Flatwork prices at a glance
| Work | Ottawa ballpark | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway, broom finish | $10–$20 / sq ft | Excavation, base, forming, 32 MPa air-entrained pour |
| Exposed aggregate upgrade | + $3–$5 / sq ft | Over a broom finish |
| Stamped concrete | $18–$45 / sq ft | Needs regular resealing |
| Concrete walkway | $12–$30 / sq ft | Small, narrow jobs sit at the high end |
| Patio or backyard pad | $10–$25 / sq ft | Shed and hot-tub pads included |
| Garage slab replacement | $10–$18 / sq ft | Including removal |
| Concrete or retaining wall | $45–$120 / sq ft of face | Height and drainage drive cost |
| Slab removal & disposal | $3–$5 / sq ft | Varies with thickness and reinforcement |
All ranges are Ottawa ballparks before HST, researched from published local price pages and cross-checked against Ontario sources.
What ready-mix concrete actually costs
The concrete is a smaller share of the bill than most people expect. Ontario plants’ published 2026 price lists put exterior C-2 concrete (32 MPa, 0.45 water-cement ratio) at about $246–$295 per cubic metre. On top of that:
- Short-load fees of $175–$400 per truck on small orders (typically under about 4 m³).
- Winter handling surcharges from mid-October to the end of April on some price lists, for heated materials.
- Environmental and fuel charges per cubic metre.
Use the calculator below to estimate your volume. A typical 20 × 10 ft pad at 5 inches is about 2.6 m³ including a 10 % allowance — a short load — so the fixed costs weigh heavily.
What you’re paying for besides concrete
- Excavation and base. Ottawa paving guidance calls for 8–12 inches of excavation, geotextile over Leda clay where present, and compacted Granular B and A on driveways. Base work is often 40–60 % of a driveway price.
- Forming and reinforcement. Wood forms, mesh, fibre or rebar.
- Placement and finishing. Screeding, floating, edging, the finish texture and properly spaced control joints.
- Curing and protection. Keeping the concrete moist or sealed, and protected from cold. Keep vehicles off a new driveway for at least about a week, per Concrete Ontario guidance.
- Permits where needed. An access permit ($208 in 2026) applies when a driveway or walkway entrance in the City right of way is built, widened or changed.
Spend where it counts
Spend on the base and the concrete spec first. Then the finish. A beautiful stamped pad on a thin base heaves. A plain broom-finished slab on a deep, compacted base with the right mix lasts.