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Find a concreter you can trust

Concrete is a job you only want to pay for once. A good concreter gets the base, the falls and the reinforcement right, so your driveway or slab doesn't crack and sink in a few years. We match you with one vetted local who does it properly.

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What a concreter can do

New driveways, from plain broom finish to exposed aggregate
Breaking out and replacing a cracked or sunken driveway
Slabs for sheds, garages, carports and outdoor areas
Paths, patios and pool surrounds
Driveway crossovers, built to your council's specs
Coloured, stencilled, honed and exposed aggregate finishes
Concrete cutting, grinding and crack repairs
Sealing driveways and paths against stains and wear

When to call a concreter

Concrete sits under a lot of outdoor jobs. You’ll want a concreter for:

A new driveway, or replacing one that’s cracked, lifting or sinking
A slab for a shed, garage, carport or outdoor entertaining area
Paths down the side of the house and around the garden
Pool surrounds and patios
A new or upgraded crossover from your driveway to the road
Decorative finishes like exposed aggregate, honed or coloured concrete

Big structural pours, like the slab and footings for a new house or an extension, usually sit under a builder, with an engineer’s design to AS 2870, the Australian Standard for residential slabs and footings. A concreter may do the pour, but the builder runs the job.

What makes concrete last

Most concrete failures start underneath. Here’s what separates a driveway that lasts for decades from one that cracks in a couple of years:

The base. The ground has to be dug out to the right depth, compacted, then topped with crushed rock that’s compacted again. Skimp here and the slab moves.
The soil. Plenty of Australian suburbs sit on reactive clay that swells when it’s wet and shrinks when it dries out. A good concreter allows for it in the base and the reinforcement.
Reinforcement. Steel mesh, sized for what will drive or sit on it, keeps any cracks tight and the slab in one piece.
Control joints. Concrete will crack somewhere. Saw cuts or joints at the right spacing make it crack in a straight line where you won’t notice.
Falls and drainage. Water should run away from the house and off the driveway, not pool against your walls or garage door.
Curing. Fresh concrete needs time. Keep cars off a new driveway for about a week, or however long your concreter says.

Licences and approvals

Whether a concreter needs a licence depends on your state and what the job is worth. In NSW, residential concreting over $5,000 needs a contractor licence. In Queensland, the QBCC licence threshold is $3,300. In Victoria, concrete work on a home over $10,000 generally needs a registered builder. South Australia treats slabs, paths and driveways as building work that needs a CBS licence, while WA and the ACT don’t license concreters for driveways and paths. Our licence checks by state show the rules and the register to search where you live.

Crossovers, the stretch between your boundary and the road, sit on council land, so most councils want a permit and have their own specs for thickness, finish and kerb work. A concreter who works in your area should know the drill, and either sort the application or tell you exactly what to lodge.

What concreting costs

Most concreters price by the square metre rather than by the hour. As a rough guide, plain concrete laid on a prepared base runs around $70–$140 per m², and exposed aggregate around $100–$220 per m². That puts a plain single driveway of about 30 m² at roughly $2,500–$6,000. Breaking out an old driveway, digging into a slope, pumping concrete to a hard-to-reach spot and council crossover fees all add to it. Our concreting price guide has the detail. It’s a guide, not a quote.

How needatradie matches you

Tell us about the job and your postcode, and we match you with one vetted local concreter. Before anyone is sent your way, we check the licence where your state requires one, plus insurance, ABN and reviews. It’s free for homeowners, and we don’t sell your details on to other businesses.

See concreters in Brisbane, concreters in Sydney or all the areas we cover, or get a free quote.

Before you hire

The right licence for your state and the job's value. NSW needs one over $5,000, Queensland over $3,300 and Victoria a registered builder over $10,000, while WA and the ACT don't license concreters for driveways and paths.
A quote that spells out the excavation, compaction and crushed rock base.
Steel reinforcement and control joints listed in the quote, not left to chance.
Falls that carry water away from the house, and a plan for where it drains.
Council approval sorted for any crossover or work on the footpath.
Public liability insurance and a written workmanship warranty.

Indicative prices

Typical ranges for common jobs. A guide, not a quote.

Plain concrete driveway, single (around 30 m²) · Base prep and mesh included; removing an old driveway is extra $2,500–$6,000
Plain concrete driveway, double (around 50 m²) · Sydney quotes often sit higher $4,000–$9,000
Exposed aggregate driveway, double (around 50 m²) $6,000–$12,000
Shed, carport or patio slab (20 to 40 m²) · Thickened edges and post footings add cost $2,000–$6,000
Stencilled or stamped concrete (per m²) · Patterned finishes that look like stone, brick or pavers $100–$200
Concrete pump hire · Needed when the truck can't reach the pour $450–$800

What a concreter costs →

Concreters: common questions

How much does a 30 m² concrete driveway cost?

As a rough guide, a plain concrete driveway of about 30 m² costs around $2,500–$6,000 laid on a prepared base, and more for exposed aggregate or other decorative finishes. Removing an old driveway, a sloping site, pump hire and a council crossover permit can all add to that. Prices vary by city and site, so treat it as a guide, not a quote.

What do concreters charge per hour?

Most don't quote driveways, slabs and paths by the hour. They price by the square metre or give a fixed price for the whole job, because the cost depends on materials, the base and the finish as much as time. Plain concrete typically runs around $70–$140 per m² laid. For small repairs or cutting, some do charge an hourly or half-day rate.

What type of concrete is best for a driveway?

Plain concrete with a broom finish is the most affordable and gives good grip. Exposed aggregate is the popular step up, because it hides stains and wear and isn't slippery when wet. Coloured, stencilled and honed finishes look smart but cost more and usually need sealing to stay that way. Whatever the finish, the base, reinforcement and joints decide how long it lasts.

Is concrete cheaper than paving?

Often they land in a similar range. Plain concrete and basic pavers can cost about the same per square metre, while exposed aggregate and premium pavers both cost more. Concrete is one solid slab that's quick to lay and easy to sweep. Pavers take longer to lay, but a cracked or stained one can be lifted and replaced on its own.

Do concreters need a licence?

It depends on your state and the job's value. NSW needs a contractor licence for residential concreting over $5,000, Queensland a QBCC licence over $3,300, and Victoria a registered builder over $10,000. SA treats driveways and slabs as building work that needs a licence, while WA and the ACT don't license concreters for this work. Check the right register before paying a deposit.

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