lucy.summers

We have ordered a swim spa and now need to organise a conrete slab to put it on. The area we need is an 'L' shape which if you made square is about 5m x 4m.

We have had someone round to quote today and for 100mm depth, AND CASH, is $995

Am I being silly - this shocked the life out of me - I was expecting about $500. I know they are the most wanted trade around so can effectively charge what they want but this seems extreme.

Anyone else had any experiences with prices for concrete slabs?...or any conrete layers out there who would like a nice cash job????!!!!

Thanks

themerlin

We had one done a month back for our spa 3m * 3m cost us $440

lucy.summers

Thanks for that - maybe not so far out then - just a little bit steep.

steve99

so only about $1 per sqm difference between the two then.

Nikki

Will watch this thread with interest! My Husband is a concrete layer in NSW, would have loved that cash job!!! LOL

He is in the process of getting a license, funny thing is this is a wanted trade, advertised in our local paper all the time, yet pay crap money for specialised worker!!! Not sure of rates of pay at the moment in terms of pricing for jobs, so as I say will watch this with interest.

Nikki

bridie

Is it not something your husband could do himself? Would be much cheaper to just buy the concrete and mix it and lay it rather than pay someone to do it.

There are also those mobile concrete van things, cant remember the name now but they deliver small amounts and MEANT to be more cost effective, might be another option worthy of investigation.

HTH

youngy73

i dont think thats to bad. a cubic metre of concrete is about $250 which equates to 10 sqm. 20 sqm is 2 cubes equals $500.youve then got the rio, plastic and the formwork.you could probably do it yourself as its not hard and you might save $400.

bridie

This is the company I was thinking of http://www.concretetaxi.com/

thebears

I would be interested in this as well - we have been told we need 30m x 10 metres to a depth of 1m (about 300 cubic metres)

nik04

ready mix in qld is about $150 per metre if you diy

themerlin

I was thinking of that but for a spa it needs to be very flat so didn't want to risk damage to the spa to save a few hundred $

FluffyTheCampfireSlayer

http://www.concretetaxi.com/

Failing that - get hub to do it himself, nice little weekend project! It really isnt difficult to mix up and lay concrete.

Ah, just noticed someone has already posted the link!

As for getting concrete to be very flat......it REALLY is easy. I would do it myself!

lucy.summers

Wow - I wasn't getting emails to link to replies so only just realised I had replies!! Sorry guys.

Yes we seriously contemplated hubby doing it but the time and effort with nothing to mix it in but a bucket and such an area to cover just wasn't worth the time and stress, particularly as we are on a deadline for the spa coming in teh next 2 weeks - plus as themerlin said, not worth getting it wrong when putting a highly expensive swim spa on top of it - do not need it going wrong!!!!!

I had heard of these mixing vans you can use but cost pretty much worked out the same after buying the concrete - about $100 cheaper maybe so not worth the hassle of having to trust ourselves for some of it for a difference of just $100.

We have gone with the quote given as in hindsight and speaking to a few 'locals in the know' it's not that far off the mark.

Thanks for all the replies guys!!

Lucy

youngy73

believe me if you try to mix 2 cubic metres of concrete yourself you will bugger it up. not saying it cant be done but it you will bugger it.

arkon

I agree, DIY isn't too hard, concrete pretty much settles flat and level anyway almost the same as the way water finds it's own level. I've done quite a bit of concrete laying here in the last couple of years and it's not that hard really. I wouldn't tackle 300m2 but a 100mm deep slab is quite doable.