YOUR LOCAL CONCRETING PARTNEROutdoor Living & House Surrounds Perth
Perth lives outdoors. The alfresco, the patio, the courtyard, the bit of paved area between the back door and the pool — these are the spaces a home actually gets used in for nine months of the year. Getting the concrete right makes the difference between an outdoor area you use every weekend and one that becomes a maintenance headache. At Colacrete we pour outdoor living concrete across Perth, in every finish from grey through to high-gloss polished.
What we cover
Alfresco areas — undercover or pergola-covered outdoor entertaining
Patios — open-air paved entertaining areas, often connected to the home
Courtyards — internal or side-of-home outdoor areas
Terraces — for sloped sites, often integrated with retaining walls
House surrounds — the concrete around the perimeter of the home connecting paths, gates and outdoor areas
Indoor-outdoor flow surfaces — concrete that runs continuously from inside to outside
Finish options
The choice of finish is largely about how the space looks and feels. Common selections:
Honed concrete — premium matte finish, sophisticated, low-maintenance, slip-resistant for wet areas
Polished concrete — high-gloss, premium, especially good in undercover alfrescos and where indoor-outdoor flow continues from a polished interior
Exposed aggregate — textured, decorative, slip-resistant, traditional and modern both
Liquid limestone — limestone-cream, naturally cooler underfoot, suits coastal and Hamptons-style homes
Standard grey or coloured concrete — affordable, durable, fine where the concrete isn’t the design statement
Why outdoor living concrete is different
Climate exposure. Outdoor concrete deals with UV, rain, temperature swings and heat. Sealing matters more than for indoor concrete.
Drainage. Falls need to direct water away from the home and into garden beds or drainage points. Standing water destroys both the concrete and what’s underneath it.
Slip resistance. When wet, outdoor surfaces need grip. Polished surfaces work in undercover alfrescos but generally not in open patios. Honed and exposed aggregate are the safer outdoor choices.
Heat reflection. Lighter-coloured finishes stay cooler underfoot in Perth summers. Worth considering for areas where you’ll be barefoot.
Integration. Outdoor concrete usually meets other surfaces — the home’s tiles, decking, pool surrounds, gardens, retaining walls. Edges, transitions and matched falls between these surfaces need to be planned upfront.
FAQ
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Honed concrete is the most popular premium choice for alfrescos — sophisticated, slip-resistant, easy to maintain. Polished concrete works well for fully covered alfrescos. Exposed aggregate suits more traditional or family-oriented spaces. We’ll talk through what suits your home’s architecture and how you’ll use the space.
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Yes — indoor-outdoor flow with a continuous concrete surface is a popular contemporary design choice. The concrete is poured as one continuous slab (or two carefully matched pours) and finished consistently across the threshold. This is most often done with polished or honed finishes.
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Outdoor living area pricing in Perth varies by finish: standard grey concrete sits at the affordable end ($85 to $130 per square metre), exposed aggregate and liquid limestone in the mid range ($110 to $200 per square metre), and honed and polished concrete at the premium end ($140 to $300+ per square metre).* Total project cost depends on area size, site access, finish choice and any associated work like steps or integrated retaining.
For a precise quote, get in touch.
*Pricing is indicative and subject to change based on material costs, project specifications and site conditions.
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Typical residential alfresco or patio: 2–4 days of active work. Larger or more complex areas with integrated steps or retaining can take longer. Allow 7 days before regular use and 28 days for full strength.
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Standard grey concrete doesn’t fade. Coloured concrete can fade slightly over many years of intense UV but the change is typically subtle. Decorative aggregates (in exposed aggregate and liquid limestone) are UV-stable and won’t significantly fade. Sealing helps protect colour over time.
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Decorative outdoor concrete (exposed aggregate, honed, polished, liquid limestone) typically needs resealing every 3–5 years to maintain colour and stain protection. Standard grey concrete with no sealer doesn’t strictly require resealing but performs better long-term if sealed.
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Yes — alfresco and outdoor living areas frequently connect to pool surrounds. We design the connection so falls, finishes and edges flow correctly between the two areas. It’s often more efficient and visually consistent to do both at once.
Testimonials
Why work with COLACRETE?
We’re a Perth-based concreting business with a family lineage in the trade going back to the 1990s, owner-operated by Eddie Colakovic. HIA, MBA and CIA member. We pour outdoor living concrete across the Perth metro area — north, south, coast and hills.
You might also be interested in our concrete pool surrounds page (often combined with alfresco work), our honed concrete page, or our wider range of Perth concreting services.
Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free outdoor living quote. We’ll respond within 24 to 48 hours.
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