Concrete Pouring Cost

How Much Does It Cost to Pour Concrete?

How much does concrete cost?

The cost of laying concrete is calculated per cubic metre (m³) rather than per square foot (m²). Cubic metres calculate volume, while square metres measure area.

Because concrete is a three-dimensional material consisting of length, width, and depth, concrete is measured in cubic metres, so the full depth of an area is accounted for.

So, what is the concrete pouring cost per cubic metre?

Pouring concrete costs between £80 and £90 per m³ for C8, C10, and C15 grades. You should consider paying between £90 and £95 per m³ for grades C20/C25.

For concrete grades C30/C35, the typical cost per m³ is between £95 and £100. Concrete pouring costs £100 to £105 per m³ for grades C40/C45.

Since prepared concrete is purchased by volume, it is critical to understand your filling space. Concrete prices are determined by various factors, such as your location and the type of concrete you've purchased. However, it would help if you thought about paying between £65 and £85 per cubic metre.

The average cost of pouring a concrete driveway ranges between £600 and £8,000. The driveway's size or the concrete's quality is the most critical factor determining the total cost. The cost of concrete pouring increases with driveway size and concrete quality.

Concrete Prices per Cubic Metre

As you can see from above, one of the key factors that affects concrete costs per m³ will be the grade you need for your particular project.

The table below provides a full breakdown of typical concrete costs per m³ for different types of concrete, including the most popular grades C8 to C40.

What Impacts Concrete Pouring Costs?

As well as the type of concrete you need, there are a number of other factors that can affect the final cost of your project. Below are some of the things that can impact how much your concrete pour could cost.

Reinforcement

If you are having foundations or a load-bearing slab poured, your concrete might need reinforcing with steel mesh or rebar. These materials, and the labour required to install them, will add to your overall costs.

Finishing Options

A standard brushed finish will usually be included in the quoted costs for your pour, but if you decide you want a polished, patterned, or coloured finish, the additional materials, labour, and tools will increase the final price.

Access Challenges

If there are any access challenges for where you want your concrete poured, this can increase the cost. Additional labour to move the concrete into place, or hiring equipment such as a concrete pump, will be an extra charge.

Curing Protection

To ensure the best finish, your concrete needs to cure properly. Any curing compounds, protective coverings, or additional work required during the curing process will add to the final cost.

Location

The cost of materials and labour can differ depending on your location, so where you live can affect your costs. For example, costs are likely to be higher in the South East, particularly in London, than in the rest of the UK.

Weather

Both bad and good weather can affect how concrete is poured and cured. Depending on the conditions when your project starts, cold, hot, or wet weather may complicate the process and result in additional costs.

Additional Concrete Pouring Costs

As well as the factors that can affect the price you are quoted for your concrete pour, there may be other things you need to consider that will be necessary for your project and add to your initial cost.

Below are some of the common additional costs for a concrete pouring project that you should bear in mind.

Ground Preparation

Before you can even think about pouring your concrete, you need to make sure the ground is properly prepared. This will often mean excavating or digging out the ground, levelling it, and compacting it to provide a solid base. The additional cost of basic ground preparation can be around £30 to £70 per m².

Skip Hire

With some amount of digging out usually necessary for most concreting projects, you might also be looking at the additional cost of waste removal or skip hire to get rid of excavated dirt, rubble, or old surfaces. Expect skip hire to cost an additional £120 to £280.

Formwork

Formwork, or shuttering, is the wooden frame around the area where the concrete will be poured that holds it in place and keeps its shape while it cures. Simple slabs will require simple formwork, which might cost £10 to £25 per metre, but for more complicated shapes, steps, or different levels, expect to pay more.

Sub-Base

Depending on the project, you may also require a sub-base of hardcore, crushed stone, MOT Type 1 or 3, gravel, or sand beneath your concrete pour. Costs to supply and lay your sub-base will be around £30 to £60 per m³, depending on the materials used.

Damp/Weed Membrane

If it's necessary to protect your concrete slab against rising damp or weeds, installing a suitable membrane before the pour will be required. Depending on the type and thickness of weed or damp-proof membrane (DPM) used, they will typically cost £5 to £15 per m².

