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Trade 5 of 33Updated June 2026

A research dossier · 260 trade-region files across 8 states & territories · structural concrete standards verified against AS 3600

Hiring a Concreter
is one of the few jobs you can't take back.

Once concrete is poured, finished and cured, fixing a mistake means breaking it out. The cheap concreter who skips the reinforcement mesh saves you $300 today and costs you the whole driveway in 18 months when the cracks open up. The questions on this page exist to put the mesh, the falls, the cure time, and the reinforcement bars into the conversation before the truck arrives.

$150–$250

Plain driveway per m² — the honest range.

SL72

The reinforcement mesh code you should be quoted.

28 days

Full design-strength cure. Not 2 days. Not a week.

In a hurry? Start here

I've got quotes

Compare them properly

Most concreter quotes price different scopes. See what a real quote contains, line by line.

I need someone now

Handle it urgently

Make-safe price first, full quote second — and verify the licence before anyone starts.

Is this one legit?

Verify this tradie

The free 60-second routine: licence, insurance, ABN, history — before you pay a deposit.

My state

Check your state rules

Licensing, deposit caps and the common gotcha for your state and territory.

Or grab the four printable buyer checklists →

90-second briefing

Read this first

Before you hire a concreter, know this.

  1. 1

    Concrete is priced per m² and depends on thickness, reinforcement and finish — get all three named.

  2. 2

    Confirm the prep: excavation, formwork, base compaction and steel mesh are where corners get cut.

  3. 3

    Decorative finishes (exposed aggregate, polished, coloured) are separate skills — ask to see samples.

  4. 4

    Ask about cure time and control joints — cracking complaints almost always trace back here.

  5. 5

    Get the licence and insurance details and a written scope before any deposit.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit (r/sydney · r/melbourne · r/AusRenovation), Whirlpool, ProductReview, AS 3600 (Concrete Structures) + AS 1379 (Specification + supply of concrete), Building Commission NSW + QBCC + BPC.

Verification

Pricing cross-checked across NSW, QLD, VIC. Reinforcement mesh + slab thickness rules verified against current building codes. Decorative finishes priced from working concreters.

Funding

No concreter pays for placement. No referral fees. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at tradies.needatrade.com.au/flyers/.

Before we start

The pour is the easy part.
The prep + the cure are the job.

What separates the $150/m² driveway that's perfect at year 10 from the $130/m² driveway that's cracking at year 2 is invisible. It's the sub-grade preparation, the reinforcement mesh, the falls cut accurately, the expansion joints placed at the right intervals, and the cure regime in the first 28 days. None of which the cheap concreter shows you — but all of which decide whether you're re-pouring in 2027.

The 10 questions below force the invisible work into the open. A working concreter welcomes the questions — most of their margin is in doing the prep properly. A cowboy stalls — the cheap quote only works if you don't ask.

Concrete you can break out and re-pour is concrete that was poured without thinking. The honest concreter never wants to come back for that reason.

01

How much should it really cost?

Concrete pricing is per square metre + a thickness/reinforcement uplift. The cheap quote is almost always pricing a thinner slab + lighter mesh.

Six lines a real concrete quote shows

  • 1Sub-grade prep. Excavation depth, compaction, sand base, road-base, vapour barrier where required.
  • 2Form work. Boxing the perimeter, setting falls, control joints marked.
  • 3Reinforcement. Mesh size (SL72 / SL81 / SL92), trench mesh in edges where needed, bar chairs to lift mesh into the slab.
  • 4Concrete spec. Strength (N20 / N25 / N32 MPa), slump, aggregate size. From a batch plant, with delivery dockets kept.
  • 5Finish + cure. Brush, trowel, exposed agg, polished. Cure compound or wet-cure regime spelled out.
  • 6Joint detail. Saw-cut control joints at 3–4m intervals. Expansion joints against the house + driveway edges.

