Exposed aggregate concrete in Adelaide
Adelaide's exposed aggregate specialists for driveways, paths & alfrescos
The finish we're asked for most, and the one we've poured hundreds of times across Adelaide. Grippy in the wet, hides tyre marks and dirt, and still looks new a decade on. Free on-site quote, with stone and colour samples brought to your door.
Exposed aggregate came up beautifully. On time, tidy, and exactly the colour we picked from the sample.
The only quote that explained how they'd deal with the fall and the clay. Poured, cut and sealed in under a week.
Turned up when they said they would, poured the patio in a day, and cleaned the street down before they left.
Charcoal exposed aggregate driveway, Burnside. Inset: the finish up close.
Why exposed aggregate
The finish Adelaide asks for by name
Plain grey concrete does a job. Exposed aggregate does the same job and looks like it belongs to the house.
Grips in the wet
Real texture underfoot and under tyres. The safe choice for a sloping driveway, the front steps and anywhere near a pool.
Hides the marks
Tyre marks, dust, leaf stains and the odd oil drip disappear into the pattern. Plain grey shows all of it.
Lasts for decades
The stone is harder than the concrete around it, so the surface never wears smooth. Reseal every few years and it outlasts the car.
Matches the house
Charcoal for a render, sandstone for a villa, coastal white by the beach. We bring the samples to you.
Recent jobs
Exposed aggregate, poured across Adelaide
A few of the driveways, paths and alfrescos we've poured lately. Use the arrows to flick through, or tap the middle card to see it up close.
What you get
One quote. Everything included.
No allowances, no "subject to site conditions", no surprise invoice for the skip bin. The quote covers the lot:
- A free on-site measure and quote, with a written scope.
- Stone and colour samples brought to you, so you choose from the real thing.
- Removal and disposal of the old concrete, pavers or lawn.
- Excavation, a compacted rubble base, formwork set to the correct fall, SL72 mesh.
- Wash-off, acid wash and sealing, with a non-slip additive where the job needs it.
- Council crossover permits handled, site swept and hosed, and a workmanship guarantee.
Fully licensed and covered by public liability insurance. Certificates come through with your quote.
Book a free measure and quote
Verified Google review
“We had three quotes and these guys were the only ones who explained how they'd deal with the fall and the clay. The drive was poured, cut and sealed in under a week, and it still looks like the day they left. Every neighbour on the street has asked who did it.”
The job explained
What is exposed aggregate concrete?
Exposed aggregate is ordinary concrete with one extra step. The mix is poured with decorative stone in it, and before it fully hardens the thin layer of cement on top is washed away so the stone sits proud of the surface. The colour and character come from the stone itself, not from a coating that can wear off.
That texture is the whole point. It grips underfoot in the wet, it hides the tyre marks, dust and leaf stains that show on plain grey, and because the stone is harder than the concrete around it, the surface doesn't wear smooth with traffic. In Adelaide it's the finish we pour more than any other.
Where it doesn't suit
Inside a garage or shed a plain or honed slab is easier to sweep. And if you want a flat, seamless, contemporary look, honed concrete is the better finish. We'll tell you straight when it isn't the right pick.
At a glance
- Slab thickness
- 100 mm125 to 150 mm under heavy vehicles
- Reinforcement
- SL72 meshSL82 where trucks or caravans park
- Concrete strength
- 25 to 32 MPasupplier-batched decorative mix
- Stone size
- 7 to 14 mm10 mm is the most popular
- Walk on it
- 24 to 48 hrsafter the pour
- Park on it
- 7 daysheavy vehicles after 28
- Reseal
- 3 to 5 yearsbetween coats, one afternoon each
- Lifespan
- 30+ yearswith the base and joints done right
How we do it
From quote to sealed slab in about a week
Most of what makes an exposed aggregate driveway last is under the surface, and most of what makes it look good happens the morning after the pour.
Measure and quote
We come out, measure up and talk through fall, drainage and access. You get a written quote and scope, usually within a day or two.
Choose your stone
Sealed samples of the base colours and stone blends we pour, brought to your door. You choose from the real thing, not a brochure.
Break out and prep
Old concrete out and carted away, excavate to depth, then a compacted rubble base and formwork set to the fall we planned.
Reinforce and pour
SL72 mesh on chairs, a supplier-batched decorative mix, screeded and floated, then a surface retarder sprayed over the top.
Wash off and cut
Next morning we pressure-wash the surface cream away to expose the stone evenly, then saw-cut the control joints.
Seal and hand over
A light acid wash, then the sealer once the slab has dried. Walk on it after 24 to 48 hours, park on it after seven days.
Stone and colour
Pick the blend that suits the house
The colour comes from two things: the base, which can be oxide-coloured, and the stone, which is crushed rock or river pebble. These are the blends we pour most.
Charcoal
Dark base with black and grey stone. The pick for modern homes, and the best at hiding tyre marks.
Natural grey
Mixed grey river pebble in a mid-grey base. The classic Adelaide driveway, and it suits any house.
Oatmeal
Warm beige base with black and cream fleck. Hides dust and leaf stains, cooler than the dark mixes.
Cream and sandstone
Sandy base with tan and honey stone. Suits limestone, sandstone and rendered homes. Coolest underfoot.
Coastal white
Pale base with white quartz and pale pebble. Bright and beachy, made for weatherboard and Hamptons homes.
