Concrete Prices

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BTR

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#173525 26-May-2015 16:19

I am looking at digging up part of my back lawn to put down a concrete pad for the new spa I just purchased, does anyone have a rough idea of how much exposed aggregate concrete is per square metre?

I just want to get a rough idea before I go any further.

Thanks

MikeB4

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#1312145 26-May-2015 16:39

Concrete is purchased and priced at Cubic Meter rates. The last lot we got was from (very dodgy) memory was $100 per CU/M.

Remember if your are getting ready mix measure carefully as what is on the truck is yours, any extra is dumped on your property to deal with.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Dynamic

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#1312148 26-May-2015 16:40

Just because I'm feeling particularly unhelpful today, I'm gonna say that you might get better value for money putting down gold bars. Concrete is that expensive.

Talk to the Spa people about the thickness of the concrete pad they would recommend and then work out your cubic meterage of concrete from there (h x w x d in metres eg 0.1m x 3m x 4m). I would mark out where you would put the spa, and the area around it that you would like to concrete so you are less likely to track grass into the spa or get muddy feet getting in and out in the winter with a sodden lawn.

Have a think about access and how the concrete will get to that spot. Concrete pumps can reach impressive height and length but would also be an arm and a leg. Wheelbarrowing it would be a pain but doable if you had 2+ wheelbarrows going.

Armed with that, get on the dog and bone for approximate pricing from a specialist if you want someone to do it for you, or the council to see how big a pad you can lay without consent.

Interested to hear how you get on.

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Jase2985

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#1312182 26-May-2015 17:31

im just going to state the obvious but calling a concrete company, ie firth, Stevenson's, atlas etc will be both quicker and more accurate than waiting for an answer off here.

all you need is the measurements as mentioned above.

timmmay

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#1312192 26-May-2015 17:44

It cost me $400/cube for 1cubic meter for darkened concrete a couple of years ago. Standard concrete is cheaper. Exposed aggregate probably costs more due to labor.

Jase2985

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#1312197 26-May-2015 17:48

you just pour normal concrete and then hose it when the top has started to set a little dont you?

mattwnz

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#1312211 26-May-2015 18:26

I always mix my own with the concrete mixer. Concrete as a material is cheap to do, it is the labour and margins companies charge to do it for you that costs the money. Also preparation in the formwork The exposed aggregate with smooth pebbles on the surface is more difficult to do, but I am sure there are videos on you tube.

I believe there is a chemical you spray on the poured concrete after you have sprinkled over the pebbles, that removes the top layer to expose the pebbles.

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benokobi

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#1312212 26-May-2015 18:30

BTR: I am looking at digging up part of my back lawn to put down a concrete pad for the new spa I just purchased, does anyone have a rough idea of how much exposed aggregate concrete is per square metre?

I just want to get a rough idea before I go any further.

Thanks

Check out http://alliedconcrete.co.nz/

They have a request a quote on their website if you know the details of your concrete pour.

wally22

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#1312229 26-May-2015 19:26

Concrete... I used to deliver the stuff. I called it liquid rock.

Readymixed is usually a similar price as buying the raw materials yourself and then you have to do the work to mix it and get the measuring correct to get the concrete the correct strength. Readymixed will be certified to be a particular strength, unless the scales break down at the plant and you are building a motorway.
However if you want less than about 2 cubic metres then there will be an extra delivery charge. I don't think a pad for a spa will use 2 cubic metres but maybe its a huge spa or you want to lay a path at the same time.

If you have not worked with concrete before I implore you to find a friend that has and can advise and maybe help you.

Exposed aggregate concrete is made by using river stones (they are smooth, not sharp) and spraying the finished surface with a retardant to slow down the settingof the top few mm of mortar mix. After a period when the lower part of the concrete is hard enough for this, the top layer is hosed off with water, exposing the nice smooth river stones. You must not let the runoff from this enter the drains or waterways as it is very alkaline and kills fish and other creatures.

If you order too much concrete then you are not compelled to take it. It will go back in the truck and be recycled or dumped. But you do pay for it whether you use it or not.

scuwp

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#1312248 26-May-2015 20:23

Why exposed aggregate for a pad that a pool is going to sit on? Last time I got concrete was about $150 per metre, but that was a larger quantity.

Prepare the site properly (dig out, sand fill, compact etc). Box it up, and then you can measure the quantity needed easily enough using WxHxD. Depending on size you may be best to also throw in some reinforcing mesh and/or some expansion grooves.

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nolanz

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#1312320 26-May-2015 21:57

A few years ago, we had some exposed aggregate concrete done professionally.
They used the retardent spray referred to.
However the young guy doing the work told me that in Aussie where he had trained, they had used sugar as a retardent quite effectively.
It might be worth a little research if that is the way you go, and you are doing it yourself.

BTR

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#1312454 27-May-2015 08:47

Thanks guys, I probably didn't explain myself well, I am looking at concreting a large area bigger than than the size of the spa. I like the exposed ag look and feel. The spa is 2.4 x 2.4 so it quite big and holds a fair amount of water so the area that the spa is sitting on will be thicker than the other parts of the pad.

Thanks again for your help, i'll start calling some concrete companies.

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reven

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#1312494 27-May-2015 10:02

I used some guy off builders crack as I was getting a spa delivered a week before xmas, and everyone was booked. worst mistake ive made. they did a really crap job and I'm going to have to destroy it and have it redone (sadly they used steel reinforcement so I can just sledge hammer it apart). going to go with pavers instead...

Ham

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#1312583 27-May-2015 11:06

I just put down a 3x3 pad for a shed myself which was 1m3. It cost me $244 for the concrete including GST and a "small delivery" charge.

Concrete placers charge by the square metre usually as they have a margin built in for the thickness and reinforcing. A price can be obtained from any concrete placer with a 1-2 minute phone call.