Indicative ranges · per m²

AU 2026

Plain grey driveway (100mm + SL72)$150 – $250/m²
Coloured / stained$200 – $300/m²
Exposed aggregate$240 – $360/m²
Stamped / stencilled$220 – $340/m²
Polished concrete (indoor)$280 – $480/m²
Cheap quote (thinner slab, lighter mesh)under $130/m²
Indicative. Steep blocks, structural / suspended slabs, heritage finish-matching = upper end.

Ask this, exactly

Save · share · screenshot

"Can you send the quote with slab thickness, mesh code (SL72 / 81 / 92), concrete strength (MPa), and the cure plan — line by line?"

02

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

The concrete villain isn't flashy. It's the operator who quotes 75mm thick when the standard is 100mm, skips the mesh because "we don't need it on a driveway," and pours in 38° heat with no cure plan.

Red flags — in order of how often you'll meet them

  • !

    No mesh code on the quote

    "We use mesh" without a code (SL72 / SL81 / SL92) means whatever was on the truck. SL72 is the residential driveway standard. Cheaper meshes exist and they fail earlier.

  • !

    Slab thickness under 100mm

    Standard driveway = 100mm. Heavy vehicle access = 125mm+. Anyone quoting 75mm is selling you a cracking slab inside three years.

  • !

    No control joints / expansion joints

    Concrete shrinks as it cures. Without saw-cut joints, it cracks wherever it wants. With them, it cracks at the joints — invisible. Required, not optional.

  • !

    No cure plan

    Concrete cures over 28 days. The first 7 days are critical. "Just wet it down occasionally" isn't a cure plan. Hessian, plastic sheet or cure compound — pick one and stick to it.

  • !

    Cash payment

    No invoice trail = no warranty = no comeback. Same as every trade — but concreters seem to push it more often.

The verification routine — 5 minutes, free

  1. ✓
    State licence above threshold. NSW: concreting over $5k needs a Specialist Trade certificate. QLD: above $3,300 needs QBCC. VIC: above $10k needs BPC registration.
  2. ✓
    ABN on abr.business.gov.au.
  3. ✓
    Public liability + workers comp. Certificate of currency.
  4. ✓
    Two reference jobs at year 3+. Drive past. Concrete tells the truth at year three — perfect if the prep was right, cracking everywhere if it wasn't.
  5. ✓
    Concrete batch delivery docket kept and given to you. Records the strength + slump on the day.

Ask this, exactly

"Can you send your licence number, public liability certificate, and confirm the mesh code + slab thickness + concrete strength — before I sign?"

03

What licence applies?

Concreter — licensing & compliance by state

Choose your state:
NSW $5,000

Regulator

Building Commission NSW

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

VIC $10,000

Regulator

Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC, formerly VBA)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

QLD Licensed

Regulator

QBCC

Common gotcha

Concreting

WA Licensed

Regulator

Building Services Board (Building and Energy)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

SA Licensed

Regulator

Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

ACT Licensed

Regulator

Construction Occupations Registrar (Access Canberra)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

NT Licensed

Regulator

Building Practitioners Board

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

TAS Licensed

Regulator

CBOS (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; curing/aftercare; licence details where applicable

Half-time

Concrete tells the truth at year three.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the licence. The first three sort the working concreters from the ones who skip the mesh. The next seven are how you tell the working concreters apart from each other — and how the slab stays clean through 2046.

04

When can you actually pour?

Concrete pours have weather windows. Too hot = surface dries before the body cures, causing crazing. Too cold = strength gain slows; freeze damage in extreme cases. Rain in the first 6 hours = surface wash and ruined finish.

Ideal pour day.

15–25°C, low wind, no rain forecast for 12 hours. Late autumn + early spring most reliable.

Cure window.

7 days minimum before walking on it. 28 days to design strength. Heavy vehicles only after 14 days.

Rescheduling rule.

