Common questions
Straight answers about how EXLVN works and the things people ask before starting an outdoor project. Anything not covered here, ask on the phone or through the form.
Working with EXLVN
- Do you do garden maintenance?
- No. EXLVN is construction only: pool surrounds, paving, concreting, timber work and the hard landscaping around them. For mowing and upkeep you want a maintenance crew.
- Where do you work?
- Most jobs are in Sydney’s northern beaches, eastern suburbs and north shore. Bigger projects further out are case by case, worth a call either way.
- How do quotes work?
- Call or send the form, then a site visit to measure and talk materials, then one written quote with a clear scope and a fixed price. No obligation either way.
- Can you build from my designer’s or architect’s plans?
- Yes. Working from landscape plans is normal practice, and coordinating with your designer, architect or pool builder is part of the job.
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Yes. Licensed in NSW and fully insured. The licence number is on every written quote, and on request before that.
Pool tiling & coping
- What is the best material for pool coping?
- Travertine is the most popular for good reason: it stays cooler underfoot, it is naturally slip resistant, and it suits Sydney’s coastal light. Granite and bluestone give a darker, sharper look. Porcelain is the most consistent and lowest maintenance. The right answer depends on the house, the sun the area gets, and how the pool is used.
- Can you redo the surrounds of an existing pool?
- Yes. Re-coping and re-tiling an older pool is one of the most common jobs we do, and it changes the feel of the whole backyard without touching the pool shell.
- How much does pool coping cost in Sydney?
- It depends on the material, the metres of edge, whether old coping has to come off first, and how easy the site is to get materials into. Travertine and porcelain sit at different price points, and drainage and waterline tiling add to the scope. The quote is one fixed written price after a site visit, so there is no estimate to be corrected later.
- Do new pool surrounds affect fencing compliance?
- They can. Changing levels or structures near a pool can change how the barrier rules apply, so compliance gets checked as part of planning the job rather than discovered at the end.
Paving
- Natural stone or concrete pavers?
- Natural stone (travertine, bluestone, sandstone, granite) ages well and every piece is different, which is where the premium look comes from. Concrete and porcelain pavers are more uniform and often cheaper. Both are only as good as the base they sit on.
- Do pavers need sealing?
- Porous stone like travertine and sandstone generally benefits from sealing, especially around pools and barbecue areas where staining is likely. Dense stone and porcelain often need less. We advise per material when quoting.
- Why does the base preparation matter so much?
- Because almost every paving failure is a base failure. Excavation depth, compacted road base, correct falls for drainage and the right bedding are most of the labour on a paving job, and they are the difference between paving that holds its lines for decades and paving that moves in two winters.
Planning an outdoor project?
Send through the details and get a call back, or skip the form and ring direct.