How much does it cost to resurface concrete?

Please note that the price information in this article was based on data from 2018 and may now be outdated.

This all depends on the type of concrete that you want to resurface and the purpose of your concrete slab. It costs from $25 to $150 per square metre to resurface concrete slabs for different purposes.

Since there are different techniques for indoor and outdoor surfaces, you need to take that into consideration. Here are the general estimates about the price of concrete resurfacing:

Keep in mind that not all concreters will accept small projects for this price. Some of them charge a minimum of $1200 for a concrete resurfacing job, regardless of the size of the area.

Ask for quotes from recommended concreters in Australia and see what are their charging policies and precise prices for your project. They may suggest different finishes, approaches to your problem and different solutions. It is always wise to take the word of an experienced expert into consideration.

How Much Does It Cost to Resurface Your Driveway?

Resurfacing your concrete driveway will cost you anywhere from $35/m2 to $150. Here is a breakdown of these prices:

These are the average prices, but keep in mind that these prices can vary greatly. For example, your plain concrete resurfacing is simple enough. However, if you opt for a specific spray on concrete or decide to add colour to it, the price will be higher.

Stencilled concrete can be done in one or many more colours. With each colour you add, the price needs to go up. Also, it is not the same if you just want to frame your driveway or if you want a complicated pattern printed all over your driveway.

The same goes for stamping. Simple, brick-like stamps will not cost a lot, but if the stamps are complicated, multi-coloured and difficult to install, the concrete surfacing price will be much more than $75 per hour.

Aggregate exposure is actually a type of polishing. It is done by sanding the surface of the concrete until the aggregate is visible. The aggregate appears gradually, so you can just stop the sanding when you are satisfied with the exposure level.

After sanding comes sealing and polishing. Since this is a specific outdoor concrete slab that needs to be resilient and sustain a lot of weight, there are some limitations that you should think about when resurfacing your driveway.

For example, it is not advisable to go for high-shine finishes that reduce the friction of your driveway surface. This would make it slippery, and it can reduce your control over the vehicle a bit.

How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Patio?

A patio is basically an outdoor concrete slab. The price of patio resurfacing is from $35 to $150. This usually depends on the size of the patio and whether it is easily accessible or not. Since patios are usually concrete slabs in front of your home or in the back, there are rarely any obstacles.

Image from thundercrete.com.au

Just like with the driveway, you get the same treatments for your patio. This means you can choose to colour the concrete patio in one or more colours. You can pick some patterns to stencil or even some stamps to make it even more interesting. If you want, you can even do the aggregate exposure, which is the most expensive option.

How Much Do Polished Floors Cost?

You can expect prices that go from $50 per square metre to $150 per square metre. Again, it all depends on the floors themselves, their shape and the level of aggregate exposure or shine you want to achieve.

Polishing indoor floors is an excellent idea if you think your floors are a bit dull or if they are damaged. Your concrete will first fix any imperfections, remove all air pockets, fill the cracks and then create an additional layer of sealer that will secure that shine.

The price of your concrete polishing rises with the aggregate exposure you want and with the level of shine you want. Both of these are achieved by vigorous sanding and polishing, which is why they take more work and cost more.

There are two general types of concrete polishing: grind and seal and mechanically polished concrete or MPC. Grinding and sealing is easier to do and, therefore, cheaper. You can have it for an average of $80/sqm. MPC can get really pricey. It can go up to $150. However, the shine and the effect you can achieve with MPC is truly stunning.

Some concreters may suggest you do the concrete staining. This technique is very interesting, and it results in amazing and unique designs.

Image from masterconcreteresurfacing.com.au

The staining is done over a period of several days, and it involves creating acid stains on the concrete. After that, the concrete is polished and sealed.

How Does Your Resurface Concrete?

Now that you know the prices for concrete resurfacing, it is time to let you in on the basics of this process. Your concrete will do the following:

• Thoroughly clean your concrete slab. This is usually done with water under pressure for better results.
• Fill the cracks and holes. Cracks are done with primer and polymer concrete, while holes need epoxy mortar.
• Even out the surface.
• Treat the fixed concrete slab with primer.
• Cover the primer on the concrete with the polymer spray.
• Add different finishes that you picked.
• Cure your new concrete slab.

You may need complete concrete replacement in some cases. That means the concrete needs to be ripped out, the base fixed, and then an entirely new concrete slab needs to be poured from scratch. Replacing your concrete slab has completely different prices, and not all concreters do it.

However, Service Seeking makes it easier than ever to find out which services tradies offer and how much they charge. Get quotes from excellent Australian concreters and see who is the best match for your project.