Our landscaping customers are looking to give their clients’ projects an edge. Sawn stone steps give a beautiful, natural finish that concrete simply can’t replicate. Transrock sawn steps in Honey Granite or Basalt deliver a high end, natural look for any outdoor environment. And the stone is sourced locally in Victoria
Choosing the right stone or other material is only part of the job. It’s also important to consider:
• Ability to install
• The design brief
• Delivering on time and on budget
When it comes time to install, sawn rock steps are typically easier and quicker than concrete alternatives.
Installed costs – what’s the difference?
For a typical 10-step flight of stairs, sawn stone usually costs less than concrete installed. We estimate it’s roughly $2,800-$4,200 versus $5,000-$7,000 for poured concrete and 1-2 days installation rather than 4-5 separate visits.
Cost and time comparison: 10 steps across two levels
Let’s take an example, where you’re building a straight flight of 10 steps across two levels.
* Assumptions: 10 risers at 170 mm, approx. 1.2 m wide, good machine access, sawn steps approx. 0.4-0.6 m² each, machine hire $250-$400 per day, 2-person crew, landscaper labour $80/hr and concreter $90/hr all-in, approx. 1 hr travel per person per return visit, prices ex-GST and current at time of writing. On the stone job the second person is only needed for the base and placing – the rest of the time they are productive elsewhere on site.
Transrock Sawn Stone Steps | Poured Concrete Steps (in-situ) | ||||
Stage | Time on site (person/hrs) | Approx. cost* | Time on site (person/hrs) | Approx. cost* | |
1 Site preparation | 4-6 hrs x 1 operator | $250-$400 machine hire | 4-6 hrs x 1 operator | $250-$400 machine hire | |
2 Crushed rock base, compacted | 2-4 hrs x 2 people | $320-$640 Labour only | 2-4 hrs x 2 people | $320-$640 Labour only | |
3 Formwork | Not required | $0 | 4 hrs x 2 people | $720+ materials | |
4 Reinforcement (rebar) | Not required | $0 | 1 hr x 2 people = 2 hrs | $180+ Rebar materials | |
5 Material | 10 sawn steps, approx. 0.4-0.6 sq m each (4-6 sq m total) | $1,320-$1,980+ ($330+ per sq m you only pay for the steps you use) | Concrete, delivered approx. 3 sq m for this flight | Approx. $550-$1,050 ($180-$350 per sq m depending on finish) | |
6 Placing / pouring | 2 hrs x 2 people machine placing | $250-$400 machine hire | 6-8 hrs x 2 pour and level separate day | $540-$720 | |
7 Finishing | Not required | $0 | Additional visit (aggregate finish) separate day | $250-$400 | |
8 Relief cuts | Not required | $0 | Additional visit (if required) separate day | $250-$400 | |
9 Ready for foot traffic | Same day | $0 | Approx. 1 week cure before use | $0 | |
10 Site visits required | 1-2 days back to back | $0 | 4-5 separate visits (prep/base, formwork, pour, finish, relief cuts) | $0 | |
11 Travel between visits | Nil crew already on site | $0 | 4-5 return trips x 2 people ≈ 8-10 hrs | $720-$900 | |
Total Labour hours | 12-18 person-hours at $80/hr | $960-$1,440 | 30-40 person-hours + 8-10 hrs travel at $90/hr | $3,420-$4,500 | |
Total Material Costs | Stone $1,320-$1,980 | Formwork $240+ concrete $550-$1,050 + Rebar | |||
Total Machinery Costs | $500-$800 | $250 - $400 | |||
Total Cost | Approx. $2,800-$4,200 | Approx. $5,000-$7,000+ | |||
Step height, riser rules and NCC compliance
Our standard sawn step is 170 mm high, which sits within the riser range the National Construction Code (NCC) sets for stairs. External landscape steps aren’t always covered by the NCC, so it’s worth checking any project-specific requirements with your designer or certifier. If you need a different height, we can custom order – contact us and discuss what you’re after.
Installation: other tips
Installers often ask how much overlap each step needs onto the one below but in practice it comes down to the installer.
The base does most of the work. In the same way it’s important to prepare a concrete staircase so that voids don’t appear, you need a solid platform to lay the steps on. The more time you spend prepping the base, the longer the stone will stay where it is placed.
Which is right for your project?
Ultimately it’ll come down to your preference – however sawn stone can deliver a stylish and functional result, usually in less time and less cost.
Next step
Ready to price a flight of steps? Send us your riser count, width and a site photo and we’ll come back with a per-step quote and delivery options. Or visit the Wonga Park display yard to see the sawn steps and pick your own unique pieces. Or email your project details » click here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Sawn steps start from $330 per m² and go up from there – we charge only based on the m² of the steps you select. A typical 10-step flight uses around 4-6 m² of stone, so budget roughly $1,300–$2,000.
*Prices current at the time of writing and subject to change without notice.
Looking at whole of project cost, not just the product cost, stone steps often work out considerably cheaper than concrete steps.
As a guide, the NCC riser range for stairs is 115–190 mm. Our standard sawn steps are 170 mm, which sits comfortably within that range. Requirements for external landscape steps can vary by project, so confirm with your designer or certifier.