Concrete Driveways in Hervey Bay

What a driveway quote should actually say

A driveway is the slab that gets punished hardest around the house. It carries the car every day, the trailer and boat on weekends, and the occasional delivery truck that should not have backed onto it. So the first thing to check on any quote is that it names the slab, not just the square metres: the thickness, the reinforcement (mesh such as SL72 or SL82), what goes underneath it, and where the control joints will be cut.

If a quote only gives a price per square metre and a finish, ask for the rest in writing. Two quotes can look similar on price and describe very different driveways.

Falls, storms and the garage door

Hervey Bay blocks are mostly flat, which sounds easy and is not. A flat driveway still needs a fall, usually towards the street or a drain, and it needs to stay below the garage slab so water does not run under the door in a summer storm. A good concreter sets the levels with a string line or laser before any concrete arrives, and is happy to walk you through where the water goes.

The crossover is council’s business

The strip between your boundary and the road, the crossover, sits on council land. Fraser Coast Regional Council requires a permit for a new crossover, and it has to be built to the council’s standard drawing (FC-230-01 for a residential crossover). Councils generally approve one crossover per property. Repairs to an existing crossover built to the standard drawing do not need a permit. The full detail is in the driveway crossover guide.

Finishes that suit a driveway

The plain finish is trowelled flat and then broomed across the slope, which gives tyres and shoes something to grip when it is wet. It is the cheapest finish and the easiest to patch later. Exposed aggregate costs more and hides tyre marks and oil spots far better. Coloured and stencilled concrete suit a front driveway where the look matters, and the colour runs through the mix rather than sitting on top.

Whatever the finish, ask about sealing. A sealed driveway resists staining and is easier to clean, but most sealers need redoing every few years.

Replacing an old driveway

Plenty of Hervey Bay driveways are original to the house, and a cracked, sunken slab is usually a sign of what is underneath. Breaking out the old concrete, checking the base and starting again is often the right answer, and a decent concreter will tell you when patching is a waste of money.

Getting it quoted

Measure the length and width, take a photo from the street and one from the garage, and call 0489 955 511. Your details go to one licensed local concreter who covers your suburb, and they come back to you to measure up and quote.