What to check before you hire a concreter
Before you book a concreter, get a written quote that names the area in square metres and what is included, ask about the base and the steel reinforcing, ask where the joints go and how the slab will be cured, check the licence number on your state register, check which way the water will run, and agree the payment stages and any council permit. Each check takes a few minutes. The table below links to the register and the deposit rules in each state. Updated 17 Oct 2026.
Updated 17 October 2026, checked 17 Oct 2026.
Six checks
- Get the quote in writing, with square metres. "1 unit of labour? 1 unit of concrete? 1 unit of reo?" is how one homeowner described trying to compare quotes. Ask for area, thickness and what is included.
- Ask about the base and the reo (the steel reinforcing). The quote should say how deep the slab is, how the base is compacted, and that the mesh sits on bar chairs, not on the dirt.
- Ask where the joints go and how it will be cured. Joints and curing both affect cracking, and you cannot see either once the slab is down, so ask before the pour.
- Check the licence yourself. Search your state register with the licence number on the quote (table below). We show what we found and the date on each listing, but check it yourself before you sign.
- Check which way the water goes. The slab should fall away from the house, with a drain where it needs one.
- Agree the payment stages and the permit. Pay by bank transfer against an invoice. Be wary of cash-only. For a crossover, check with your council who applies and who pays (permit table).
Where to check, by state
| State | Regulator | Register | Licence line | Deposit rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading | NSW Fair Trading licence register | Building work over $5,000 generally needs a licence or registration (checked 17 Oct 2026). Whether plain concreting is covered depends on the work. | Ask NSW Fair Trading |
| Victoria | Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly VBA) | Victorian Building Practitioner Register (BPC, formerly VBA) | Building work over $10,000 generally needs a licence or registration (checked 17 Oct 2026). Whether plain concreting is covered depends on the work. | Ask the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly VBA) |
| Queensland | QBCC | QBCC licensed contractors register | Building work over $3,300 generally needs a licence or registration (checked 17 Oct 2026). Whether plain concreting is covered depends on the work. | Ask QBCC |
| Western Australia | Building and Energy | Building and Energy licence and registration search | Building work over $20,000 generally needs a licence or registration (checked 17 Oct 2026). Whether plain concreting is covered depends on the work. | Ask Building and Energy |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (CBS) | Consumer and Business Services public register | Building work over $20,000 generally needs a licence or registration (checked 17 Oct 2026). Whether plain concreting is covered depends on the work. | Ask Consumer and Business Services (CBS) |
Register and threshold details were researched on 17 Oct 2026 and are re-checked before go-live. This page gives no deposit percentage of its own: the limit is the regulator's.
Questions
How big a deposit is safe to pay a concreter?
Ask your state regulator what the legal limit on deposits is before you pay anything (the table above links to each state). Pay by bank transfer, get a written quote and a receipt, and be wary of cash-only terms.
Is it normal for a new driveway to crack?
Fine hairline cracks are common as concrete dries. Wide cracks, steps or lifting are not, and usually trace back to the base, the steel reinforcing, missing joints or poor curing. Ask the quote to name all four.
What should a written concrete quote include?
The area in square metres, the thickness, the base preparation, the mesh and bar chairs, joint spacing, finish and sealer, excavation and removal, pump hire, GST, and the payment stages. If one of those is missing, ask for it before you sign.
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