Residential concreting specification

Standard

Work is carried out with reference to AS 3727.1, the Australian Standard for residential pavements, and at crossovers to the City of Greater Dandenong's standard vehicle crossing drawings. Where a council drawing and this specification differ at the crossover, the council drawing governs.

Preparation and base

The existing surface is removed and the area prepared to suit the ground: soft spots and organic material taken out, and compacted base material brought in where the site needs it. Greater Dandenong's heavy clay swells and shrinks with the seasons, so the base and the drainage do more for the life of the slab than any amount of extra concrete.

Membrane and reinforcement

A membrane is laid where the site requires it, and every slab is reinforced with steel mesh placed on chairs so the steel sits within the slab and can do its job.

Driveways

Typically 25 MPa concrete at around 100mm for passenger vehicles. A thicker slab with heavier mesh is quoted where caravans, boats or light trucks will use the driveway, and on shared multi-unit driveways.

Shed and garage slabs

Garden sheds with normal use are poured at 100mm with SL72 mesh. Garages, carports and workshops where vehicles, racking or machinery will sit are poured at 125mm with SL82 mesh, with thickened edges where the shed manufacturer's drawings require them. Rebates and hold-down points are formed to the supplier's drawings. These slabs are for outbuildings; this site does not quote dwelling slabs.

Paths

Paths are poured at 75mm minimum, and at 100mm where vehicles cross them. Falls are set so water moves off the path and away from the building line.

Joints

Control joints are cut to direct any movement to planned lines, with isolation joints against the garage slab, house footings and existing concrete where needed.

Drainage and fall

Every slab is set with a fall away from the dwelling. Where the block falls towards the garage or the house, a grated strip drain is formed in and connected to the stormwater system. The grade at a crossover is set so a standard passenger vehicle clears the change of level.

Crossovers

The section between the boundary and the road is built to the council's standard drawing. A vehicle crossing permit is required by the City of Greater Dandenong before a crossover is built or widened, and council permit fees are not part of the quoted price.

Finish and cure

Broom, steel trowel, full depth oxide colour or exposed aggregate as quoted. As a guide: foot traffic after 24 hours, passenger vehicles after seven days, heavy vehicles after 28 days. Exposed aggregate is sealed after cure as agreed at quote.

What this means for a quote

If a competing quote is materially cheaper, the difference is usually in the preparation, the mesh, or the thickness, none of which are visible once the concrete is poured. Ask for those three items in writing and compare them against this page, the cost guide and the calculator.