A working concreter postpones rather than pour in 38°. High-risk operators pour anyway to hit the booking.

Ask this, exactly

"What's your rule for hot-weather or rain-forecast days, and what's your cure regime for the first 7 days?"

05

What happens next, step by step.

  1. 1Step

    Site assessment

    Levels, soil, drainage, access. Existing surfaces measured. Engineering certificate if structural.

  2. 2Step

    Excavation + sub-grade

    Dig to depth. Compact. Sand or road-base laid. Plumbing + electrical conduit run before pour.

  3. 3Step

    Form work + reinforcement

    Box perimeter. Set falls. Place mesh on bar chairs at half-slab depth. Trench mesh in edges.

  4. 4Step

    Pour day

    Concrete truck on site (sometimes pump truck). Pour, screed, float, finish. Control joints cut while wet.

  5. 5Step

    Cure

    Wet hessian, plastic sheet, or cure compound applied. Site barricaded. 7 days no traffic minimum.

  6. 6Step

    Sign-off + invoice

    Itemised invoice. Delivery dockets attached. Photos of completed work. Maintenance guide if decorative finish.

06

Plain, exposed agg, or polished?

Three finishes. Different upfront prices, different maintenance, different lifespans.

Option A · best value

Plain grey

Standard concrete finish — brush, broom, or trowelled smooth. Cheapest, longest-lived, lowest maintenance.

Right when: utility driveway, side path, garage slab, budget-conscious.

Wrong when: aesthetic feature of the front of the house.

$150 – $250/m²

Option B · most popular

Exposed aggregate

Top layer washed off to reveal stones. Decorative + slip-resistant. Needs seal coat every 3–5 years.

Right when: front driveway, pool surround, alfresco area, slip resistance + aesthetic.

Wrong when: indoor or you don't want the maintenance cycle.

$240 – $360/m²

Option C

Polished

Mechanical polish to a high sheen. Mostly indoor — living areas, commercial. Specialist trade.

Right when: indoor floor, modern aesthetic, low-maintenance finish desired.

Wrong when: outdoor (slip risk + UV fade) or you can't live with hairline cracks.

$280 – $480/m²

07

Warranty — cracking isn't always a defect.

Concrete cracks. Hairline cracks at control joints are normal. Diagonal cracks through the body of the slab are not. The warranty needs to spell out the difference.

  1. Layer 01

    Statutory structural

    6 years (NSW · VIC) / 6.5 years (QLD) on structural concrete above the threshold. Free, automatic.

  2. Layer 02

    Workmanship

    Typically 1–5 years. Should distinguish hairline shrinkage cracks (normal) from structural cracks (defect). Should specify slab thickness, mesh code, and concrete strength as the work standard.

  3. Layer 03

    Concrete supply quality

    Delivery dockets are your proof of strength + slump. Batch plant warrants the spec on the docket.

  4. Layer 04

    Insurance-backed

    HBC / HW / DBI applies above state thresholds. Same as building work.

Ask this, exactly

"Could you list the workmanship warranty, specify what's a defect vs normal cracking, and confirm you'll give me the batch delivery dockets?"

08

Soil, slope, drainage.

  • Reactive clay

    Sites that move with moisture. Need thicker slab, more reinforcement, expansion joints closer together. Site classification report should exist.

  • Slope

    Anything over 1:20 needs grading / retaining considerations. Steep driveways need engineered design + traction finishes.

  • Drainage

    Falls cut into the slab + ag-drain at low points. Slab without falls = pooling water + moss + slip hazard.

  • Access

    Concrete truck needs to back to within ~30m of the pour. Beyond that = pump truck = additional cost.

Ask this, exactly

"What's the soil class, what slope + falls are you working with, and is the truck access in the quote?"

09

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

  • Suspended / structural slab

    Engineering certificate required. Builder's licence (not just concreter's). Reinforcement design + temporary supports + curing regime tighter.

