Concreting
Concrete is usually the first thing poured and the last thing anyone thinks about, which is backwards. It is the base layer for driveways, paths, slabs and often for paving and structures on top of it, and once it is down, fixing it means removing it. Getting the preparation, the reinforcement and the finish right the first time is the entire job.
Concrete is often the base layer for the rest of a project, so it needs to be right the first time. We pour driveways, paths and slabs with the correct slope for drainage and a finish that holds up to the local climate.
- Plain, coloured and exposed aggregate finishes
- Engineered for proper drainage slope
- Built for Central Coast weather
- Low maintenance once cured
Preparation, reinforcement and thickness
What goes under and inside a slab matters more than the mix. We excavate and compact the subgrade, set the formwork to the finished levels and falls, and place reinforcement suited to the load the slab will carry. A domestic path and a driveway taking a vehicle are different specifications, and building both to the lighter one is how driveways crack across the wheel path within a couple of years.
Finishes and how they wear
Exposed aggregate, plain, coloured and broom finishes all behave differently over time. Exposed aggregate gives grip and hides marking well, which suits driveways and pool areas. Plain and coloured finishes look cleaner and suit contemporary work but show wear more readily. The finish also affects slip resistance, which matters anywhere the surface gets wet.
Control joints and cracking
Concrete shrinks as it cures and it will crack. The question is whether it cracks where you decided or where it decided. Control joints are cut at spacings suited to the slab thickness and shape so the shrinkage goes into a clean line rather than across the middle of the surface. Odd shapes, re-entrant corners and long narrow runs all need joints planned rather than placed by default.
Falls and curing
Every slab outside needs fall away from the house toward a drainage point, set in the formwork, not corrected later. After the pour, curing controls the final strength and surface durability far more than people expect, and rushing it in hot or windy Central Coast weather causes surface crazing and dusting. We plan pours around the weather rather than against it.
Where we do concreting
Across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Concreting, answered.
Will my new concrete crack?
All concrete cracks as it shrinks. Properly placed control joints direct that cracking into cut lines where you do not notice it. What should not happen is random cracking across a slab, which usually indicates inadequate preparation, reinforcement or joint spacing.
How long before I can drive on a new driveway?
Concrete reaches usable strength well before full strength. Foot traffic is typically fine after a couple of days and vehicles after about a week, but it depends on the mix, thickness and weather. We give the specific timing for your pour.
What is the difference between exposed aggregate and plain concrete?
Exposed aggregate washes back the surface cement to reveal the stone in the mix, giving texture, grip and good resistance to showing marks. Plain concrete is smoother and more uniform. Exposed aggregate generally costs more and suits driveways and pool areas; plain suits paths, sheds and areas where it will be covered later.
Can you colour concrete to match existing work?
Coloured concrete can be matched closely but not exactly, because colour varies with the mix, the weather on the day and how it cures. We are straight about this rather than promising an invisible join to existing work.
Other Services
More ways we can help.
Pool Surrounds
Coping, paving and non-slip finishes engineered around the drainage and chemical exposure of a working pool edge.
Learn morePaving
Natural stone, travertine and paver driveways, patios and pool decks, laid level and built to shed water the right way.
Learn moreRetaining Walls
Engineered retaining walls that terrace sloped sites and hold ground before erosion becomes a problem.
Learn moreGarden & Landscape Design
Garden beds, paths and planting design that ties the whole property together, fence line to pool edge.
Learn moreFull Service Landscape & Construction
Complete backyard transformations, from first sketch to a finished space your family will actually use.
Learn moreFencing
Quality fencing for privacy, pool safety and property definition.
Learn moreStone Cladding
Premium stone cladding work, one of the areas we're best known for.
Learn moreView All Services
See the full list of what Fibonacci can help with.