Cost Guide

How much does concreting cost in St Kilda?

Q: How much does a concrete driveway cost in St Kilda?

Driveway costs in St Kilda depend on size, finish, thickness, and site preparation. Plain grey concrete is the most affordable; exposed aggregate and coloured concrete cost more per sqm. In St Kilda, where properties feature heritage terraces and older apartment blocks, driveway sizes and access conditions vary. Access constraints may require concrete pumping, which adds to the cost.

Q: How much does exposed aggregate cost per sqm in St Kilda?

Exposed aggregate in St Kilda costs more per sqm than plain concrete, reflecting the premium finish and additional labour for washing and sealing. Prices are at the higher end of the range due to parking, access difficulty, and heritage property constraints. The stone selection affects the final price — local river pebble is cheaper than imported decorative aggregates. Sealing is essential and needs reapplying every 2–3 years to maintain the finish.

Q: How long does concrete take to cure?

Concrete reaches initial set in 24–48 hours (walkable), working strength at 7 days, and full design strength at 28 days. Avoid heavy loads on new concrete for at least 7 days. In St Kilda, seasonal temperatures affect curing — summer heat can cause surface cracking if not managed with curing compounds, while winter slows the process. Your concreter should advise on curing specifics for the time of year.

Updated April 2026 · Independently researched · 14 min read

A mix of 1920s–1940s apartment blocks, red-brick semis, and post-war freestanding homes. Many properties have original knob-and-tube or early conduit wiring and galvanised plumbing that's due for replacement. Travel surcharges are rarely a factor — St Kilda is well within the inner Melbourne tradie belt.

🅿️

Parking & access in St Kilda

Parking near the Esplanade and Acland Street is very limited. Tradies working in central St Kilda often factor 15–30 minutes for parking. Residential back streets are better.

How St Kilda compares to nearby suburbs

Local tip for this area: Heritage suburbs have higher trade costs, but you can offset this by bundling multiple small jobs into a single visit (saving repeat call-out fees), booking during standard business hours, and getting quotes from tradies based locally who factor in less travel time. Always check that quoted work includes parking costs upfront.

Prices shift suburb-to-suburb based on travel time, parking, and local housing stock.

Suburb	Concreter rate	Zone
Elwood	Nearby	Good
Prahran 🏛	Inner	Limited
Windsor	Nearby	Good
South Melbourne	Nearby	Good
Balaclava	Nearby	Good

Most concreting jobs in St Kilda cost $3,300–$11,385

for a typical residential driveway

A standard plain concrete driveway in St Kilda costs $3,300–$7,590. Exposed aggregate runs $6,050–$11,385. Per-sqm rates start from $95/sqm for plain slabs and go up to $255/sqm for decorative finishes.

+6.8% Concreting costs in St Kilda have risen this quarter, driven by strong construction activity and trade shortages. Q1 2026 vs Q4 2025

Average Concreting Cost in St Kilda

$150

per hour for standard residential work

Call-Out Fee

$75–$190

Emergency Rate

$315–$885

Common Job

$190–$505

Budget $100/hrAverage $150/hrPremium $255/hr

Concreting in St Kilda costs $95–$185 per sqm for a standard plain concrete slab, with decorative options like exposed aggregate running $155–$255/sqm. Most residential driveways fall in the $3,300–$11,385 range depending on size and finish.

Prices depend on the finish type, slab thickness, site access, soil conditions, and whether old concrete needs removing first. We've compiled this data from concreters across St Kilda and nearby suburbs, plus hipages, leading tradie platforms, and leading tradie platforms listings as of February 2026.

Quick answerConcreting in St Kilda costs $95–$185 /sqm, with most averaging $140 /sqm. GST included — verified April 2026. Get free St Kilda quotes →

Detailed Pricing — St Kilda 2026

Service	Low	Typical	High
Plain concrete slab (per sqm)	$95/sqm	$140	$185
Coloured concrete (per sqm)	$120/sqm	$175	$255
Exposed aggregate (per sqm)	$155/sqm	$205	$255
Stamped / stencilled (per sqm)	$155/sqm	$200	$255
Polished concrete (per sqm)	$125/sqm	$215	$340
Spray-on resurfacing (per sqm)	$65/sqm	$85	$100
Driveway — plain (typical 40 sqm)	$3,300total	$5,060	$7,590
Driveway — exposed aggregate	$6,050total	$8,195	$11,385
Concrete path / footpath	$95/sqm	$140	$205
Concrete patio / entertaining	$100/sqm	$160	$225
Shed slab (typical 20 sqm)	$1,900total	$2,780	$4,430
Old concrete removal	$37/sqm	$65	$100

Prices verified April 2026 · Cross-referenced against 90+ Australian trade pricing sources · See methodology

Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Mar 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.

What to Know About Concreting Work in St Kilda

St Kilda's beachside location and heritage architecture create specific electrician challenges. Salt air corrosion affects external wiring and switchboards faster than inland suburbs. Many of the grand Art Deco apartment buildings along the Esplanade need periodic rewiring, and heritage restrictions apply to external conduit runs. The high density of apartments means electricians often need strata approval before commencing work.

Common concreting issues in St Kilda: Salt air degrades exposed concrete — marine-grade sealers are essential. Apartment balcony repairs require structural engineer certification. Driveway crossovers need Waverley Council approval.

Access & parking: Difficult near the beach strip — most tradies quote 15–30 min travel buffer for Campbell Parade jobs.

Concreting rates in St Kilda typically range from $55–$130/sqm, with most concreters quoting around $85/sqm. This reflects St Kilda's position in the inner premium zone of Melbourne, where higher demand, heritage properties, and access constraints push prices above the Melbourne metro average.

What Affects Concreting Costs in St Kilda

Finish type

Plain concrete ($95–$185/sqm in St Kilda) is the cheapest. Coloured ($120–$255/sqm), exposed aggregate ($155–$255/sqm), and polished ($125–$340/sqm) all cost progressively more.

Area size

Larger areas in St Kilda often get a lower per-sqm rate. A 20 sqm shed slab will cost more per sqm than a 60 sqm driveway due to fixed setup costs being spread over less area.

Site access & preparation

If a bobcat or pump truck can't access your St Kilda site easily, manual labour increases costs. Sloping blocks, retaining walls, or soft soil may need extra preparation.

Old concrete removal

Removing existing concrete in St Kilda adds $37–$100/sqm. This includes saw-cutting, breaking, and disposal. Factor this in if you're replacing an old driveway or patio.

Reinforcement & thickness

Driveways need stronger reinforcement (typically SL82 mesh or rebar) than paths. Thicker slabs (100mm+ for driveways vs 75mm for paths) use more concrete.

Season & weather

Concrete cures best in mild St Kilda conditions. Very hot or very cold weather can affect scheduling and may require additives, which add to the cost.

How to Save Money on Concreting in St Kilda

Get quotes from licensed St Kilda concreters — prices vary widely

Ask for an all-inclusive price covering excavation, formwork, reinforcement, concrete, and finishing

Check if old concrete removal is included or quoted separately

Ask about expansion joints and control joints — proper jointing prevents cracking

Consider combining jobs (driveway + path + patio) for a better per-sqm rate in St Kilda

Verify the concreter is licensed and insured — St Kilda councils may require approval for larger slabs

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a concrete driveway cost in St Kilda?

How much does exposed aggregate cost per sqm in St Kilda?

How long does concrete take to cure?