  • Polished concrete (indoor floor)

    Specialist sub-trade. Levelling rules tighter. Hairline cracks visible — design joint placement carefully.

  • Pool surround / pool deck

    Slip-resistance + chemical resistance. Slope away from coping. Specific sealers.

  • Heritage area

    Council may restrict colour, finish, joint pattern. Some Conservation Areas prohibit driveway widening.

  • Heavy-vehicle access

    125mm+ slab + heavier mesh + concrete N32 strength. Trades / equipment / boat trailers all need this spec.

  • Steep driveway > 1:8

    Grooved finish or anti-slip texture. Engineered grade. Drainage at base mandatory.

  • Reactive clay site

    Site classification report. Engineering design. Sometimes a structural rather than residential concreter is required.

  • Coastal corrosion zone

    Galvanised or stainless reinforcement. Marine-grade additives. Within 1km of coast.

  • Pour in winter / hot weather

    Specific additives (accelerators / retarders). Curing more aggressive. Quote-trap operators ignore this; cracks two years later.

10

After they leave.

Concrete aftercare is mostly about respecting the cure window — and re-sealing decorative finishes every few years. Walk on the slab too early, drive on it too early, or skip the seal coat, and you cut years off the life.

7-day cure window.

No foot traffic. Hessian or cure compound stays. Concreter writes this on the invoice + barricade in place.

14-day light vehicle.

Light car on the slab from day 14. Trucks / boats / trailers wait 28 days.

Seal coat (decorative).

Exposed agg + stamped + coloured finishes need re-sealing every 3–5 years. Plain grey doesn't.

Delivery dockets in your file.

Your evidence of strength + slump if you ever need to claim against the concrete supply quality.

Ask this, exactly

"What's your cure regime, when can I drive on it, and how often does the seal coat need re-doing for the finish I chose?"

If you've read this far

A concreter who names the mesh code, the slab thickness and the cure regime is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

The verification routine below is how you confirm any concreter you find — their licence number, insurance certificate, ABN, specialist endorsements, and references — before you sign or pay a deposit. We don't introduce, list or recommend specific tradies. No paid placement.

✓ No referral fees✓ Verified means all 10✓ No spam
Verify any concreter's licence 60-second routine · 6 free checks

Editorial position: we don't list, rank or recommend tradies on this site.
The separate operator platform — members.needatrade.com.au — opens later this year.

The toolkit

Use these before you sign.

The four components below apply to every Australian trade contract. The trade-specific sections above add the layer on top.

68 homeowner quotes · Reg State trade regulator + work-safety regulator · AS AS 3600 · AS 2870 · AS 3727 · 9 operator quotes · Last reviewed June 2026

Quote anatomy

What a real quote should contain

01

Operator + ABN

Full legal name + active 11-digit ABN

Verify on the Australian Business Register before paying any deposit. If the ABN isn't active, the contract has no enforceable counterparty.

02

State trade licence

Licence number + class on the quote

Cross-check on the relevant state regulator (linked in the glossary licence-check section). Confirms they can legally do the work.

03

Public liability insurance

$10–20 million cover, still current (not expired)

This is what pays if they damage your home — or a neighbour's — or someone is injured during the job. Ask them to email you the insurance certificate; "I'm covered, mate" is not proof.

04

Workers' insurance

In place if they bring any workers onto your property

If a worker is hurt on your property and the operator has no workers' insurance, you can be the one left liable. A genuine sole trader with no employees may not need it — just ask.

05

Itemised scope of work

What's included, what's not, line by line

"Standard installation" means nothing in court. Specific scope items are what get enforced.

06

Materials specification

Brand, grade, quantity, AS standard where applicable

Prevents the "we used what was on the truck" substitution that turns up under failure inspections.

07

Variations clause

How changes get priced + agreed, in writing

No written variation = unenforceable. Verbal "we'll work it out" is how budgets blow out by 40%.

