep and rocky.

Sources: Hilliard, The structural evolution of the Johannesburg Dome, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria

What a ridge means for paving

• Slope. Steep driveways need strong edge restraint and a pattern, such as herringbone, that resists blocks creeping downhill.
• Rock. Excavating into rock takes more time and machinery than digging out soil, and it can change the price.
• Retaining. Where a driveway is cut into the slope, the edges may need retaining as a separate item.
• Spoil and access. Narrow, steep access makes carting away the old surface and the excavated material slower.
• Water. Storm water gathers speed on a steep drive. Channel drains at the bottom, and sometimes part way down, are common.

Getting comparable quotes

On a hillside property, quotes can differ widely because contractors make different assumptions about the rock, the retaining and the drainage. Ask each one to list those items separately. Our guide to comparing paving quotes shows what each quote should state.

Paving pages for Northcliff

• Driveway paving in Northcliff
• Paving in Randburg, Northcliff and Rosebank

Frequently asked questions