Liquid Limestone vs Concrete in Perth: What Is the Difference?

If you have asked a Perth concreter about paving, you have probably heard the term liquid limestone. It is a local product, not something you will find quoted the same way in the eastern states, and it is worth understanding before you choose between it and standard concrete.

What liquid limestone is

Liquid limestone is a poured paving surface made from crushed Western Australian limestone and cream-tinted cement. It is mixed, poured and finished much like concrete, so it sets as one continuous slab with no grout lines. The cream colour comes from the white or cream cement and the limestone fines, not from a surface stain.

How it differs from standard concrete

• Colour: a soft cream or sandstone tone, against the grey of standard concrete
• Temperature: the pale surface runs cooler than grey concrete in summer, though it is still hot barefoot on a Perth afternoon
• Hardness: it is softer and more friable than standard concrete
• Porosity: it takes stains more readily, so it has to be sealed
• Cost: about $80 to $130 per m² supplied and laid, against roughly $60 to $95 for plain brushed concrete

Where liquid limestone works well

It is at its best around pool surrounds, alfresco areas and garden paths, where people are barefoot and the joint-free surface looks good. The lighter colour helps it stay more comfortable than grey concrete in the sun.

Where it is not the best choice

A busy driveway is the usual weak spot. The surface can mark under heavy 4WDs, dual-cab utes and SUVs, and oil and rust stain it if it is not sealed promptly. For a driveway that takes daily traffic, exposed aggregate or honed concrete is normally the better choice.

Sealing and upkeep

A penetrating sealer goes on after the slab has cured, typically three to four weeks. Many installers add a topical coat later. Published Perth guides put resealing at every two to five years for a topical sealer and every five to seven years for a penetrating one, with an annual soft wash. Pool surrounds near the coast need their first reseal sooner because of the salt air. Avoid high-pressure cleaning, which can lift the sealer.

Other things to know

• Fine hairline cracks can appear as it cures, which is why saw-cut joints are placed carefully
• Algae can grow in permanently shaded or wet areas
• It still needs a properly compacted base, like any slab

Frequently asked questions

Is liquid limestone real limestone?

It is concrete made with crushed limestone and cream cement, so it behaves like concrete structurally but looks like pale stone.

Is it cheaper than pavers?

Prices vary by job, but it avoids the cost of laying individual pavers, and there are no joints to fill. Get quotes for both on your actual area.

Not sure which finish suits your job? Tell Concreters Perth where it is going and what drives over it, or call 08 7666 3268, and we will recommend the right one.