Bungalow Concrete Driveways

Thickness depends on the loads, the ground underneath and how the concrete is reinforced. A standard residential driveway for cars is thinner than a slab designed to take a loaded tradie ute every day, a small truck or regular deliveries. Base preparation matters just as much as thickness, because even a thick slab can crack if the ground beneath it is soft or poorly compacted. When quoting, we ask what will be driving on the concrete and how often, then recommend a suitable thickness and reinforcement. For heavier commercial loads, an engineered design may be the safer approach.

It can be, but the details matter. Concrete should finish below the house floor level and must not cover weep holes in brick walls, as these let moisture escape. In Queensland, termite protection is an important consideration, and paving over part of a termite barrier or covering an inspection zone can create problems. Falls should always carry water away from the house rather than toward it. If you are unsure what termite system your home has, it is worth checking with a licensed pest manager before work starts. We look at these details during the site visit and adjust the design to suit.

On flat ground, careful levels make all the difference. We work out where water can drain to, whether that is the street, a garden area or a stormwater connection, then set falls across the concrete to get it there. Where the natural fall is limited, grated channel drains across garage doors or along walls can collect water and direct it away. We also avoid creating low spots where new work meets existing paths or slabs. Any connection to stormwater may need a licensed plumber and input from council, so we will flag that if your site needs it.

Yes. We saw-cut the section where the plumber or electrician needs access, break it out cleanly and remove the rubble. Once the services are installed and backfilled, we compact the trench properly and reinstate the concrete, tying it into the surrounding slab where suitable. Good compaction is the key, because a poorly backfilled trench is the main reason patches sink later. A reinstated section will look different from the older concrete at first, but a neat job with straight edges is far less noticeable. We can coordinate timing with your plumber so the work flows smoothly.