Paths, steps and patios
Straight or curved paths, steps and patios that drain properly through wet Manawatū winters and grip underfoot.
Concrete Driveways in Palmerston North
Book in your free quote
- Free on-site quotes within 48 hours
- Broom, coloured, cut-and-seal and exposed aggregate finishes
- Old driveway removal included in the price
- Council vehicle crossings handled for you
Same day response
Get your free quotePrefer to talk? 027 909 4888
- 17+5-star reviews
- 12+ yrsindustry experience
- 200+projects completed
- 100%workmanship guaranteed
About Our Concrete Driveways
Concrete driveways are most of what we pour.
Bolt Concreting has been laying concrete across the Manawatū since 2014, and concrete driveways make up the bulk of it. New driveways for houses in Kelvin Grove and Whakarongo, replacements for the cracked and patched ones around Hokowhitu and Terrace End, and crossings out towards Ashhurst and Bunnythorpe. It is the job we do most often, which is the main reason we do it quickly and without surprises.
We are deliberately small. The person who comes out to measure your driveway is the same person who digs it out, sets the boxing, screeds the pour and runs the trowel over the finish. Nothing gets lost being handed between crews, and there is no subcontractor to blame if something is not right.
A driveway is the largest single piece of concrete on most properties and the one that takes the most punishment, a car on it every day, a truck on it occasionally, and a Manawatū winter working on it the rest of the time. That is why what happens under the slab matters more than what happens on top of it. We get the sub-base right, use the correct mix and reinforcing for the load, cut the control joints where they belong, and cure it properly instead of rushing to the next job.
What The Job Involves
How we build a concrete driveway in Palmerston North
Most of the work that decides whether a driveway lasts happens before any concrete arrives on site. We break out the old surface and cart it away, excavate to depth, then bring in basecourse and compact it in layers until it is solid underfoot. A slab is only ever as good as what it is sitting on.
From there we set the boxing to the falls we worked out at the quote, lay the reinforcing mesh on chairs so it sits in the middle of the slab rather than on the ground, and pour. The concrete is screeded, floated and finished by hand. Control joints are saw-cut once it has gone off, spaced so the slab has somewhere to move.
Then we cure it properly. Curing is the step that gets skipped when a crew is in a hurry, and it is the reason some driveways in Palmerston North are dusting and crazing within a couple of summers.
- Old driveway broken & removedIncluded
- Excavation to depthDay 1
- Basecourse laid & compactedDay 1-2
- Boxing set to fallsDay 2
- Mesh placedDay 2
- Pour, finish & joint cuttingDay 2-3
- Cure, tidy and handoverDay 3-4
Concrete driveways we have poured around Palmerston North
Photos from our recent jobs. Tap any photo to see it bigger, then swipe through.
Finishes
Four concrete driveway finishes
The finish changes the look and the price, not the structure, every driveway we pour gets the same base, mesh and curing underneath. We bring examples to the quote so you are choosing off a real slab rather than a photo. Our concrete driveway finishes guide compares all four in more detail, and if you have your heart set on stone, see our exposed aggregate concrete page.
Broom finish
The workhorse. Textured with a broom for grip, wears extremely well, and the most economical option by a clear margin.
Coloured concrete
Oxide mixed right through the pour, so the colour is not a coating that wears off. Charcoal and slate tones suit black-clad and dark-roofed homes
Cut and sealed
Saw-cut patterns and banding, then sealed. Breaks up a large area visually and hides the control joints in the design.
Exposed aggregate
The top surface washed back to reveal the stone. Sharpest looking of the four, best at hiding tyre marks, and the usual choice on new builds.
Concrete pricing
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Palmerston North?
Concrete driveways are priced mostly by the square metre, but two driveways of the same size can land at quite different prices once you look at what sits around and underneath them. These are the things that move the number on a Palmerston North driveway, roughly in order of how much they matter. Costs are always subject to change, and many factors affect the final price.
Size and shape
Area is the starting point. A straight single-car driveway is the cheapest per square metre. Curves, turning bays and extra parking pads add boxing and finishing time, so they cost a little more per square metre than a simple rectangle.
Taking out the old driveway
Breaking out an old concrete or asphalt driveway, loading it and carting it away is often the biggest variable on a replacement. A thin, cracked slab comes out quickly. A thick slab with old mesh through it takes longer and costs more to dispose of. It is always included in our quote so it never turns up as an extra.
