There is no single price for a concrete driveway, path or slab in Palmerston North, because the same square metre can cost very different amounts depending on what sits underneath and around it. We measure every job on site and give you a firm written price, free and with no obligation, usually within 48 hours of your call. This guide explains what moves the number, so you can compare quotes properly.
Costs are always subject to change, and many factors affect the final price. Contact us for an accurate written quote.
What is in our written price
A Bolt Concreting quote lists the scope, so nothing turns up as an extra once we start. On a typical driveway the price covers:
- breaking out and carting away the old surface
- excavating to depth and laying and compacting the basecourse
- setting the boxing to the falls we worked out at the quote
- reinforcing mesh, chaired up so it sits in the slab
- the pour, hand finishing and saw-cut control joints
- curing, tidy-up and handover, with markers showing when you can walk and drive on it
What moves the price
Concrete is priced mostly by the square metre, but these are the things that change the number, roughly in order of how much they matter.
- Size and shape. A straight single-car driveway is the cheapest per square metre. Curves, turning bays and extra parking pads add boxing and finishing time.
- Taking out the old surface. Breaking out, loading and carting away old concrete or asphalt is often the biggest variable on a replacement. A thin cracked slab comes out quickly, and a thick slab with old mesh through it takes longer.
- Ground conditions and base preparation. Soft or wet ground needs deeper digging and more basecourse before any concrete goes down. It is the part of the job that stops a driveway sinking or cracking a few winters later.
- Access for the truck. If a concrete truck can back up to the work the pour is straightforward. Rear sections, long right-of-ways and tight side access sometimes need a pump.
- The finish. Broom finish is the most economical. Coloured concrete adds the oxide, cut and sealed adds saw-cutting and sealing, and exposed aggregate costs the most. See our driveway finishes guide.
- Thickness, reinforcing and slope. A standard residential driveway is 100mm thick with 665 mesh. Boats, motorhomes, trucks and horse floats need a thicker slab and heavier reinforcing, and steep sections need more careful boxing. Read our sloping driveways guide.
- A new vehicle crossing. Forming a new entrance onto the road needs council approval before any concrete is poured.
What decides the price by job type
Different jobs are driven by different things. This table shows what to watch for on each, with a link to the page that covers it.
| Job | What mostly decides the price | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | Area, removal of the old surface, base depth, truck access, finish and any crossing work | Concrete driveways |
| Paths, steps and patios | Area and shape, steps and landings, drainage and the finish | Paths, steps and patios |
| Concrete slab | Size, thickness and reinforcing, ground preparation and access | Concrete slabs |
| Exposed aggregate | Area, the aggregate and colour, and the extra finishing and sealing | Exposed aggregate |
| Resurfacing | Area, the condition of the slab and the finish | Concrete resurfacing |
| Repairs | What failed and why, the size of the repair, and base and drainage work | Concrete repairs |
How the finishes compare on cost
| Finish | Relative cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Broom finish | Lowest | No extra materials, and it wears extremely well |
| Coloured concrete | Medium | Oxide through the mix, plus sealing |
| Cut and sealed | Medium to high | Saw-cut patterns and sealing, depending on how detailed the pattern is |
| Exposed aggregate | Highest | Decorative mix and the extra finishing work |
How to compare concrete quotes
Two quotes for the same area can look very different. Before you compare the totals, check that each one answers these:
- Is breaking out and carting away the old surface included, or is it an extra?
- How deep will the base be dug out, and is it compacted in layers?
- What thickness and reinforcing is specified, and is the mesh chaired up into the slab?
- Are saw-cut control joints and proper curing part of the job?
- Is a pump included if the truck cannot get close?
- Is vehicle crossing approval handled for you, if you need one?
- Is the price fixed and in writing, and is the workmanship guaranteed?
Why we quote on site, not over the phone
Every one of the factors above changes from property to property, so any price given over the phone is a guess that tends to grow once work starts. We come out, measure up, check the ground, access and drainage, and give you a firm written price. It is free, there is no obligation, and you usually have it within 48 hours of your call.
Estimate only. Costs are always subject to change and many factors affect the final price. Contact us for an accurate written quote.