Two Ways to Get a New Driveway Surface - One Big Cost Gap
When a driveway, path or pool surround starts looking its age, the two options people usually weigh up are spraycrete resurfacing or ripping the slab out and pouring new plain concrete. Both give you a fresh surface. The cost gap between them, though, is bigger than most Queensland homeowners expect - and it's driven by one thing most people don't account for until they get a quote: what it costs to remove the old concrete before you can pour the new.
This guide breaks down what each option actually costs per square metre in Queensland, walks through a worked example on a typical driveway, and is honest about the cases where plain concrete replacement is still the right call despite the higher price.
What "Plain Concrete Resurfacing" Actually Means
The term gets used loosely, so it's worth being precise. There are really two different jobs people mean when they say this:
- Full replacement - demolishing the existing slab, disposing of the rubble, and pouring a brand new plain concrete slab. This is a structural job that starts from scratch.
- Spraycrete (covercrete) resurfacing - spraying a coloured, textured cement-polymer coating directly over the existing concrete, without demolition. You get a genuinely new surface, but the old slab stays in the ground doing the structural work it was always doing.
Almost every cost difference between the two comes down to that distinction: one removes the old concrete, the other coats over it.
Cost Per Square Metre: The Real Numbers
These are the ranges we work to for a straightforward residential job in Queensland, before an on-site assessment. Actual pricing depends on surface condition, access and how much preparation is required.
That $150-plus figure for replacement is the starting point once demolition and disposal are factored in - it's not the cost of the new concrete pour alone. Breaking up and carting away an old slab, then waiting for a new one to cure, is what pushes replacement well above spraycrete resurfacing on almost every job, even before you compare the finish. And if your slab is sound enough that it just needs protection rather than a new face, clear or coloured sealing is the cheaper conversation again.
A Worked Example: 60m² Driveway
A 60m² driveway is a common size for a Queensland home, so it's a useful yardstick. Resurfaced in spraycrete, that job typically runs around $4,500 including preparation and sealing (our smaller jobs carry a $4,000 minimum to cover mobilisation and setup, so very small areas won't scale down proportionally). Replacing the same 60m² area with new plain concrete starts from roughly $9,000 once demolition and disposal of the old slab are included, before you add any sealing or finish to protect the new pour.
The gap isn't just the sticker price. Spraycrete resurfacing has most driveways back in use within days. A full replacement means the driveway is out of action for the demolition, the pour, and the curing period before it can safely take vehicle weight again - realistically weeks, not days.
What a Resurfaced Driveway Actually Looks Like
Numbers only tell half the story. Below is a real CoatPro job on a tired Queensland driveway - drag the handle to compare the surface before and after its spraycrete overlay.
Surfaces like this are exactly what spraycrete is built for - cracked, stained or dated on top, but sound underneath. Resurfacing means no demolition, and most driveways are back in use within days. The full gallery, including patios and pool surrounds, is on our spraycrete service page.
How Long Each Option Lasts
A resealed spraycrete surface has a working life of 20-plus years, provided it's resealed roughly every three to five years, and every spraycrete job we complete is backed by a 5-year written workmanship warranty. A newly poured plain concrete slab is structurally durable for decades as well, but it isn't maintenance-free - it still needs sealing to protect it from Queensland's UV and summer storms, and a plain grey pour won't give you a fresh colour or texture unless that's specified and paid for separately.
In other words: over a 20-year horizon, spraycrete and a well-maintained new slab both need periodic resealing. The difference is what you paid to get there in the first place.
When Plain Concrete Replacement Is Still the Right Call
Spraycrete isn't always the answer, and we'll say so on-site rather than resurface a slab that shouldn't be resurfaced. Resurfacing coats over the existing concrete, so it only works if that concrete is structurally sound underneath. If a slab has genuine structural problems - concrete cancer, significant subsidence, cracking that moves with the seasons, or a base that's failed - a new coating on top won't fix any of that, and replacement is the honest recommendation, cost aside.
Cosmetic cracking, staining, pitting and a dated colour are exactly what spraycrete is built to cover. Structural failure is a different problem, and no surface coating solves it.
Why This Matters More in Queensland
Intense UV exposure fades unprotected colour and breaks down cement paste at the surface, summer storms drive moisture into anything that isn't sealed, and daily temperature swings put concrete under constant expansion and contraction stress. That applies whether you've resurfaced or poured new, which is why we treat sealing as part of the job rather than an optional extra on either option.
We work across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and we recommend the option that suits your slab's actual condition and your site's exposure - not a one-size-fits-all answer. If you want the fuller picture across all coating types, including epoxy flooring for garages and workshops, see our comparison of every concrete coating option.
CoatPro is a QBCC-licensed contractor and a member of Master Builders Queensland, and we carry over $20 million in public liability insurance. Across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast we've now coated more than 120,000 square metres of concrete, so we've generally seen what a given surface needs before we get to yours.
Getting an Accurate Number for Your Slab
These ranges are a starting point - the exact price depends on your slab's condition, size and access. The only way to know for certain whether resurfacing or replacement is right for your property is to have someone look at the concrete in person.
Want a fixed number for your driveway or path? Get a free estimate or call Christian on 07 4428 2811 to talk through your options.
- An honest recommendation between spraycrete resurfacing and full replacement based on your slab's actual condition
- Indicative pricing before we're on site, and a detailed written quote after
- A 5-year written workmanship warranty on resurfacing work
- Most driveways back in use within days, not weeks
- Extensive Queensland experience across all regions and applications
- Customised coating recommendations for Queensland's challenging climate
- Proven track record with thousands of satisfied customers
- Comprehensive warranties and ongoing support
- Licensed, insured, and committed to excellence
FAQs
Common questions about the cost of spraycrete resurfacing versus new plain concrete.
Yes, in almost every case. Spraycrete resurfacing typically costs $50-100 per square metre including sealing, while pouring new plain concrete starts from around $150 per square metre once demolition and disposal of the old slab are factored in. Spraycrete works out cheaper because it coats over the existing concrete instead of removing and replacing it.
A spraycrete surface has a working life of 20-plus years when resealed every three to five years, and every job is backed by a 5-year written workmanship warranty. A newly poured plain concrete slab is structurally durable for decades too, but it still needs regular sealing to protect it from Queensland's UV and summer storms.
Spraycrete works well over concrete that's cracked, stained, pitted or dated but still structurally sound. If the slab has genuine structural problems, such as concrete cancer, significant subsidence, or a base that's failed, resurfacing over it won't fix the underlying issue and replacement is the honest recommendation.
That range covers surface preparation, the spray-applied cement-polymer coating in your chosen colour and texture, and sealing. It doesn't include demolition, which is why spraycrete comes in well under full replacement - there's no old slab to break up and cart away.
Get Your Free Quote Today
Transform your concrete surfaces with our expert sealing and finishing services. Contact us now to discuss your project and receive a personalised quote. We service all areas throughout South-East Queensland.
- Give Us A Call for immediate consultation
- Email us with your property details and photos
- Use our estimate calculator
- Book online for convenient assessment scheduling