Ground conditions and base preparation
If the ground is soft or wet, we dig deeper and bring in more basecourse before any concrete goes down. That is extra material and machine time, but it is the part of the job that stops a concrete driveway sinking or cracking a few winters later. We check the ground at the quote rather than guessing.
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 concrete pump, which is an extra cost but often cheaper than barrowing and a slower pour.
The finish
A broom finish is the most economical. Coloured concrete adds the cost of the oxide. Cut and sealed adds saw-cutting and sealing time. Exposed aggregate costs the most because of the decorative mix and the extra finishing and sealing work. See our driveway finishes guide for how they compare.
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. Steep sections need more careful boxing, falls and sometimes channel drains. Read more in our guide to driveways on sloping sections.
A new vehicle crossing
If you are forming a new entrance onto the road, Palmerston North City Council has to approve the vehicle crossing before work starts. Our vehicle crossings guide explains the process.
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. That price includes removing the old driveway, the base, reinforcing, the pour, the finish, joint cutting, curing and the tidy-up.
What your Palmerston North neighbours say about our concreting
Absolutely brilliant from the very beginning right through to the end. Communication, professionalism, friendliness, attention to detail, patience, dedication, the whole package. I never thought I would be so wowed by a new driveway, but thanks to Bolt Concreting I am! Recommend these guys hands down.
We would highly recommend Bolt Concreting, they did a brilliant job, communication was awesome, attention to detail the best. Genuine hardworking professional team that went above and beyond. Thanks Jase and the team.
Jase and his team are awesome.His communication was excellent. He turned up when he said he would and the quality of workmanship by Jase and his team was highly professional. We were really pleased with the job they did and would highly recommend them to anyone wanting an job done to a high standard.
I highly recommend Bolt Concreting, they did an amazing job putting down a concrete patio at my rental start to finish. Was of a very high standard of workmanship top job
We have used Bolt Concrete and will be using again if the opportunity arises . We're very impressed with their workmanship they stand by their price, it's great to see such a hardworking team taking such pride in their job. Keep up the good work guys!!!
Absolutely rate bolt concrete they are very professional and highly recommend them to anyone who wants concrete work done. They have done our whole driveway and communicated with us the whole way and went above and beyond to get the job done. Absolutely recommend Jason and his dad. Thanks for an awesome job Team
Highly recommend Bolt Concreting. Great attention to detail from start to finish, excellent communication throughout the whole job and you can really see the pride taken in their work. Jase went above and beyond and the excellent, final finish exceeded expectations. They were professional, reliable and easy to deal with and I am very happy with the result.
Excellent communication skills, takes pride in making sure the client is getting what they want and helping them to find the perfect result. excellent finished product.
100% the Go-To team for concreting jobs! Jason and Alan are a great team and did an amazing job at our front entrance! Definitely recommend them.
Truly thank Jason and his team for a wonderful job that has recently been completed for my parents' place, giving an old house a new life.
Jason takes his client seriously, from our first meeting till the completion of the project, he guided us through each single step of the work, and we felt at ease particularly in the areas outside of our knowledge.
Why work with us
Why homeowners pick us for their new driveways
We turn up, we do the job properly, and we do not leave until it is right. Twelve years of laying concrete across the Manawatū means there is not much we have not poured. The same standard goes on a two-metre path as goes on a full driveway.
200+concrete projects completed
12+years industry experience
One firm price, in writing
No estimates that balloon. The price we quote on site is the price you pay.
The owner does the work
No subcontracted crews. The bloke who shook your hand pours your concrete.
Built for Palmerston North weather
Falls, drainage and cure times matched to Manawatū winters, no ponding, no early cracks.
Guaranteed workmanship
If our workmanship ever lets you down, we come back and make it right. Simple.
How it works
From first call to a finished driveway
You deal with the same person from the first phone call to the final clean-up. No call centres, no runaround.
You get in touch
Fill in the form or call 0279094888. We reply within one working day and book a time that suits you.
Free on-site measure
We come to your Palmerston North property, measure up, check access and drainage, and talk through the finishes.
Fixed price quote
You get a fixed price in writing with the scope spelled out. No estimates that creep once we start.
Prep and pour
We break out the old surface, prepare the base, set the boxing and reinforcing, then pour and finish by hand.
Cure and clean up
We cure the slab properly, cut the joints, tidy the site and tell you exactly when you can walk and drive on it.
Get it right first time
Things to watch for with concrete driveways
Most regrets come from the same few mistakes. Here is what goes wrong, and how we prevent it.
