Pedestal Pavers

The use of a pedestal system provides many benefits to both installers and end users, providing aesthetic and functional advantages.

Pavers are installed simply by placing them onto pods or pedestals, removing the need for additional materials such as grout and adhesives. Due to the absence of grout, the pedestal pavement prevents water entrapment and effectively reduces heat conductivity, preventing the membrane from expanding due to excessive heat.

In addition to creating a clean, neat aesthetic, the uniform gaps between pedestal pavers allow water to drain between the tiles. The drainage grade is incorporated at the sub-base level, meaning that the finished level of the pavers on pedestals can be made completely level.

Additional services such as piping or cabling can be concealed beneath the paving, removing these unsightly elements from view. The services are easily accessed when required by simply lifting individual pavers off the pedestals.

Pedestal systems are most commonly used in commercial buildings and high-rise apartments where they are installed on balconies and roof terraces. However, there is no limit on the types of spaces that can utilise a pedestal paving system. Anston has previously supplied pedestal paving to private residences where they have been installed in courtyards and around pools.

It is important to note that the current Australian Standard for paving and masonry does not apply to pedestal paving as an installation methodology.

Pedestal paving systems are not appropriate for installation in areas requiring access for vehicular traffic, or heavy machinery such as forklifts and scissor lifts. We strongly recommend installing paving on a solid base for these applications.

In contrast to a typical paving installation on a solid base, the installation of pedestal pavers does not require the use of grout. Instead, a grid of pedestal supports is laid onto a concrete sub-base, which has been adequately prepared for drainage and waterproofing, and the pedestal pavers are laid on top of the pedestals. Pedestal pavers are typically supported on a pedestal at each of the four corners. Some longer sizes may also have additional central supports to prevent a long, unsupported span.

Pedestal pavers are not glued onto the pedestal supports, allowing easy access to the sub-base or services beneath the raised pavement by simply lifting off the relevant pavers.

No, Anston's pedestal paving range does not include the pods or pedestals used in a pedestal paving system.

If you're searching for a suitable product, we recommend the Buzon height-adjustable range of pedestals, which is available via Pasco Construction Solutions.

To complete a pedestal paver installation, the pedestal pavers at the edge of the paved surface usually need to be cut down to fit. As this process exposes the internal steel reinforcement embedded within Anston's pedestal pavers, it is highly recommended that the exposed steel wire in the cut edges of the paver is treated with a waterproofing agent to seal the steel, preventing rust from occurring.

A product we recommend for this application is Mapelastic Smart by Mapei.

There is currently no industry standard that applies to paving installed on pedestals - the current AS/NZS Standard only includes testing methodologies for pavers and flags that are installed on a traditional solid base. 

Anston standard paving and pedestal paving products are made in accordance with the requirements specified in AS/NZS 4452.2:2010 - Masonry units, pavers, flags and segmental retaining wall units, including Breaking Load.

We recognise that paving on pedestal systems are subject to a higher level of risk to pavement users. Any paver failure or breakage in a pedestal system can cause injury to pedestrians due to the possibility of falling through the elevated pavement level to the sub-base below. This is different to typical paving installations, where paver breakage is usually cosmetic and presents no risk of pedestrians falling from height.

To counteract this safety implication, Anston's range of reinforced pedestal pavers offers an increased level of security due to the steel reinforcing structure embedded into the body of each pedestal paver. This ensures that any sudden impact loads will not break our pedestal pavers, thus protecting pedestrians from hazardous falls. Our in-built reinforcing technology is a feature only available in a manmade paver, and is not possible in a natural stone paver.