Ferntree Gully concreting FAQ

There is no honest one-size answer. In the Knox foothills, the steepness of the block, how much old concrete comes out, how deep the soft clay goes, whether a pump is needed and the drainage required often move the price more than the finish. We inspect and then send a written quote broken into parts.

Pavers can be lifted and relaid, but on a steep Ferntree Gully drive they can creep downhill and their joints collect moss and weeds. A reinforced concrete slab acts as one piece and handles slopes and wet clay well. If you are undecided, we can talk through both.

Random cracks from a thin base or missing joints, sunken panels over old trenches or soft fill, water running into garages, slippery surfaces on steep drives, and edges washed out by runoff. Most start with poor preparation or drainage.

Compacted crushed rock costs less up front but washes out on slopes and tracks into the house. On steep blocks, concreting the steep pitch and garage apron while leaving flatter sections in rock is a practical middle ground.

It depends on the stone blend, area, slope, removal of the existing surface, base depth, access and sealing. We price it after a site visit, alongside a plain or coloured option if you want a comparison.

The surface is textured, so it is less comfortable barefoot; leaves and grit lodge between larger stones; the blend cannot be changed later; and it looks best with regular sealing. A finer stone and a good sealer reduce most of these.

Not in the true sense. Exposed aggregate is part of a new slab. Thin decorative overlays can imitate the look on a sound existing slab, but if the old concrete is cracked or sunken, replacement is the reliable option.

Size is only one input. Slab thickness, steel, excavation on a slope, base, edge beams, access and finish all change the price. Measure in metres and send photos, and we will quote after a visit.

Prices vary widely across Melbourne because ground, access and engineering differ so much. In the Ferntree Gully area, slopes and reactive clay are the big factors. We quote each slab individually.

For sheds, garages and driveways, a slab is the right base. For patios, concrete, pavers and decking all work; concrete is the most durable and low-maintenance on clay ground.

Hardware stores sell sheds and bagged materials, but the slab still has to be formed and poured to the shed engineer's drawings. That is the part we do.

A patio of that size in feet is roughly six metres square, and the slab thickness and steel depend on use and ground. We set those during the visit.

It depends on whether it is a shed, garage, patio or house slab, the ground and slope, and access. We price 40 square metre slabs regularly, always after a look at the site.

It usually refers to cheaper surfaces such as compacted crushed rock or a soil-cement mix. They suit light use on flat ground but do not stand up to cars on slopes the way reinforced concrete does.

Supply price per cubic metre is only part of a job. Delivery, pumping, excavation, base, steel, labour and finishing make up most of the cost, so we quote whole jobs rather than per cubic metre.

First find why it formed, usually water or poorly compacted fill. Small voids can be filled by grout injection; larger ones may need the affected section cut out and rebuilt on a proper base.

No. Site visits and written quotes are free.