Braai area paving costs roughly R12,000 to R22,000 for a 30 square metre area in cement or simulated cobble pavers. The money is the easy part. Getting the surface right around a fire, and keeping it clean afterwards, is what separates a good braai area from a stained one.
Here is what works in front of a braai, and what does not.
Choosing heat-safe braai area paving
Nothing on the floor sits in the fire, but everything within a metre of the braai takes radiant heat, dropped coals and spitting fat. Some materials cope far better than others.
- Clay pavers: fired at high temperature, so heat and stray coals do not bother them. Colour is fired through and does not fade
- Concrete pavers: fine for the wider area, but a hot coal can scorch or spall the surface of a pigmented face
- Natural stone: durable and handsome, but porous types stain badly with grease
- Polished or glazed anything: avoid it entirely, it becomes lethal when wet and marks under heat
The practical answer for most homes is clay or a good-quality concrete paver in the general area, with the immediate fire zone paved in clay or finished in a material you do not mind marking. Rates by unit type are set out in our paving service pages.
Colour choices around a fire
- Mid-tone reds, browns and charcoals hide ash and fat marks best
- Pale cream and white looks beautiful and shows every drip
- Very dark charcoal gets hot underfoot in a Cape summer
- Slightly varied colours disguise the inevitable single stained unit
Laying out the working zone
A braai has a person standing at it with tongs, a plate and usually a drink. Give them room.
- Keep 1.2m of clear paved space in front of the braai for the person working
- Allow a walking route behind them so guests are not squeezing past the fire
- Put the prep surface within arm’s reach, not across the patio
- Keep the seating just outside the working zone, close enough to talk
- Leave a wood or charcoal store that is dry and off the paving
A working zone of about 2m by 2.5m in front of the braai, opening onto the seating area, suits most homes. It stops the classic problem of everyone standing exactly where the cook needs to be.
Wind and smoke
Position the braai so the prevailing south-easter carries smoke away from the seating and away from open doors. In many Cape Town gardens that means shifting the braai a metre or two rather than building an expensive screen.
Slope and drainage around the fire
Water and grease both need to leave this surface. That means the same falls a patio needs, plus a little care about where the run-off ends up.
- Fall away from the house and away from the braai structure
- Roughly 15mm of drop per metre, about 1 in 60 to 1 in 80
- Do not drain towards a lawn edge that receives fat-laden wash water
- A channel drain is worth it where the area is boxed in by walls
- Keep paving below the damp-proof course where it meets the house
Flat, boxed-in braai areas hold water, and standing water plus grease makes a genuinely slippery floor.
Cleaning grease and ash off paving
Fat spits, marinade drips and ash blows around. Deal with it early and the marks come out.
- Blot fresh grease immediately and cover it with dry sand or cat litter to draw the oil out
- Leave the absorbent on for a few hours, then sweep it up
- Scrub with hot water and a degreasing detergent using a stiff brush
- Use a dedicated driveway and paving cleaner for older set-in marks
- Rinse thoroughly so detergent does not leave a pale patch
Pressure washing works but strips joint sand, so re-sand the joints afterwards. Never use undiluted acid on concrete pavers, as it bleaches the surface permanently.
Sealing
A penetrating sealer around the fire zone makes grease sit on the surface instead of soaking in. It needs redoing every few years and it slightly deepens the colour, so test one unit first.
When to do it yourself and when to hire
Relaying a small square of existing paving is a realistic weekend job. Building a new area is not, mostly because of the base and the falls. Paver strength classes and laying guidance come from the Concrete Manufacturers Association.
- Do it yourself: lifting and relaying a few marked units, re-sanding joints, cleaning
- Hire out: excavation, sub-base compaction, setting falls, edge restraints, level changes and steps
Falls are the part people get wrong. A patio that runs the wrong way by 10mm per metre is invisible until it rains.
For the wider entertainment space, see our patio paving Cape Town guide, and for material rates by unit type read pavers Cape Town.
We build braai areas and entertainment paving across the city. See our paving services, or send us a photo of the space for a written quote. Assessment is free and there is no call-out fee.
Frequently asked questions
What paving is best for a braai area?
Clay pavers are the strongest choice near the fire because they are fired at high temperature, so dropped coals and radiant heat do not damage them and the colour is fired through. Good-quality concrete pavers work well for the wider area. Avoid polished or glazed surfaces, which mark under heat and are slippery when wet.
Can hot coals damage paving?
They can. A stray coal will scorch or spall the pigmented face of a concrete paver, and porous natural stone stains where fat lands. Clay pavers handle it best. Mid-tone reds, browns and charcoals hide the occasional mark far better than pale cream units.
How much space do you need around a braai?
Keep at least 1.2m of clear paved space in front of the braai for the person cooking, with a walking route behind them so guests are not squeezing past the fire. A working zone of about 2m by 2.5m opening onto the seating area suits most homes and keeps people out of the cook’s way.
How do you get grease off paving?
Blot fresh grease immediately, cover it with dry sand or cat litter for a few hours to draw the oil out, then sweep up and scrub with hot water and a degreasing detergent. Use a proper paving cleaner on set-in marks. Pressure washing works but strips joint sand, so re-sand afterwards.
How much does it cost to pave a braai area?
About R12,000 to R22,000 for a 30 square metre area in cement or simulated cobble pavers, including the compacted base and edging. That works out to roughly R380 to R750 per square metre installed. Clay pavers sit at the higher end at R550 to R800 per square metre.