08

Deposit + progress

Within your state's legal cap (e.g. NSW 10%; VIC 10%/5% by threshold; QLD tiered 20%/10%/5% by job value)

Above-cap deposits are illegal. Caps differ by state — check your state's current regulator guidance. Progress payments should align with completed stages, not arbitrary dates.

09

Warranty terms

Workmanship period + manufacturer warranty pass-through

Statutory warranty applies regardless, but written terms accelerate enforcement.

10

Completion definition

What "practical completion" means for this job

Triggers final payment + starts the defects liability period.

11

Dispute path

Named regulator/tribunal for disputes (e.g. NCAT, VCAT, QCAT)

Knowing the path before signing makes you a less attractive target for a dispute.

If a quote you receive is missing any of these, ask for them before you sign or pay a deposit.

The working operator vs the cowboy

Where
✓ Working operator
✗ Cowboy

Quote

Written, itemised, with named scope + exclusions. Numbered + dated.

A number on a text. "I'll do it for $X."

Licence

Licence number on the quote; matches the name on the state register.

"I'll send the licence later." Never does.

Insurance

Emails you the insurance certificate the same day you ask.

"I'm insured, mate." Never actually sends the certificate.

Deposit

Within statutory limit. Held in their account, receipted.

Asks for cash up front. Above the legal limit.

Variations

Written. Cost + time impact. You sign before work changes.

Verbal "we'll sort it out". Surprise invoice at the end.

Warranty

Written workmanship period. Manufacturer cert handed over.

"My word's my warranty." No paper.

References

Three recent jobs with photos + contact for past clients.

"All my reviews are on Google."

Clean-up

Final clean defined in scope. Photos taken at handover.

Site left messy. Promises to "come back tomorrow".

Ask this, exactly

Could you send your state trade licence number, current Certificate of Currency for public liability, and ABN before I confirm — and please put the itemised scope, deposit terms, and variation clause in writing too?

Send via SMS or email before booking. A working operator replies the same day with all of it attached. A cowboy stalls.

Deposit checklist

Before you pay a concreter deposit, collect these

  • Licence number

    State trade licence + class, printed on the quote. Verified on the regulator register.

  • ABN

    Active 11-digit ABN, entity name matching the licence. Checked on abr.business.gov.au.

  • Certificate of currency

    Current public-liability certificate (and workers comp if they bring workers). The insurer’s one-page proof — not “I’m covered, mate”.

  • Written, itemised quote

    On letterhead, numbered and dated. Not a number in a text message.

  • Scope inclusions / exclusions

    What’s in, what’s out, line by line. “Standard installation” is not a scope.

  • Deposit amount

    Within your state’s statutory cap (NSW 10%; QLD tiered 20% / 10% / 5% by job value; VIC 10% / 5% by threshold; other states vary). Check your regulator before paying.

  • Variation clause

    How changes get priced and agreed — in writing, before the work changes.

  • Warranty terms

    Workmanship period + manufacturer pass-through, with year limits and what triggers a callback.

  • Compliance / handover paperwork

    The certificate or compliance document you’ll receive at completion (varies by trade and state).

  • Defects / callback process

    The defects-liability period and how you call them back for an obvious fault — in writing.

  • Slab thickness, reinforcement and finish specified

    Concreter-specific

  • Base prep and formwork included

    Concreter-specific
Collect every item before you transfer a deposit. If a tradie stalls on any of them, that is the answer.

Related references

Briefing

The 12 questions →

 Operational

Verify a tradie →

 Translation

Glossary →

 Provenance

Source ledger →
← Back to all 33 trades

Trade 5 of 33.

Standards

Standards often relevant to this trade

These are orientation references only — not a complete or job-specific list. Ask the licensed contractor to confirm the current standards, the NCC, and any state or territory requirements that apply to your job.

Plain-English definitions, who’s responsible, and an “ask this” for each → see the glossary.