Concreter › Choosing and briefing a concreter

Choosing and briefing a concreter

The best predictor of good concrete is good groundwork, and you can only judge that by the person doing it. Here is how to find, compare and brief someone sensibly.

Last updated 2 November 2026

Step 1: write down what you want

A clear brief gets comparable quotes. Write one page covering:

• What it is: drive, base, patio, path or slab. Size in metres, with a sketch.
• How it will be used: one car, a van, a caravan, a shed, a hot tub.
• Finish: broom, exposed aggregate, imprinted, coloured.
• Levels and drainage: where water should go.
• Extras: edging, steps, dropped kerb, removing an old surface.
• Access: where the lorry can park, any gates or narrow gaps, neighbours' drives.

Step 2: find a few people to ask

Ask neighbours and friends who have had concrete laid and can show it a few years later. Local builders' merchants and approved-trader schemes you already trust are other starting points. We do not recommend or rank businesses here. Whoever you pick, check them yourself.

Step 3: check before you invite them

• A real business address and a landline or mobile you can call back.
• Public liability insurance. Ask for the certificate.
• Recent finished jobs you can see or phone about, not just photos.
• If VAT is charged, a VAT number.

Step 4: get at least three written quotes

Quotes should be comparable. Insist on the same items in each:

1. Dig depth and removal of spoil.
2. Sub-base type and depth, and how it is compacted.
3. Concrete grade and thickness, and mesh or fibres.
4. Joints: type and spacing.
5. Finish and sealer.
6. Drainage details.
7. What is excluded, VAT, start date and how long the job takes.

Compare these against the price ranges on driveway costs and patio and slab costs. A quote that is far cheaper often leaves out depth, sub-base or joints.

Step 5: pay sensibly

• Avoid paying everything up front. A modest deposit for materials is more usual than cash for the whole job.
• Agree stage payments in writing, tied to work done.
• Pay by bank transfer or card rather than cash, so there is a record.
• Keep the quote, any changes, and receipts.

Warning signs

• Someone knocks and says they have "leftover" tarmac or concrete from another job.
• Pressure to start today at a special price.
• No written quote, or a quote that only gives a total.
• Reluctance to say what depth they will dig or what sub-base they use.
• Asking for large cash payments up front.

Dealing with problems afterwards

Raise any concern as soon as you see it, in writing, with dated photos. Ask the contractor to come back and look at it. Keep the original quote and any messages about changes. If you cannot agree, the Citizens Advice consumer service can explain your options. Do not withhold payment for work that is complete without taking advice first, because disputes are easier to settle when you stay calm and keep records.

On the day

Be there at the start to check the dig depth and the sub-base before the concrete arrives. If something differs from the quote, raise it before the pour, not after. Agree how and where the concrete will be placed and how it will be cured. Take dated photos.

Planning and paperwork

You, as the homeowner, are the one responsible for checking whether a new front-garden surface needs permission, and for applying for a dropped kerb. A good contractor will raise it, but do not rely on that. See front-garden paving rules. Take the questions to ask a concreter with you to the visit. This is general information, not legal advice.

Spotted a mistake or have a question? Get in touch.