Concreters
near Cairns North.

Concreters in South East Queensland handle driveways, paths, slabs, retaining walls, exposed aggregate finishes, decorative concrete, and structural pours. The SE QLD climate makes concrete a popular surface, durable, low maintenance, handles wet/dry cycles well, but quality varies wildly between operators. A bad concrete pour cracks, sinks, or stains within 12-24 months; a good one lasts 40+ years. The difference is preparation, mix specification, and curing.

QBCC licensing is required for concreting work over $3,300, the same as all other QLD building trades. Smaller jobs (sub-$3,300) can be unlicensed but reputable concreters carry the licence regardless because clients increasingly check.

What to ask before hiring a concreter

• QBCC licence. Mandatory for jobs over $3,300. Check the licence and the class of work covered.
• Insurance. $10M public liability + workers compensation.
• Detailed quote with mix specification. Should specify concrete strength (e.g., 25MPa, 32MPa), thickness, reinforcement (mesh size and steel bar specs), and finish type.
• Site preparation. A good concreter will excavate, compact, level, and screed properly. Skipping these steps is the #1 cause of cracks and sinking.
• Curing plan. Concrete needs 7+ days of moisture-curing to reach full strength. Ask how they manage curing, covers, water, or chemical curing compound.
• Drainage and falls. Critical for driveways and paths. Should slope away from the house at minimum 1:50 (2%).
• Warranty. 7 years on structural concrete work is the QBCC statutory minimum in QLD. Anything less is a red flag.

Common concreting services and what they typically cost in SE QLD

• Standard plain concrete driveway (single car, ~25m²): $2,500-4,500
• Standard plain concrete driveway (double car, ~50m²): $4,500-8,500
• Exposed aggregate driveway (50m²): $7,000-12,500
• Coloured / stencilled concrete (50m²): $8,000-14,000
• Concrete path (per m²): $80-160
• Concrete shed slab (40m²): $3,500-6,500
• Concrete pool surround / pool deck: $9,000-18,000+
• Retaining wall (per linear metre): $250-550
• Saw-cut crack repair: $250-450 per cut

Prices vary by size, finish complexity, site access, and mix specification. The listings below are sorted by best match; use the filters to find QBCC-licensed concreters with strong reviews and at least 5 years operating in SE QLD.