Straightforward, hard-wearing, and the best value per square metre
Standard grey concrete, delivered premixed, finished by hand. No oxide, no exposed stone — the finish comes from how the surface is worked as it sets.
We will say something most concreting websites will not: there is nothing wrong with plain concrete. A great many driveways in Melbourne are plain concrete with a brushed finish, they are grippy, they are tough, and they last exactly as long as the expensive finishes. What you are giving up is appearance, not performance.
Finish options and where it works
- Brushed finish — fine directional texture, grippy in the wet
- Steel trowel finish — smooth, for internal slabs and covered areas
- Edges dressed and control joints cut on either finish
- Driveways where budget matters more than appearance
- Paths and side access
- Fence maintenance strips — plain is the sensible choice here every time
- Shed slabs where a machine finish is not warranted
- Service yards, under decking, behind sheds
How to spend a plain concrete budget well
Spend it on the base
A plain slab on a proper base outlives a beautiful slab on a bad one, every time.
Get the joints right
On plain concrete the joint pattern is the visual. Straight, evenly spaced joints look considered; wandering ones look cheap.
Mix finishes across a property
Exposed aggregate on the front driveway where it is seen, plain brushed down the side and out the back.
Decide colour before the pour
If you want it to look like more down the track, oxide has to go in at the pour. Coatings applied afterwards are a maintenance job forever.
Plain and brushed concrete
The ones we get asked most
How much cheaper is plain concrete?
It is the lowest cost per square metre of anything we pour. We will price your job both ways so you can see the actual difference.
Is it as strong as the decorative finishes?
Yes. Strength comes from the mix, the reinforcement and the base, none of which change with the finish.
Will it stain?
Bare concrete is porous, so oil, rust and leaf tannins can mark it. Sealing reduces it, and we can quote it where it is worth doing.
Can I do part of the driveway plain and part exposed?
Yes, and it is a good way to manage a budget. The join needs to be a deliberate line — we will set it where it looks intentional.
What is premix?
Concrete batched at a plant and delivered ready to place, rather than mixed on site. It is why consistency and strength are reliable.
Get a price on plain concrete
Send the area and we will price it plain, and against a decorative finish, so you can compare.
