Paving in Sandton and the northern suburbs
Sandton, Bryanston, Morningside, Rivonia, Sunninghill, Paulshof and Woodmead. Large properties, long driveways and ground that a contractor needs to read before quoting.
What shapes paving work here
Most of this area sits on the granite of what geologists call the Johannesburg (or Halfway House) Dome. A study of nine hillslopes and 64 soil profiles in the granite country between Johannesburg and Pretoria found that the soils change in a regular sequence down each slope, so the ground at the top of a stand is not always the ground at the bottom. South African engineers have also described collapsible grain structures in residual granite soils since at least 1961: soil that is firm when dry can settle when it gets wet under load.
The other thing that shapes this area is water. The Braamfontein Spruit, Johannesburg's longest stream, runs through River Club, Bryanston, Rivonia and Sunninghill, where the Sand Spruit joins it. Properties that fall towards these valleys need driveways and patios designed to move storm water away safely.
Sources: Munnik, Verster and van Rooyen, Spatial pattern and variability of soil and hillslope properties in a granitic landscape 2: Pretoria-Johannesburg area, South African Journal of Plant and Soil 9(2), 1992; Brink and Kantey, Collapsible grain structure in residual granite soils in southern Africa, 5th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Paris, 1961 (ISSMGE library); Braamfontein Spruit, Wikipedia
What that means for your quote
Expect contractors to ask about slope, about where water runs in a storm and about any soft or wet ground under the old paving. Larger driveways and premium finishes are common here, and contractors' own published price guides put the Sandton and Bryanston rate above the Johannesburg average. See our paving cost guide for the published figures and their sources.
Local pages
Each suburb page below names the local ground factor and its source. The money pages under it are for the most-asked-for services in that suburb.
Suburbs in this area
Local service pages in this area
Frequently asked questions
Is Sandton on dolomite?
The dolomite belts that cause sinkholes in parts of Gauteng run around the Halfway House granite rather than over most of it. Any specific stand's geotechnical classification is the real answer; ask whether one exists for yours.
Why do northern suburbs driveways cost more?
Contractors' own price guides put Sandton and Bryanston above average, linked to larger areas, slopes and premium finishes. Each quote should explain its own figure.
Do you cover Rivonia and Woodmead?
Yes. Send your job with your suburb and we will check which contractors cover it.