Driveways
Dug out, a compacted stone base, steel mesh and a 100 to 150 mm slab that falls towards a drain, finished in broom, exposed aggregate or a stamped pattern.
Per m²from $90
Concrete poured to last
Solid Ground digs out, forms, reinforces and pours driveways, patios, paths and foundations for homes, with our own crew from the first spade to the last saw cut. Ask for a quote or a site visit, and the price comes back in writing, line by line.
From $90per m² for a driveway
5 yearsguarantee on our workmanship
Itemisedwritten quotes
- Site visits within 40 km
- Our own crew on every job
- Base dug and compacted in layers
- Control joints cut on every slab
What we pour
Starting prices for a straightforward site with good access. Every job is priced after a visit, because ground, levels and access change the work more than size does.
Patios
Laid level or falling gently away from the house, with steps, edges and borders formed to suit the garden.
Per m²from $95
Paths and steps
Garden paths, side returns and steps with a grippy broom finish and rounded edges that do not chip.
Per m²from $85
Foundations and bases
Strip footings and slabs for extensions, garages and garden rooms, poured to the engineer's or the supplier's drawings.
Garden room base, 3 m by 4 mfrom $1,600
Break out and replace
Cracked concrete or worn tarmac broken out and taken away, then the ground checked before anything new is poured.
Break out, per m²from $30
Repairs and resurfacing
Cracks cut out and filled, and tired surfaces given a bonded overlay, where the slab underneath is still sound.
Per jobfrom $350
Permits, building approval and drainage rules vary by country and by council. We tell you what we know for your area at the site visit, before you sign anything.
Finishes compared
The same slab can look and feel very different. Each finish changes the grip underfoot and the care the surface needs later.
| Finish | What it looks like | Grip and upkeep | From, per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom finish | Fine ridges brushed across the surface | Good grip; a wash down once a year | $90 |
| Exposed aggregate | Stones from the mix showing at the top | Very good grip; reseal every few years | $120 |
| Stamped pattern | Pressed to look like slate, stone or brick | Smoother; reseal every two to three years | $140 |
| Smooth trowelled | Flat, plain and even | Slippery when wet; best inside a garage | $95 |
| Coloured mix | Pigment through the whole slab | Depends on the finish; colour softens with age | add $15 |
From site visit to cured slab
A typical driveway takes three to five working days on site, plus the time the concrete needs to cure.
Site visit and quote
We measure, check levels, drainage and access for the mixer truck, then send a written quote with every stage on its own line.
Dig, base and forms
The ground is dug out, a stone base is compacted in layers, and timber forms are set to the finished levels.
Steel and pour
Mesh or bars go in on spacers, then the concrete is poured, levelled and finished on the same day.
Joints and curing
Control joints are cut, the slab is covered to cure slowly, and you get dates for when it can take weight.
What goes under the concrete matters most
A slab is only as good as the ground beneath it. We dig down to firm ground, lay and compact the stone base in layers, and set the falls so rain runs to a drain instead of sitting against the house.
Steel mesh or bars hold the slab together if the ground shifts, and saw cut joints give the concrete a tidy place to crack instead of a random one.
- Base depth checked before every pour
- Falls set away from the house
- Joints planned on the drawing, never guessed
Looking after new concrete
Every job ends with a handover sheet that gives the dates for your own slab. As a rough guide:
- Walk on it after 24 to 48 hours
- Cars after about 7 days
- Vans and heavy loads after 28 days
- Keep it damp in hot, dry weather
- No salt on it in the first winter
- Reseal decorative finishes when advised
Concrete keeps gaining strength for weeks after the pour, and most mixes reach their design strength at around 28 days. Hot and cold weather both change the timing, so the dates on your sheet come first.
Recent pours
Driveways, patios, paths and bases from the last few seasons, each one dug, formed and finished by the same crew.
From homeowners (example reviews)
The old driveway had sunk by the gate for years. This crew dug far deeper than the last firm, and two winters later it is still flat and dry.
The quote listed every stage, from the dig to the joints, which made comparing it with the others easy. The patio went down on a Thursday and the forms were off by Saturday.
The base for the garden studio was dead level, and the studio fitters said so the moment they arrived. The lawn was left tidier than before.
Concrete questions
Is permission needed for a new driveway or base?
That depends on where you live. Some councils and countries have rules on new access from the road, drainage and paving over front gardens, and foundations usually need building approval. We tell you what we know for your area at the site visit, and you or your designer apply where it is needed.
Will the concrete crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures, so fine hairline cracks can appear. Saw cut joints, steel reinforcement and a well compacted base keep cracking to the joints and stop cracks from opening up.
How soon can we drive on it?
Usually after about 7 days for cars, and around 28 days for vans and heavier loads. Weather changes this, and your handover sheet gives the dates for your slab.
Do you pour in cold weather?
Yes, when the air is above 0 °C and frost blankets are on site. We never pour onto frozen ground, or when a hard frost is forecast for the first days after the pour.
What does the quote include?
Digging out, taking the spoil away, the base, forms, steel, concrete, finishing, joints and the clean up, each priced on its own line. Anything that depends on what we find underground is shown as a separate allowance.
When do we pay?
We take 20 percent when you book the start date, and the rest at handover once you have walked the finished slab. Both are paid directly to our office.
Ask for a quote or a site visit
Tell us what you want poured, the rough size and where the job is. Within two working days we reply to arrange a site visit, or with a guide price when the job is simple.
- Written quotes, every stage on its own line
- Site visits on weekdays and Saturday mornings
- Our own crew from dig to handover
The office and the yard
The office sits at the yard, where a sample of every finish is laid out to walk on. Call ahead and someone will show you round.
Office hours
| Monday to Friday | 07:00 to 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 to 12:00, site visits |
| Sunday | Closed |
Where we pour
Homes within 40 km of the yard. Larger jobs further out are quoted with the travel and the concrete delivery charges shown on separate lines.