How Much Does Concreting Cost?

Last Updated Oct 17, 2016 · Written by Craig Gibson

Concreting|Renovation Costs

Concrete is one of our most important building products. We use it for house slabs, driveways, paving and much more. Without it, building costs would be much higher, because concrete is in plentiful supply and is relatively easy to work with, enabling concreters to cover large areas in a short amount of time. You can also get some pretty cool effects and designs from exposed aggregate concrete and stencil concrete, especially for flooring.

When it comes to budgeting your concreting project, it is difficult to work out what it might cost you.

This article will help you figure out:

• What jobs a concretor can do
• What to look for when hiring a concretor
• What they might charge you

^{Concrete is versatile enough to be used for pool construction. © Australian Outdoor Living}

What do concretors do?

So what sort of jobs can concretors do? Quite a lot, including:

• Mixing and laying concrete
• Laying house foundations
• Concrete cutting
• Cleaning dirty concrete
• Reinforcing concrete to strengthen it
• Pouring concrete into formwork for creating a variety of structures
• Grinding, polishing and sealing concrete surfaces
• Creating different decorative effects with stencils and stamps

^{A concrete driveway is durable and easy on the eye. © Coolum Exteriors}

Types of concreting

Depending on your project and the type of finish you are looking for, there are number of different types of concreting.  Some of them include:

Concrete pools: concrete is a very stable and durable option for a swimming pool

Concrete driveways: a stable surface for driveways that is available in a wide range of finishes, including stencilled, stamped and exposed aggregate

Exposed aggregate concrete: a popular decorative effect achieved by adding stone to concrete, and suitable for driveways, patios and pathways

Concrete footpaths: a functional and aesthetically pleasing option for a footpath, either laid as a single layer or individual blocks

Concrete formwork: the framework that contains a concrete structure is a timber frame called formwork

Concrete foundations: every building needs a solid base and concrete is the most common material used

Concrete house slabs: the perfect surface for house slabs, durable, stable and cost effective

Spray-on concrete: a decorative feature that can turn concrete into a real feature

Coloured concrete: adding dyes to concrete allows you to spruce up any area, indoors or out

Read: Polished concrete flooring - give that grey slab a new lease of life


^{Concrete resurfacing can rejuvenate any surface with a range of effects possible. © Decorative Concrete Resurfacing}

Why polished concrete flooring?

Matt Pluples, managing director of Brisbane-based My Floor - Flooring Solutions, a concrete polishing and grinding service has seen polished concrete become a popular option in homes, “Today polished concrete flooring is suitable for use in a variety of different settings. It is not just for commercial settings - it can look just as stunning in a residential setting.

"Why spend thousands having a new floor laid when with the right staining or polishing you can turn a cold grey slab into a surface with the same look and feel of natural stone.”

#hiptip: Most states require contractors to hold either a dedicated concreting licence or builders licence

^{An exposed aggregate driveway. © Simply Driveways}

Does my concretor need to be licensed?

Concreters are licensed on a state-by-state basis. All states except Tasmania and the NT require either a dedicated concreting licence or a builders licence.
 

Hiring a concretor

When it comes time to hiring a concretor make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you licensed for my project?
• Do you hold valid insurance?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?

^{A polished concrete floor can look stunning. © DS Grinding}

How Much Does Concreting Cost?

So how much can you expect to pay for your project?

The cost of your concreting project will depend on a number of factors, specifically:

• The size of your site
• How much it costs to excavate and level your site
• How much drainage needs to be installed on your site
• Access to your site

Read: Decorative concrete - a world of possibilities

A rough concrete slab will cost much less than a decorative finish.  At a rough estimate, expect to pay in the region of:

• $50 to $75 per square metre for spray-on concrete
• $60 to $85 per square metre for plain concrete
• $65 to $90 per square metre for a reinforced concrete pathway
• $75 to $90 per square metre for coloured concrete
• $100 to $150 per square metre for an exposed aggregate finish
• $100 to $150 per square metre for a decorative stencilled concrete driveway

Labour rates vary throughout Australia, but on average, concreters charge about $67.50 per hour. While the rate sounds high, concreters use expensive equipment that speeds up the process and keeps costs down.


^{Putting the finishing touches to a concrete driveway © One Stop Concreting}

Read: How much does concrete stencilling cost?

Getting Quotes from Concreters

Today, concreters are specialising more than they did in the past. This is an important point to remember for a few reasons:

• You are likely to get the most competitive quotes from specialists
• A specialist will probably do a better job than a general concreter for many types of work
• A specialist will have the right equipment for their speciality. You won't be paying extra for equipment they don't need on your job

For example, some concreters specialise in pouring slabs and other large concreting jobs. They will come in with large trucks and concrete pumps. Working quickly and efficiently, they will pour a slab in the most cost-effective manner. The same company would probably be a poor choice if you want to have your driveway resurfaced with a decorative finish.

The best way of finding out the cost of your concreting job is to get quotes from local concretors. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are. 

* All the costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are indicative, may vary locally, are subject to market forces and should only be used as a guide