Removing Existing Surfaces

If your new slab is replacing old concrete, decking, tarmac, paving, or any other surface, this will need to be removed first. Depending on the thickness of the old surface and the ease of access to remove it, you can expect to pay £20 to £50 per m² for removal.

What's Involved in Pouring Concrete?

Getting perfectly finished concrete can take the right materials, equipment, and skill, which is why most homeowners choose to hire a professional for their concrete pouring projects.

To find the right contractor for the job, it's a good idea to get a number of quotes from local professionals.

With MyJobQuote you can get fast, free, no obligation quotes from concrete specialists near you, to help you find the right company for the job.

Here's a look at the process you can expect when you hire a professional contractor.

Before the Job Starts

• Preparation — The first job on every site is to clear and clean it, requiring earth-moving equipment. Any grass, trees, old concrete, or other debris must be removed so that the tradespeople can perform on the earth. After clearing and labelling the exact size of the concrete, the entire area is covered with a granular subbase. The subbase is then compacted to prepare it for concrete.

During the Job

• Formation — Setting concrete forms is the next step. Forms are placed along the perimeter of the concrete area and secured with metal or wood stakes. Both the stakes and the forms are designed to be easily removed once the concrete has hardened.
• Pouring & Positioning — When the final forms are in place, the concrete can be installed. A ready-mix concrete truck may be able to drive directly to the job site and pour directly into the forms. If this is not doable, a concrete pump will transport the concrete to its destination. To avoid air pockets and ensure an even surface, the concrete will be levelled down and moved as it is poured.
• Pre-Finishing — The top of the concrete should then be levelled, and the edges should be uniform. Next, the surface is screened, which means that a large board is slowly pushed across it to compact the concrete. Then, smaller areas or edges are evened out using hand-held trowels known as floats.
• Completion — Finish the concrete now that the surface has been prepared. This is the stage at which you choose the surface of your pouring concrete.

After the Job

• Treatment — The concrete can now rest and begin the curing process. Compounding immediately after finishing is recommended because it helps the concrete set evenly and reduces cracks. The entire curing process takes 28 days, and the first week is crucial.

Can I Pour Concrete Myself?

Pouring concrete DIY necessitates far more skill and knowledge than other home projects.

Not Being Adequately Prepared

The most common problem that do-it-yourselves face when pouring concrete is a lack of thorough preparation. Getting the shovel out and clearing a spot is only the beginning of the process. Everything depends on how ready that area is to receive a tonne of concrete.

Inexperienced DIYers overlook many things, such as failing to use a plate compression machine to pack the soil, not levelling the area adequately, or setting up proper forms - the blocking that enables a smooth, even pour. Pouring concrete property entails several steps.

Not Having the Appropriate Amount of Concrete

Another mistake that people make when pouring a concrete patio is underplaying the thickness of the slab. Any concrete patio should have a minimum thickness of 4 inches to ensure safety.

However, if it will support heavy furniture or features, a thickness of 6 to 8 inches may be required. This is about a 2 to 3-inch layer of sand, gravel, or limestone.

Finally, you get only one pour. Order a little more than needed to be on the safe side. You can always return any extra bags you have.

You Don't Know What Kind of Concrete You Need

Concrete comes in literally thousands of different varieties. So, what type are you going to use to pour your patio? Isn't it all the same? Not at all.

You can get some fast and easy cement, low-heat cement, or sulphate-resistant cement. On the other hand, is it better to use blast furnace slag, high oxide, or air-entraining?

Failure to Create Appropriate Forms

A concrete form is a wooden frame into which liquid concrete can be poured. These aspects must be strong enough to keep the wet concrete in the area in the proper shape until it dries and hardens completely.

To prevent concrete from leaking out, forms must have watertight joints. In addition, they must be rigid enough to prevent the concrete from bowing outward. The quality of its formwork determines a concrete slab's performance.

