Concrete Driveways.

A plain concrete driveway in Western Sydney typically costs between $65 and $95 per square metre. Exposed aggregate finishes run $100–$150 per m², and stencilled or stamped concrete sits at $100–$200 per m². For a standard double-car driveway of around 50–60m², expect a finished job in the $3,500–$9,000 range depending on finish and site conditions. Factors that push the price up include removal of an existing slab, a sloped site, limited access for a concrete truck, and the depth of base preparation required. A site visit is the only way to give you a number you can actually budget from.

A standard residential driveway takes 3 working days. Day 1 covers excavation and base preparation. Day 2 is the pour and finishing. Day 3 is expansion cuts, clean-up, and handover. You can walk on the concrete within 24–48 hours of the pour. Keep vehicles off for at least 7 days. Full strength is reached at 28 days.

It depends on your block and your priorities. Concrete is lower cost upfront and installs faster, but cracks are difficult to repair — and on reactive clay soils common in parts of Western Sydney, cracking over time is a real risk. Pavers cost more upfront but flex with ground movement without cracking, and individual units can be swapped out if damaged. For most Western Sydney homes, exposed aggregate concrete offers a good balance of cost, durability, and appearance.

Break-up, removal, and disposal of an existing concrete surface is a real cost that should be line-itemised in any honest quote. Depending on the size and thickness of the slab, this typically adds $500–$2,000 to a job. Every Hardrock quote specifies exactly what is and isn't included. If you're comparing quotes, make sure each one confirms whether existing surface removal is covered.

For standard passenger vehicles on stable ground, 100mm slab thickness with SL82 reinforcement is the minimum we use. On reactive clay or where a tradesman's ute or small trailer will be regular, we go to 125mm with SL92. We don't pour 80mm 'residential driveways' — that's where cheap quotes end up cracking at year two.

All concrete cracks — but controlled cracking via expansion joints is how quality work handles it invisibly. We cut joints at 3–4m centres (depending on slab width) before the pour cures, so any movement happens at the joint line, not as a visible hairline across the slab. Reactive clay sites get closer joint spacing.

Walk on it in 24–48 hours with care. Park a standard passenger car after 7 days minimum — tight turns avoided during this period. Heavy loads (a loaded ute or trailer) wait 28 days for full strength. We leave a written care sheet explaining all of this on handover.

Yes — break-up, removal, and disposal of the existing slab is line-itemised in every quote. Typical add: $500–$2,000 depending on the size, thickness, and whether there's reinforcement mesh to cut through. Always confirm in writing whether the other quotes you're comparing include existing removal.