Concrete

somuj · 07-05-2026 07:07AM #1

Was quoted €3000 for three and a half meters of concrete with a brush finish, excavation and labour. Minimal soil excavation.

Seems a bit excessive.

sydthebeat · 07-05-2026 07:44AM

I doubt the concrete is the significant part of that of that quote. It's the labour hours and machinery which is the main cost.

Get two more quotes for comparison

FishOnABike · 07-05-2026 08:12AM

Is that m³?

somuj · 07-05-2026 08:24AM

Yes. Metres Cubed.

Thats the quote for the whole job. I priced the concrete myself. 125 a cubic meter. Minimum delivery charge of 4.5 meters so about 562.

2 tons bags of stone at 85 each. An couple of hours of excavation and some shutters.

Def going to get a couple more quotes.

CreadanLady · 07-05-2026 08:41AM

Do get more quotes.

But by the time men are paid, insurance and all other business overheads, disposal of waste and spoil, it don't be long adding up

dp22250 · 07-05-2026 09:41AM

New vans, lease plan on tools and equipment you’re paying for all that.

Gone are the days of a lad operating a handy outfit.

Markcheese · 07-05-2026 04:14PM

Access counts as well, if theres a lot of barrow work, you pay for that too .. if its round the front of the house, or with easy access, should make it cheaper

sydthebeat · 07-05-2026 04:57PM

is it a pathway or a slab?

3.5m3 @ 150mm is roughly 23 sq m (23m long path or 8 x 3 slab etc) @ 200mm its about 17 sq m

€3000 doesnt sound all that unusual for that kind of work to be honest.

digging, drawing away, shuttering, whacking filling, blinding, screeded and brushing, striking the shuttering etc are all pretty slow labour intensive jobs, without even considering materials.

somuj · 07-05-2026 06:13PM

Its only 4 meters by 6 meters by 150mm deep.

Only 3.5 cubic meters of concrete. Its a slab.

Madd002 · 09-05-2026 08:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058438221/concrete

That price sounds good. Your not taking into account the price of diesel in van or tractor to pull digger on trailer or the filling of digger with diesel and then tractor to remove the soil and it would be a 2 man job. Get a few more quotes if you want but also check their work is good no point ending up saving a few €'s for a cowboy job.

ted1 · 11-06-2026 11:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451101#Comment_124451101

you'd dig that out yourself with a shovel and spade over the weekend, or rent a mini digger.

some places will even provide a driver.

Mini Digger Hire from €70 per Day 0r €350 per week No Deposit Required

Quay_Koncept · 11-06-2026 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124542036#Comment_124542036

Would a concrete layer have issue with the home owner doing this ie, digging the soil out to 150mm and taking it away or would they consider this a bit cute and give just a small discount? So all the concrete supplier would have to do is throw the hardcore down, whack it and lay the concrete and finish it! Could be a good idea for OP if it was acceptable to the contractor

ted1 · 11-06-2026 11:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124542083#Comment_124542083

hardcore and Whaking could be done by the OP too. about €40 a day to rent a whacker. about 14 wheel barrorws per ton bag. Can't beat the satisfaction of some DIY projects.

OP what is the purpose fo the slab?

Concrete

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