Concrete Costs (Supply Only)

If you want to save money by DIYing a concrete base, you'll need to know what you will need to do the job correctly and safely. As a result, we will go over all you will need to install a concrete foundation in your home here.

First, determine how much concrete you will require for your concrete foundation. The cubic metre (m³) is the essential standard measurement for concrete.

Before you start, you'll need sand which costs £43 to £88 per bag, as well as cement which costs £4 to £15 per bag. You'll need to calculate how much you'll need to get the right volume of concrete for your project.

Alternatively, you can purchase ready-mixed concrete for £6 to £14 per bag, depending on how much you require.

You'll also need timber to support and brace the formwork while your poured concrete sets. It should be around 25mm thick, costing between £14 to £100 depending on how much you need.

To compact the poured concrete, you'll need a tamp board, costing between £150 to £300. Floor bearers will also be required to give a temporary working platform while the concrete is poured, costing £4 to £30 each.

To mix the concrete, you'll need a cement mixer. If you're buying this outright, it'll cost around £200 to £350. Alternatively, you can hire a cement mixer or a mixing board, costing £13 to £20.

In terms of tools, you'll need:

• Tape Measure - £2 to £10
• Pegs - £6 to £20
• String - £1 to £4
• Spirit Level - £3 to £40
• Hammer - £30 to £33
• Spade - £7 to £25
• Set Square - £3 to £37
• Earth Rammer - £20 to £40
• Wheelbarrow - £14 to £50

Concrete Pouring Labour Costs and Timescales

Pouring concrete is best done by a professional because it can be a challenging DIY task. As a result, you should know how much labour you should expect to pay when hiring someone. As a result, we'll go over the labour cost for pouring concrete here.

Pouring concrete could cost between £40 and £50 per m². This may vary depending on the complexity of the job and the time required to pour the concrete. The labour cost will range between £220 and £450 per day.

Other concrete pouring jobs would have a different total cost, including a concrete driveway. However, the labour associated with installing a concrete driveway is one of the most noticeable costs. On average, tradespeople charge £40 to £50 per square metre.

However, some driveway installers may charge an hourly rate that varies depending on the area in the UK. A tradesperson in London, for example, would charge around £45 per hour, whilst pricing in northern England is much lower, at just £25 per hour.

Because the task is labour-intensive and, based on the required depth of foundations, may be dangerous to complete alone, expect a team of tradesmen to be on-site to complete it.

As a result, you should get an idea that the length of the driveway has a huge impact on the duration required to finish the job.

Here are the timeframes associated with plain concrete pouring:

• A 5.25m² driveway will usually take 1 to 2 days.
• A 12m² driveway will take 2 to 3 days.
• A 25m² driveway will take 3 to 4 days.

While coloured or imprinted concrete will take:

• A 60m² coloured or imprinted concrete driveway will take 5 to 6 days.
• A 100m² coloured or embedded driveway will take 7 to 8 days.

Regular concrete takes one to two days to set based on the environment in which it is placed. Concrete takes approximately 25 to 28 days to reach full strength.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission for Pouring Concrete

If you are considering installing a concrete floor for the first time, either as a home improvement project or as part of your job, you must be aware of the applicable Building Regulations. The requirements for concrete floor construction listed in the Building Regulations are detailed below.

If a new or replacement driveway is using permeable (or porous) surfacing that allows water to drain through, including gravel, permeable concrete block paving, or porous asphalt, or if rainwater is guided to a lawn or border to drain naturally, you will not need planning permission.

However, if the area to be covered exceeds five square metres, planning permission will be required for traditional, impassable driveways that do not allow water to run to a permeable area.

A layer of screed made of sand and cement is applied over the top of the concrete to ensure a level finish to follow the building regulations. In addition, thermal insulation and a suitable gauge damp-proof membrane (DPM) must be provided. These can be laid on the concrete or over the sand blinding.

The damp-proof path in the external walls and, if applicable, the internal walls all-around floor should be lapped with the DPM. The thickness of the different floor parts will be determined by the ground conditions or the order they have been laid.

If the existing building has air bricks, for example, to ventilate existing floor voids, ducting should be installed to allow air to pass through the solid floor and then into the void beneath the existing house. The new wall is then filled with air bricks.

Types of Concrete

When it comes to pouring concrete, there are various types of tasks that you should consider. In this section, we will go over the various types of concrete pouring jobs that you should consider.

Concrete Driveway Costs

A concrete driveway could cost between £348 to £1,968 to install. Several factors influence the cost of building a concrete driveway, including the size of the driveway, the type of concrete used, the ease of access, and whether base preparations are required.

A one-car concrete driveway usually takes one to two days to build, a two-car concrete driveway takes two to three days, and a three-car concrete driveway takes up to four days. If you need foundations or prefer patterned or pressed concrete, the project might take anywhere between 1 to 5 weeks to complete.

Flat concrete driveways are easy to make in design and are typically made of water and a lime-based binder that retains stone clumps together. This driveway can cost as little as £108 for a one-car driveway and £600 for a three-car driveway, not including installation.

Flat concrete is made up of the same materials as pressed or patterned concrete. However, it is made by pushing a pattern into wet concrete. A pressed or patterned concrete driveway could cost £162 and £768.

Pros

✔ Increases the value of a home

✔ One-of-a-kind designs

Cons

✖ Expensive

Concrete Floor Costs

Polished concrete floors are frequently misinterpreted as being cold and slick. However, these floors can be polished to make them non-slip and pleasant to walk barefoot. These floors can also cater to underfloor heating in the colder months, creating a lovely, warm feeling.

A new polished concrete floor typically costs between £120 and £150 per m². This is because it will take time to pour, finish, and seal the concrete. However, if you have a concrete floor and want it polished, the price is much lower, around £50 to £55 per m².

Installing a new garage floor can significantly improve the look of your garage. Polished concrete is an excellent choice for garage floors because it is long-lasting and flexible—polished concrete flooring costs between £2,000 and £2,500.

Selecting a polished concrete floor for your restroom is an excellent way to transform the space's appearance completely. The finished bathroom will have a modern or industrial feel and a high-end appearance—a polished concrete bathroom floor costs between £300 and £400.

Pros

✔ Durable

✔ It can be used with underfloor heating

✔ Various design options

Cons

✖ Expensive

Concrete Slab Pouring

Concrete slabs are used in construction as they provide a flat, horizontal surface. The most popular applications include floors, ceilings, or roof decks. In addition, a concrete slab is used on top of the foundations in many domestic buildings to provide a solid ground floor.

The cost of pouring a concrete slab is usually between £65 and £85 per m³. However, like other types of concrete pouring, the cost of concrete pouring will vary depending on the strength of the concrete used, the size or scale of the project, and where you live in the country.

Pros

✔ Simple to do

✔ Long-lasting

Cons

✖ Raises the floor level

✖ Requires a lot of maintenance

Checklist: How To Hire a Concrete Specialist to Pour Concrete in the UK

If you want to start a project that may require a concrete contractor, hiring the correct one for the job is essential. However, it can be challenging to find a dependable concrete contractor who completes the job on time, provides excellent work, and communicates with you.

The following suggestions on finding a decent concrete contractor will make the entire process much more manageable.

• Ask questions and select a contractor comfortable dealing with technical issues. You should also look for someone willing to explain the process to you so you know what to expect.
• Seek recommendations from friends and family, and use MyJobQuote to find local concrete specialists.
• Gather at least 3 different quotes from reputable contractors to compare prices.
• Ensure you get a written quote from your contractor, with an itemised breakdown of all costs so there are no hidden fees - if everything is in writing, you can ensure everything runs smoothly and goes as planned.
• When creating a contract, consider the work schedule, materials needed, payment, and who can clean up the job site after the project is completed.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/extensions/building-regulations-flooring
https://randmconcrete.com/concrete-pouring-process/
https://randmconcrete.com/pouring-concrete-patio-what-could-go-wrong-with-doing-it-yourself/
https://esub.com/blog/9-tips-how-to-find-a-good-concrete-contractor/