How much does concreting cost in Sunshine Coast?
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Polished concrete draws more Sunshine Coast searches than almost any other job on this page: grinding and polishing a slab you already have costs $58–$165 per square metre, and a new slab poured and then polished $155–$250. For outdoor work, plain concrete costs $73–$145 per square metre and exposed aggregate $115–$195. Driveways run $2,525–$5,800 plain or $4,650–$8,750 in exposed aggregate. Buying 25 MPa ready-mix on its own costs $290–$465 per cubic metre delivered. Rain, the street crossover and the finish you choose will move your own quote around those figures.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Concreting cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Concreting Cost in Sunshine Coast 2026
Marking out a car park, warehouse floor or loading bay? See our line marking cost guide for Sunshine Coast.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete slab (per sqm) | $73/sqm | $105 | $145 |
| Coloured concrete (per sqm) | $92/sqm | $135 | $195 |
| Exposed aggregate (per sqm) | $115/sqm | $155 | $195 |
| Stamped / stencilled (per sqm) | $115/sqm | $150 | $195 |
| Polished concrete — polish existing slab (per sqm) | $58/sqm | $105 | $165 |
| Spray-on resurfacing (per sqm) | $48/sqm | $63 | $78 |
| Driveway — plain (typical 40 sqm) | $2,525total | $4,375 | $5,800 |
| Driveway — exposed aggregate | $4,650total | $6,300 | $8,750 |
| Concrete path / footpath | $73/sqm | $105 | $155 |
| Concrete patio / entertaining | $78/sqm | $120 | $175 |
| Shed slab (typical 20 sqm) | $1,450total | $2,125 | $3,400 |
| Old concrete removal (stand-alone, incl. disposal) | $29/sqm | $58 | $97 |
| Ready-mix concrete, 25 MPa delivered (supply only, per m³) | $290per cubic metre | $370 | $465 |
| Polished concrete — new slab poured + mechanical polish (per sqm) | $155/sqm | $205 | $250 |
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Get Sunshine Coast quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Sunshine Coast metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
What to Know About Concreting Work and Cost in Sunshine Coast
A standard Sunshine Coast crossover needs no permit; a non-standard one needs Council approval. Council doesn’t build private crossovers — owners build their own or hire a licensed contractor.
The self-assessment rules exclude pavers, tiles, loose stones and gravel in urban areas and raised-pattern stamped concrete, and work outside the specification is unauthorised and can be penalised. A plain path in our table is $73–$155 a square metre.
Sunshine Coast concrete: finishes compared, driveways worked out and smaller slabs
Concrete finishes on the Sunshine Coast, side by side
Per square metre, our Sunshine Coast table has a plain slab at $73–$145, coloured concrete at $92–$195, stamped or stencilled at $115–$195, exposed aggregate at $115–$195 and polishing an existing slab at $58–$165. Polishing is priced on a slab that is already down; for a new polished floor, the slab itself is priced separately.
A Sunshine Coast driveway: plain or exposed aggregate
A plain driveway (the row assumes about 40 square metres) is $2,525–$5,800 in our Sunshine Coast table, and an exposed-aggregate driveway $4,650–$8,750; the typical difference is $1,925. Breaking out an old driveway first adds $29–$97 a square metre, or $2,320 over 40 square metres at the typical price.
Paths, patios and shed slabs on the Sunshine Coast
Smaller jobs in our Sunshine Coast table: a path is $73–$155 a square metre, a patio or entertaining area $78–$175 a square metre, and a shed slab (about 20 square metres) $1,450–$3,400. Where an existing slab only needs a new surface, spray-on resurfacing is $48–$78 a square metre.
Rain on the Sunshine Coast, for outdoor concrete work
On Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages the Sunshine Coast gets 1,492.6 mm of rain a year, the third most of the 15 cities we cover. February is the wettest month (217.5 mm) and September the driest (51.1 mm).
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
Local figures: Bureau of Meteorology climate statistics, SUNSHINE COAST AIRPORT, 1994–2026.
What Affects Concreting Costs in Sunshine Coast
What sets a polishing price
The polishing band of $58–$165 is wide because floors differ. A slab that was hidden under tiles or carpet may need glue ground off and cracks filled first, and a deeper grind that shows more stone takes more passes than a light honed finish. Ask each quote to state the grind level, the number of passes and the sealer or guard coat.
Ready-mix by the cubic metre
If you plan to place and finish a small slab yourself, a truck of 25 MPa ready-mix is priced at $290–$465 for each cubic metre dropped at your kerb. Allow a little extra over your measured volume for uneven ground, and remember that a part load can carry a surcharge. Finishing is the skilled part, so for anything bigger than a small pad a concreter's labour usually earns its cost.
A long wet season
Sunshine Coast Airport averages 1,492.6 mm of rain a year. February is the wettest month at 217.5 mm, and May still averages 164.7 mm, so the rain often runs well into autumn (BOM averages). September is the driest month at 51.1 mm. Ask for the rain plan in writing: who covers the fresh slab, and whether a rain-marked surface is redone at the concreter's cost.
Crossovers that need no permit
Sunshine Coast Council does not build private crossovers, and the owner pays for building and maintaining one. A standard crossover built to the council's standard drawings needs no permit, but anything non-standard needs council approval and fees apply. You can build it yourself or engage a licensed contractor, and the work must meet the self-assessable specifications or it is unauthorised.
Finishes the verge will not take
The council's self-assessment checklist rules out raised edges such as raised-pattern stamped concrete on a standard crossover, and pavers, tiles, loose stones and gravel are not appropriate in urban areas. The crossover must also sit at least 1.0 m clear of the nearest stormwater pit. Stamped work on your side of the boundary is $115–$195 a square metre.
Exposed aggregate and coloured surfaces
Exposed aggregate costs $115–$195 and coloured concrete $92–$195 per square metre. With 73.2% of Sunshine Coast homes separate houses (ABS 2021 Census), the driveway is often the largest slab on the block, which makes it the place a decorative finish costs the most. Keeping paths and the clothesline area plain holds the total down.
Fixing cracks without approval
Basic maintenance, such as repairing cracks or sealing a driveway, does not need council approval. Worn but solid driveways can be refreshed with a sprayed resurfacing layer for $48–$78 per square metre. Where the slab has broken up, budget $29–$97 per square metre just to lift it and dump it.
How to Save Money on Concreting Cost in Sunshine Coast
- Your concreter should hand over a QBCC licence number you can check, since Queensland building work valued from $3,300 needs one.
- Run through the council's standard crossover checklist with your concreter before the quote is final; if every answer is yes, you skip the permit and its fee.
- If you are keen on a raised stamped pattern for the driveway, ask for it to stop at your boundary so the crossover still passes the standard checklist.
- Ask whether the polishing quote includes removing old tile adhesive, because that preparation adds time on site and is often priced separately.
- Aim for a September pour, the driest month of the year, and ask the concreter what happens to the booking if a storm comes through anyway.
- For exposed aggregate, ask where the wash-off water and cement slurry will go, so it ends up contained on site rather than in the stormwater pit at the kerb.
Frequently Asked Questions — Concreting Cost in Sunshine Coast
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →