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Exposed Aggregate2017-05-22T04:26:34+08:00

We install exposed aggregate for driveways, pathways and areas.

Exposed aggregate can be poured in a range of colours to suit your home and landscape, and creates a modern, beautiful area. Exposed aggregate as paths, patios and driveways adds a clean yet textured element in your landscape. We also install standard and coloured concrete, liquid limestone, and paving.

On this page:

Exposed Aggregate Colour Range

See the colours available for exposed aggregate concrete

FAQs for Exposed Aggregate

Read some of our most frequently asked questions related to exposed aggregate concrete

Our Blogs on Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Find loads more information and pictures in our exposed aggregate related blogs

Exposed Aggregate Colours

Choose from a great range of exposed aggregate colours to personalise your space with beautiful natural stones.

*Availability of some colours may vary, and may be subject to change.

Exposed aggregate

Acacia

Exposed aggregate

Banksia

Exposed aggregate

Black Sheok

Exposed aggregate

Blackbutt

Exposed aggregate

Bluegum

Exposed aggregate

Boab

Exposed aggregate

Bottlebrush

Exposed aggregate

Cypress Black

Exposed aggregate

Eucalyptus

Exposed aggregate

Ghost Maple

Exposed aggregate

Grevillea

Exposed aggregate

Jacaranda

Exposed aggregate

Jackwood

Exposed aggregate

Jarrah

Exposed aggregate

Kapok

Exposed aggregate

Magnolia

Exposed aggregate

Mallee

Exposed aggregate

Myrtle

Exposed aggregate

Spinifex

Exposed aggregate

Tingle

Exposed aggregate

Tuart

Exposed aggregate

Wandoo

Exposed aggregate

Warratah

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cropped-logo_short_orange.pngFAQs

Find out answers to some of our most frequently asked questions for exposed aggregate.

What is the installation process for exposed aggregate?

Your chosen concrete, mixed with your chosen stone aggregates, is poured into a formed and prepared and properly compacted and watered area. The surface of the exposed aggregate slab has a retardant applied to it to slow down the curing of the top layer of concrete. This allows the top layer to be washed away at the appropriate time during curing to reveal the underlying aggregates.

Exposed – Created by washing off the top layer of concrete to reveal the stone, and provides a skid resistant and durable finish that is ideal for outdoor applications such as driveways, pathways and other external areas.

Honed – Honing is achieved through grinding the top layer of the concrete to reveal a natural stone and a flat matt finish, perfect for alfresco, entertaining and pool areas where you want a smoother finish while maintaining the beauty of the exposed natural stone aggregates.

Polished – Achieved through grinding and polishing the concrete to create a highly glossy finish, perfect for any internal room of the home.

Yes. The materials for exposed aggregate cost more than liquid limestone or standard concrete. Additionally, the process for installation of exposed aggregate requires more time and skill to receive consistency. For this reason, not all concreters will install both standard concrete and exposed aggregate concrete.

Unlike paving, exposed aggregate does not lend itself to weeds or ants. Exposed aggregate concrete provides a modern, sleek finish, and because it owes it’s appealing attractiveness to the natural stones that form the aggregate, it also creates a timeless, low maintenance area.

Exposed aggregate concrete provides all the benefits of standards concrete- hard wearing, durable, low maintenance, weather resistant and skid resistant, and the added appeal of the natural texture of the stone aggregates.

Exposed aggregate is ideal for driveways.  It provides excellent traction- particularly handy for sloped driveways. When installing exposed aggregate for vehicle areas, the concrete must be poured thicker, and reinforcement mesh is used to provide added strength to the area.

You will need to check with your local council for information on installing exposed aggregate for a council crossover (the continuation of your driveway onto your council verge to the road/ kerb.) Different councils have varied rules and regulations for crossovers, including what materials can be used. Click here to see our page on council crossovers, including a link to your local council website.

We recommend you seal your exposed aggregate. As concrete is a porous material, sealing your concrete will protect it against staining. There are various sealers available, and the sealer you choose will affect the look and sheen of your concrete. Variations in sealers include being water based or solvent based, and a matt or gloss type finish.

