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Frequently Asked Questions About Concreters

How much should a concrete driveway cost in Australia?

Plain concrete driveways typically run $65–$100 per square metre supplied and laid. Exposed aggregate sits between $90–$150/sqm, coloured or stamped decorative finishes $100–$180/sqm, and polished concrete $100–$200/sqm. Structural slabs start around $85/sqm before reinforcement and excavation. Site access, removal of the existing slab, and reactive soil classification can push prices up sharply. We'd recommend getting three written quotes broken down by square metreage, slab thickness, mesh type, and finish — anything quoted over the phone without a site visit is a red flag.

Does my concreter need to be licensed?

Licensing varies by state and is one of the first things to check. Queensland requires a QBCC licence for any concreting work over $3,300. NSW needs a Home Building Licence from Fair Trading for residential jobs over $5,000. Victoria requires VBA registration for structural work. WA mandates Building Commission registration above $20,000, SA requires a Consumer & Business Services licence over $12,000, and Tasmania uses the CBOS Building Practitioner scheme. ACT and NT run their own registration. Ask for the licence number and verify it on the relevant state regulator's website — takes two minutes.

How thick should my concrete slab be?

Residential driveways and domestic slabs (sheds, patios, paths) should be 100mm with SL62 or SL72 mesh. Anything taking truck access, heavy machinery, or commercial loads needs 150mm or more with N12 bar to engineer's spec. On reactive clay soils — common across Adelaide, western Sydney and parts of Melbourne — slabs must be site-classified under AS 2870 (M or H class) with footings designed accordingly. If a concreter quotes a 75mm driveway, or proposes trench mesh alone for a slab, walk away. AS 3727 covers residential slab requirements.

How long does concrete take to cure?

Foot traffic at 24–48 hours, light vehicles after 7 days, and full design strength at 28 days. That's the standard schedule for residential mixes and it shouldn't be rushed. A good concreter will explain the cure window before you book, advise you to keep the slab damp in hot weather (especially anywhere north of Brisbane in summer), and warn you off parking the car too early. Driving on a 3-day-old slab is the fastest way to cause cracking and surface scaling that won't be covered under workmanship warranty.

Is surface cracking covered by warranty?

Most reputable concreters offer 12 months on workmanship for residential jobs. Structural cracking from poor workmanship — wrong mix, missing reinforcement, no expansion joints — is covered under Australian Consumer Law and the relevant state home-building scheme. fine surface crazing (a spiderweb pattern) is cosmetic and considered normal in cured concrete. The distinction matters. If you see cracks wider than 1mm, cracks that go through the full slab depth, or movement at joints within the first year, document it with photos and raise it formally in writing.

Can I DIY a small concrete job?

A 20sqm path, a shed slab, or a small step is a feasible weekend job if you've poured before and you've got a couple of competent helpers. Hire-yards in most capital cities supply mini-mixers and screeds. Anything above 25sqm, any driveway, or any structural slab should go to a pro. Concrete sets in 60–90 minutes from arrival and there's no second chance once it goes off. Decorative finishes — exposed aggregate, polished, stamped — are skilled trades in their own right and almost never worth attempting DIY.

Are all concreters skilled in decorative finishes?

No, and this is where homeowners get caught out. Across our directory of 1,854 concreters, 545 list decorative work, 460 do polished concrete, and 560 handle exposed aggregate — so roughly one in four is set up for a specialty finish. Each finish has its own timing, tools, and technique. A concreter who pours driveways daily may produce a poor stencilled or stamped result. Ask for portfolio photos of the exact finish you want, ideally on jobs more than two years old so you can see how they've weathered. Operators like Grind and Shine Concrete in Hillcrest or Polished Concrete Specialists in Wattle Grove have built their reputations on single-finish expertise.