Your Guide to Coloured Concrete Pricing
Coloured concrete is a vibrant, durable solution for driveways, patios, paths, and other outdoor surfaces. With Boral’s Colori® range, you can customise your concrete with rich, long-lasting colours that enhance your property’s appeal while maintaining the strength and performance of traditional concrete.
This guide outlines the key factors that influence coloured concrete cost to help you understand what affects pricing and how to plan your budget effectively.
Key Factors Affecting Pricing
Colour and Oxide Quality
The type and intensity of colour selected from the Colori® range can impact pricing. Some colours require higher oxide content to achieve full saturation, which increases the overall cost of the mix. Colori® oxides are integrated throughout the concrete, ensuring long-term colour retention without surface fading or peeling.
Project Size and Complexity
Larger projects may benefit from economies of scale, but intricate designs, curves, borders, or multi-finish areas can increase labour and material costs. The total square metre coverage and design complexity will influence both batching and installation pricing.
Location and Regional Variations
Pricing can vary across Australia due to transport costs, local market rates, and aggregate availability when combining with exposed aggregate concrete. Boral uses locally sourced quarry materials in its mixes, which helps reduce freight costs and environmental impact. This also means that coloured concrete using exposed aggregates rather than conventional concrete can vary in colour by region, reflecting the natural tones of local stone and sand.
Site Preparation Needs
If your site requires excavation, levelling, or additional base materials, this will add to the overall cost. Proper site preparation ensures better performance and longevity of the concrete surface.
Concreter Labour and Installation
Installation is typically handled by professional concreters. Their rates vary based on experience, location, and project complexity. Boral supplies the concrete mix, while contractors manage placement, finishing, and sealing.
For customers searching for coloured concrete near me, Boral’s network of coloured concrete suppliers can help connect you with local contractors familiar with our mixes.
Additional Finishes
Finishing techniques such as brooming, trowelling, stencilling, or sealing can add to the cost. These finishes enhance texture, slip resistance, and visual appeal, and should be factored into your budget early on.
Why Choose Coloured Concrete?
Coloured concrete offers long-term value thanks to its durability and low maintenance. It resists weathering, staining, and surface wear, making it ideal for driveways and outdoor areas. The vibrant colours available in the Colori® range allow you to match your concrete to your home’s architecture, landscaping, or personal style.
Unlike surface coatings, Colori® oxides are mixed into the concrete itself, ensuring consistent colour throughout the slab. This makes it a more reliable and longer-lasting decorative solution. Whether you’re designing a coloured concrete driveway, patio, floor or a decorative outdoor feature, Boral’s Colori® range offers versatile options to suit any style.
How to Budget for Your Project
Start by requesting quotes from multiple concreters to compare installation costs. Then consult with Boral to explore mix options that suit your design goals and budget. Understanding the coloured concrete cost starts with selecting your colour, finish, and mix type. Our team can help you select colours and aggregates that balance cost with visual impact.
Be sure to account for site-specific factors such as terrain, access, and drainage. These can affect both material and labour costs. If sustainability is a priority, consider using ENVISIA® low-carbon concrete, which is compatible with Colori® oxides and offers a different price point to conventional concrete.
Next Steps with Boral
Explore our national range of 33 standard Colori® colours to find the right shade for your project, and contact us for mix samples and technical specifications. You can also visit a Boral showroom to view all decorative concrete options to find the right combination of colour, aggregate and finish for your needs.
