What equipment do I need for a concrete driveway?

Typically a petrol mixer (or ready-mix delivery), a vibrator to settle the concrete and remove air pockets, a screed to level it, and a power trowel for a smooth finish.

Do I need a concrete vibrator for a small pour?

For a thin path or patio slab it's less critical, but for anything structural (footings, driveways) a vibrator helps prevent weak spots from trapped air.

What's the difference between a screed and a power trowel?

A screed levels wet concrete to the correct height using a straight vibrating blade; a power trowel comes after, smoothing and hardening the surface once the concrete has begun to set.

Electric or petrol concrete mixer, which should I buy?

Electric mixers suit smaller jobs near a power source; petrol mixers are portable and suit larger or remote sites, at a higher price.

Concrete Equipment: The Full Range Explained

Riequip Guides · Product guide · Reviewed by the Riequip product team · Last reviewed 28/09/2026

Short answer

Riequip's concrete range covers the full job: mixers to make it, vibrators and screeds to place and level it, power trowels and saws to finish it, and breakers for removal, in petrol, diesel and electric across most categories.

For a small job (path, patio), an electric mixer and a hand screed cover it.

For a driveway or slab pour, step up to a petrol mixer, a vibrator, and a power trowel for a smooth finish.

For demolition or removal, breakers and diamond saws are separate categories from the mixing/placing/finishing side.

Who this guide is for

Builders and landscapers

Pouring paths, patios, footings and driveways.

Contractors handling larger pours

Needing vibration, screeding and trowelling equipment for bigger slabs.

Removal and demolition

Anyone needing to cut, break or remove existing concrete.

Decision table

Concrete job size vs equipment needed
Factor	Small job (path, patio)	Larger pour (driveway, slab)	Removal / demolition
Mixing	Electric mixer, or ready-mix delivery	Petrol mixer for volume and portability	Not applicable
Placing & finishing	Hand screed, hand trowel finish	Vibrator, screed, power trowel	Not applicable
Cutting & removal	Not usually needed	Saws for control joints or edges	Breakers and diamond saws

Riequip's current range by category

Concrete mixers

Electric to towable diesel

Altrad Belle M33BA electric ($1,690 + GST) up to the Altrad Belle AT350 road-towable Honda-powered mixer (340L drum, $6,790 + GST), with Cyclone Honda petrol and diesel mixers (190-350L) in between.

Concrete vibrators

Poker vibrators, standard to heavy-duty

Vibe-Tech COBRA Honda GX35 (standard or backpack, $1,190-$1,390 + GST) and the Altrad Belle MegaVibe electric range (2-4m poker length, 36-48mm head, $1,490-$1,690 + GST), plus Northrock petrol vibrators for heavier-duty use ($2,348-$4,140 + GST).

Concrete screeds

Vibrating screeds with interchangeable blades

Vibe-Tech RIDGEBACK vibrating screed (Honda GX35, $1,740 + GST) with interchangeable blades from 1.2m ($127.50 + GST) to 4.9m ($500 + GST) to match slab width.

Power trowels

Machine-finished slab surfaces

Alto PRE36 900mm power trowel ($2,990 + GST) for a smooth machine-finished slab surface.

Concrete saws & cutters

Cordless to large petrol saws

Cordless Makita CE001GZ ($1,390 + GST) through petrol Honda-powered Alto and Altrad Belle saws ($2,250-$5,390 + GST) up to the Alto FS500 20" saw ($4,290 + GST), plus dedicated brick saws.

Concrete breakers

Electric and hydraulic demolition

Makita electric demolition breaker ($1,520 + GST) and Altrad Belle hydraulic breakers ($3,470-$3,660 + GST) for excavator-mounted or hand-held demolition work.

Diamond blades

Matched to saw and material

14"-20" blades in general-purpose, asphalt and extra-wear grades ($140-$510 + GST) to match saw and material.

As one comparison: a small path or patio pour is realistically covered by an electric mixer, a hand screed blade and a hand trowel finish, while a driveway-scale pour justifies the extra cost of a petrol mixer, a vibrator to remove air pockets, and a power trowel for a consistent machine finish across a larger area. Riequip's full concrete equipment range is browsable at riequip.co.nz/collections/concrete-equipment.

Browse the full concrete equipment range Talk to a Riequip branch

Why this recommendation fits

Concrete work has three distinct stages that need different tools: mixing (getting the concrete ready), placing and finishing (vibrating out air pockets, screeding level, trowelling smooth), and, on other jobs, removal (breakers and saws). Buying based on job size rather than defaulting to the biggest or smallest option in each category avoids paying for capacity you don't need on a small job, or being underequipped on a larger one.

When to hire instead of buy

Worth knowing

For a one-off small pour, the cost of a mixer, vibrator and screed can outweigh the job, hiring may be more cost-effective than buying if this isn't a repeat job for your business. Riequip's range suits buyers doing concrete work regularly enough to justify ownership.

Limitations and alternatives

Drum capacity and engine power are manufacturer-rated maximums, actual mixing output depends on mix design and how full the drum is run.
Vibrator poker length and head diameter need to suit your slab depth and reinforcement spacing, confirm before buying rather than assuming bigger is always better.
For structural or engineered pours, confirm concrete specifications with your engineer rather than relying on general equipment guidance alone.

Supporting evidence

Concrete equipment models, categories and pricing referenced in this guide are drawn from Riequip's current range at riequip.co.nz/collections/concrete-equipment.
Confirm exact requirements for your situation with a Riequip specialist before purchasing, as prices, specifications and stock availability are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do I need for a concrete driveway?: Typically a petrol mixer (or ready-mix delivery), a vibrator to settle the concrete and remove air pockets, a screed to level it, and a power trowel for a smooth finish.
Do I need a concrete vibrator for a small pour?: For a thin path or patio slab it's less critical, but for anything structural (footings, driveways) a vibrator helps prevent weak spots from trapped air.
What's the difference between a screed and a power trowel?: A screed levels wet concrete to the correct height using a straight vibrating blade; a power trowel comes after, smoothing and hardening the surface once the concrete has begun to set.
Electric or petrol concrete mixer, which should I buy?: Electric mixers suit smaller jobs near a power source; petrol mixers are portable and suit larger or remote sites, at a higher price.