Concrete driveways
Concrete Driveways Newcastle: Plain, Coloured and Exposed Aggregate
We organise concrete driveways in Newcastle for new builds, replacements and extra parking bays. Tell us the size, the slope and the finish you have in mind. Book it with us and we'll send a licensed local concreter who pours driveways week in, week out.
Book with us and we'll send a licensed local concreter to quote. The work is done by independent contractors, and it costs you nothing to ask.
What kind of driveway can we help with?
New driveways
For new homes, knock-down rebuilds and blocks that have only ever had gravel or grass.
Replacements
Old concrete out, new concrete in. We can line up the removal as part of the same job.
Extensions and extra bays
Widening for a second car, a boat or a caravan, tied into the existing slab.
Crossovers
The section over the footpath and kerb, built to council specification once you have approval.
Steep and sloping blocks
Finishes with grip, proper falls and drainage so water doesn't run into the garage.
Shared and long driveways
Battle-axe blocks and shared access where truck and pump access needs planning.
Which finish is right for your driveway?
We ask which finish you want because it changes who we send. Not every concreter does decorative work.
| Finish | What it looks like | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plain broom finish | Grey concrete with a brushed texture | Lowest cost, good grip, easy to patch later |
| Coloured concrete | Same texture, with oxide colour through the mix | Colour batches vary slightly, so pour it in one go where you can |
| Exposed aggregate | Stone showing at the surface | Strong grip on slopes; needs sealing and resealing every few years |
| Stencilled or stamped | A pattern pressed or stencilled into the surface | A specialist finish; the coloured surface layer can wear in wheel tracks |
How do we get your driveway quoted?
Our part is short. Get a concreter to your site who already knows the job. That's about it.
- 01
You tell us about the job
Size, slope, finish, what's there now and when you want it done.
- 02
We line up the concreter
We line up a licensed driveway concreter who covers your suburb and does that finish.
- 03
They measure and quote
The concreter visits, checks levels, access and drainage, and gives you a written quote.
- 04
You decide
Check their licence, compare the quote line by line and go ahead only if you are happy. Not sure what to check? Here are nine questions to ask before you accept a quote.
Your driveway is two jobs
The part inside your boundary is yours to build. The crossover sits on council land and needs approval before anyone touches it.
What's under the surface
Most of what you're paying for, you'll never see. A quote that skips the base, the steel or the joints is cheaper for a reason.
A typical driveway, start to finish
Break out and dig
Old concrete comes out and the ground is cut to level.
Base, formwork, steel
Road base is compacted, edges are boxed and mesh goes in on chairs.
Pour and finish
Concrete is placed, screeded and given its surface finish the same day.
Cut the joints
Control joints are sawn in, usually within about a day of the pour.
Cure
Walk on it after a day or two. Keep cars off for about a week.
Timing shifts with weather, access and the size of the job. Your contractor sets the schedule.
What the job changes
A new driveway changes more than the look. Proper falls take water away from the garage. Joints control where it cracks. A compacted base stops it sinking.
Drag the handle on the picture to compare before and after.
The crossover needs approval from your council before work starts. See the NSW Planning Portal, City of Newcastle or Lake Macquarie City Council. For jobs over $5,000, look up the contractor with Building Commission NSW.
- BeforeAfter
Driveway replacement
A cracked, sunken driveway broken out and re-poured on a compacted base, with control joints and falls for drainage.
What does a concrete driveway cost in Newcastle?
There's no honest single figure. These are the things that move it, and our guide to what a concrete driveway costs in Newcastle goes through each one.
- Area
- Bigger pours cost more in total but less per square metre, because set-up is spread further.
- Finish
- Plain is cheapest. Colour, exposed agg and patterns all cost more, in materials and in labour.
- Removal
- Concrete removal is priced separately, and it can be a big part of a replacement job.
- Slope and access
- Steep blocks need more formwork and often a pump. Tight access adds labour.
- Thickness and steel
- Heavier vehicles need a thicker slab and more reo.
- The crossover
- Built to council specification, with an application fee and inspections.
Yellow Pages' 2026 cost guide puts plain concrete driveways at $110 to $130 per square metre across Australia and decorative finishes at up to $200. Use it to sanity-check a quote, not to set your budget.
Concrete driveways questions we get asked
General guidance, reviewed November 2026. Your contractor will advise on your site.
Related
Do I need council approval for a new driveway?
For the crossover, yes. That is the part over the footpath, nature strip and kerb, and the council has to approve it before work starts. Rules for the part inside your boundary vary, so check with City of Newcastle or Lake Macquarie City Council.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
About 100 mm with steel mesh is common for cars. Driveways that carry heavier vehicles, such as caravans or trucks, need more. Your contractor will specify it for your site and soil.
How long before I can park on it?
You can usually walk on new concrete after a day or two. Most concreters say to keep cars off for about a week and heavier vehicles off for longer. Go by what your contractor tells you. Our guide to new concrete curing times has the detail.
Should I replace my driveway or resurface it?
If the slab's sound and the problem is how it looks, resurfacing or concrete repairs can work. If it's cracked through, sunken or moving, a new surface just cracks in the same places. Replace it.
Why do driveways have lines cut in them?
They're control joints. Concrete shrinks as it cures, and it will crack somewhere. The joints give it a straight, tidy place to do it.
Can you help if I only want the crossover done?
Yes. Tell us you have, or are applying for, council approval and we will line up a concreter who builds crossovers to the council specification.
Tell us about your driveway job
A minute on the form. We'll send a licensed local concreter and they'll call you to quote.