What goes wrong
A base that was not dug out or compacted, so the driveway sinks and cracks after a few winters.
How we prevent it
We excavate to depth, bring in basecourse and compact it in layers before the boxing goes in.
What goes wrong
Water running toward the garage door because the falls were never worked out.
How we prevent it
Falls are set at the quote and built into the boxing, so water runs to the street.
What goes wrong
Dusting and crazing in the first couple of summers because the slab was rushed and not cured.
How we prevent it
We cure every pour properly and tell you when you can walk and drive on it.
What we do
Other concrete work around your home
Every job starts the same way: we come out, measure up, talk through finishes and leave you a firm written price.
Concrete slabs
Patios, shed and garage floors, sleepout foundations and pads for spa pools and heat pumps.
Exposed aggregate
A washed stone finish that hides tyre marks and stains and stays naturally non-slip, for driveways, paths and entranceways.
Concrete resurfacing
Tired, stained or worn concrete prepared properly and resurfaced, so you refresh it without a full replacement.
Concrete repairs
Cracked, sunken or crumbling concrete fixed at the cause, then cut out and repoured so the repair holds.
Driveway repairs
Failed driveway sections cut out and repoured to a joint, so the repair reads as part of the driveway.
Guides
Guides for Palmerston North homeowners
About us
Meet Bolt Concreting, Palmerston North concreters
Driveways are most of what we pour, so we know how much punishment they take and what it takes to build one that lasts.
Bolt Concreting is a boutique Palmerston North concreting company that has been laying concrete across the Manawatū since 2014, with more than 200 completed projects. The person who comes out to quote your job is the person who sets the boxing, screeds the pour and runs the trowel over the finish.
- Pouring concrete in the Manawatū since 2014
- Workmanship guaranteed
- A firm written price after every on-site quote
FAQs
Concrete driveway questions we get asked
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Palmerston North?
It depends mostly on the size, how much old driveway has to come out, the ground, truck access and the finish. Broom finish is the cheapest and exposed aggregate costs the most. We measure on site and give you a firm written price for free, usually within 48 hours. See what affects the price.
How long does a concrete driveway take to lay?
Most residential driveways take two to four days from dig-out to pour, depending on size and how much old concrete has to come out. You get the schedule up front and we stick to it.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
A standard residential driveway is 100mm over a compacted basecourse with 665 mesh. If you are parking a truck, a boat trailer or a horse float on it we go thicker and specify heavier reinforcing. We work that out at the quote rather than pouring the same slab everywhere.
Do you remove the old driveway?
Yes. Breaking out and carting away the old surface is part of the job and it is in the quote. You do not need to arrange a skip or a truck.
When can I drive on a new concrete driveway?
You can walk on it after 24 to 48 hours and drive a car on it after seven days. Leave heavy vehicles off it for a month. We leave markers and tell you exactly when yours is ready.
Do I need council consent for a new driveway?
Replacing a driveway inside your boundary does not usually need council approval. If you are forming a new vehicle crossing onto the road, Palmerston North City Council has to approve it before any work starts. We can handle that process for you as part of the job. See our vehicle crossings guide.
What is the best concrete finish for a driveway?
Plain broom finish is the most economical and wears extremely well. Exposed aggregate looks the sharpest and hides marks best, which is why it suits new builds. Coloured and cut-and-sealed sit between the two. We will show you examples at the quote.
Will my new driveway crack?
All concrete moves. The job of a good concreter is to control where it happens, correct sub-base, the right reinforcing, saw-cut control joints in the right places and proper curing. Done right, the movement stays in the joints where you do not notice it.
Can you pour a driveway on a sloping section?
Yes, and a lot of Aokautere and Summerhill sections are exactly that. Slope changes how we set the falls, where the water goes and what finish is safe underfoot. We work it out on site.
Which areas do you cover?
All of Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū, including Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Feilding, Longburn and Linton.
Is the on-site quote really free?
Completely. We measure, talk through the options and leave you a written price. If it is not right for you, no hard feelings.
Areas we serve
Driveways across Palmerston North & the Manawatū
We come out to quote for free. If you are not sure whether we cover your place, give us a call. We usually do.
Contact us
Get a firm price for your concrete job
- Free on-site measure and quote
- Written price within 48 hours
- No job too small, from a few steps to a full driveway
Prefer to talk? Give us a call:
027 909 4888Same day response
Get your free quotePrefer to talk? 027 909 4888