Question 1

How long before I can walk on new concrete?

Accepted Answer

Usually around 24 hours for light foot traffic, depending on the weather. We'll let you know on the day and leave the area barricaded until it's safe.

Question 2

How long before I can drive on it?

Accepted Answer

Give a new driveway 7 days before driving a car on it, and around 28 days before anything heavy like a truck, trailer or skip bin.

Question 3

How thick should a concrete driveway be?

Accepted Answer

Most residential driveways are poured at a minimum of 100 mm thick. If the driveway will take regular use from heavier vehicles such as trucks or vans, we may recommend 125 mm or more for extra load capacity.

Question 4

What driveway finish should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Broom finish is the most popular — it's slip-resistant, clean and cost-effective. Exposed aggregate gives a decorative, textured look in a range of stone colours. Plain steel-trowel concrete is smooth and modern, but best kept for areas that won't get wet or oily.

Question 5

What's the difference between plain, broom and exposed aggregate?

Accepted Answer

Plain concrete is a smooth, single-colour finish. Broom finish has fine lines dragged across the surface for grip. Exposed aggregate washes away the top layer to reveal the natural stone underneath, giving a textured, decorative appearance.

Question 6

Do I need reinforcement in my driveway?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use steel mesh or rebar supported in the slab to control cracking and improve long-term strength. For larger or load-bearing areas we may also recommend fibre reinforcement in the mix.

Question 7

How do I stop my driveway from cracking?

Accepted Answer

Most cracks come from poor base preparation, missing control joints, or concrete that's too wet. We compact the base properly, place control joints at the right spacing, use the correct slump and cure the concrete properly to keep cracking to a minimum.

Question 8

Do you put control joints in the driveway?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Control joints are cut or tooled into the slab to create weak points where cracks can occur neatly, rather than randomly across the surface. We plan the joint layout before the pour so the sections look balanced.

Question 9

How long does concrete take to cure?

Accepted Answer

Concrete reaches most of its strength in about 7 days, but full curing takes 28 days. During that time it needs to be kept moist and protected from extreme heat or drying winds, especially in the first week.

Question 10

Can you pour concrete in the rain?

Accepted Answer

Light rain on the day can usually be managed, but heavy rain during the pour can damage the surface and weaken the slab. If the forecast looks bad we will reschedule to protect the quality of the finish.

Question 11

How long does a typical job take?

Accepted Answer

Most driveways and paths take 2–4 days from demolition and prep through to the pour and finish. Larger jobs or ones needing extra excavation can run a little longer — we give you a schedule with your quote.

Question 12

Do you remove the old concrete?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Demolition, removal and disposal of the existing driveway, path or slab is included in the quote unless you'd prefer to arrange it yourself.

Question 13

Are you licensed and insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Alby Concreting Pty Ltd is fully licensed and insured, with 6 years working across Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast. ABN 13 655 690 887.

Question 14

Do you charge for quotes?

Accepted Answer

No. Quotes and on-site measure-ups are free. Send through a few photos and rough measurements and we can usually give you a ballpark the same day.

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