All concrete shrinks as it cures. Shrinkage is an unavoidable characteristic of concrete, including exposed aggregate concrete. The majority of shrinkage will happen within the first few days of your concrete being poured. Properly preparing the area and including adequate control joints can aid in controlling where cracking will occur.

Yes, control joints are necessary for your concrete when poured over a large area. It is worth noting that all concrete shrinks as it cures.

Control joints are placed in the concrete to encourage any cracking that may occur to happen in predetermined locations, allowing the customer to control to an extent where the cracking happens and reduce cracking as much as possible.

Control joints are planned at the design stage and placed at aesthetically appropriate areas where possible; spacing of the control joins in your concrete will be site and design specific.

Generally speaking it is advised that you reseal your concrete every two years to keep it protected and looking good. For areas that are exposed to heavier use, such as for commercial premises, more frequent sealing may be required.

Exposed aggregate creates a low maintenance area. Sealing your concrete will ensure it’s long levity. To clean, simply hose your concrete periodically. If required, use a stiff bristled broom to dislodge dirt that may have gathered around the aggregate as you hose.

Speak to your installer about appropriate curing time prior to walking on your concrete. We do however recommend you seal your concrete prior to heavy use to protect your new concrete against contaminants that can cause staining.

Speak to your installer about appropriate curing time prior to driving on your concrete. We do however recommend you seal your concrete prior to heavy use to protect your new concrete against contaminants that can cause staining.

Yes. An area of exposed aggregate concrete that will be used for a heavier load such as a vehicle will require a thicker pour.

Steel reinforcement provides added strength to your exposed aggregate concrete. Talk to us about options for reinforcing your concrete.

Generally speaking, you can expect your exposed aggregate to be comfortable to walk on. Of course, comfort is subjective. If you are installing exposed aggregate in an area that you expect frequent use by barefooted persons such as pool surrounds, particularly by children who may be more inclined to be bothered by the bumps of the exposed stones on the surface of the concrete, there are a couple of options to consider.

You may choose a lighter exposure of the aggregate. You may also enquire as to the properties of the different aggregates used to determine if some provide a smoother finish. As the stones used in the concrete as aggregate are natural products, each possess unique and defining characteristics.

Additionally, you may choose to have the area honed, meaning you can maintain the appearance of the exposed stone aggregates while grinding the aggregates to a smooth finish that is more comfortable under foot- just be sure to seal your concrete around your pool area for safety, as well as protecting your concrete.

Exposed aggregate concrete surfaces, just like standard concrete, can become hot to walk on when temperatures soar if in an area that receives full sun.

Exposed aggregate creates a low maintenance area. Sealing your concrete will ensure the long levity of your exposed aggregate. To clean, simply hose your concrete periodically. If required, use a stiff bristled broom to dislodge dirt that may have gathered around the aggregate as you hose.

The level of exposure can be controlled; light exposure reveals a few stones in the surface while heavy exposure creates a more coarse effect with more stones protruding from the surface.

The natural stone aggregate is a raw material and therefore some variation can occur from batch to batch and such variations can influence the overall colour and appearance of your finished project. If you are having exposed aggregate poured to a large area, talk to us about what you can expect, and what Perth Trade Centre can do to make sure you are happy with your finished product.

Yes. You can separate areas of exposed aggregate with areas or even slim lines of paving. Paving can be used to subtly hide control joints in your concrete, or create contrast in colour and texture for an aesthetically appealing finish.

Yes. As well as combining different surfaces such as exposed aggregate and paving, you can choose to contrast different exposed aggregate colours beside each other in one area to form a pattern or a feature.

Depending on what your existing surface is, you may need to consider drainage prior to installing concrete. As well as water run off, including drainage and soakwells, consider future proofing your design in case you may later wish to run pipes or wires under your exposed aggregate slab for reticulation or garden lighting. We can install drainage and soakwells, as well as installing a PVC pipe under your concrete for future plans.

Perth Trade Centre FaviconOur Blog Posts

You can find loads of extra information and pictures for exposed aggregate from our related blog posts. See some of our posts below for trade insight on exposed aggregate concrete.

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