Boral chief executive Vik Bansal says he is about half-way through restoring the concrete, asphalt and gravel company to a building materials group capable of consistent returns, and will keep lifting prices even though inflation is slowing.

Boral shares jumped almost 10 per cent in early trading on Friday after price rises and a tight rein on costs enabled it to lift first-half net profit by 36 per cent to $122 million, and boost its profit forecast.