Rustic red
Earthy base with red, brown and black stone. Made for brick villas and bungalows in the older suburbs.
The names are ours, not a supplier's. Real mixes vary by quarry and by batch, which is exactly why we bring sealed samples to the quote rather than a colour chart.
Where it works
The same finish, sized and sealed for the job
Driveways and crossovers
Grip on the slope, marks hidden, and poured to council spec across the crossover.
Paths and entries
Side paths, front walkways and porches, in a fine 7 to 10 mm stone.
Alfresco and patios
Outdoor living areas that match the house. Lighter blends stay cooler.
Pool surrounds
Non-slip by nature. Pale stone, a light exposure and a non-slip sealer.
Steps and porches
Formed steps in the same finish as the path, safe in the wet.
Small commercial
Cafe frontages, showrooms and unit driveways that cope with daily traffic.
How it compares
Exposed aggregate vs honed, plain concrete and pavers
How the common driveway and path surfaces stack up. For the long version, read Exposed Aggregate vs Honed Concrete: Which Suits Your Adelaide Home?.
| Feature | Exposed aggregate | Honed concrete | Plain grey concrete | Pavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Natural stone texture in dozens of blends | Smooth, low-sheen, polished look | Flat grey, broom or trowel finish | Modular, with pattern and joint lines |
| Grip when wet | Excellent | Good with a non-slip sealer | Good when broomed | Varies by paver |
| Hides marks and dirt | Excellent | Fair | Poor | Good |
| Maintenance | Reseal every 3 to 5 years | Reseal every 2 to 3 years | Minimal | Weeds and sand in the joints, re-levelling |
| Weeds and movement | None, it is one slab | None, it is one slab | None | Joints weed up, pavers sink and rock |
| Heat underfoot | Depends on the colour | Depends on the colour | Moderate | Depends on the material |
| Best for | Driveways, paths, alfresco, pools | Entries, alfresco, modern facades | Sheds, slabs, utility paths | Patios and feature areas |
Built for Adelaide
Exposed aggregate that copes with Adelaide's clay, heat and coast
Reactive clay through the eastern and northern suburbs moves with the seasons. We pour thicker where it counts, set the mesh properly and saw-cut the joints at tight centres, so the movement shows up as a neat line, not a crack.
Adelaide summers cook a dark driveway. If you'll be barefoot on it, we'll steer you to an oatmeal or sandstone blend with lighter stone, and show you the difference in the samples.
Coastal sand from Semaphore to Seaford needs a different base and compaction to get right, and salt air is hard on sealer. We plan for both before we pour.
FAQ
Exposed Aggregate questions, answered
What is exposed aggregate concrete?
Exposed aggregate is concrete poured with decorative stone in the mix, then washed back before it fully hardens so the stone sits proud of the surface. The colour and texture come from the stone itself rather than a coating, which is why it grips in the wet, hides marks and doesn't wear smooth.
Is exposed aggregate slippery when wet?
No. The exposed stone gives it more grip than a smooth or honed finish, which is why it's the standard choice for sloping driveways and pool surrounds. The one thing to watch is the sealer: a heavy gloss coat can get slick, so on slopes, steps and around pools we add a non-slip grit to the sealer.
Does exposed aggregate get hot in summer?
Dark charcoal blends do, the same as any dark surface in an Adelaide summer. If you'll be walking on it barefoot, choose a lighter base with cream, white or sandstone stone, which stays noticeably cooler. We'll show you both in the samples.
How long does exposed aggregate last?
Thirty years or more when the base, thickness, mesh and joints are done properly. The finish itself doesn't wear out, because the stone is harder than the concrete around it. The sealer is the only part that needs attention, roughly every three to five years.
How do I clean and look after exposed aggregate?
Hose it down, and use a stiff broom and a mild detergent for dirt or leaf stains. A pressure washer on a low setting is fine. Reseal every three to five years, sooner on a driveway that gets a lot of sun. Avoid harsh acids, and lift oil drips early with a degreaser made for concrete.
Can you lay exposed aggregate over my existing concrete?
Rarely, and not for a driveway. An overlay is thin, so it can't take vehicle loads, and it will crack wherever the old slab does. We break out the old concrete, re-prep the base and pour a proper slab that lasts decades.
Will the finished colour match the sample?
Closely, but not identically. Stone is a natural product and varies from batch to batch, and the sealer deepens the colour slightly. We order the whole job from one supplier and one batch, and we show you a sealed sample so you're seeing the real end result.
How long does an exposed aggregate driveway take?
Three to five working days on site: a day to break out and prep, a day to pour, the wash-off and saw cuts the next morning, then sealing once the slab has dried. You can walk on it after 24 to 48 hours and park on it after seven days.
Do I need council approval for a new driveway?
Only if the job touches the crossover, the section between your boundary and the road. That needs a permit from your council, and some councils inspect the pour. We prepare the paperwork, book it in and pour to their specification so it passes first time.
Exposed aggregate or honed concrete, which should I choose?
Exposed aggregate grips better and hides marks better, so it wins for driveways, paths and pool surrounds. Honed is smoother and more of a feature finish, better suited to entries, alfresco areas and modern facades. We pour both and bring samples of each, so you can compare them side by side.
Related reading
Before you decide
Exposed Aggregate vs Honed Concrete: Which Suits Your Adelaide Home?
Two finishes, two very different jobs. How they're made, how they handle heat and wet feet, and which one we'd pick for your driveway.
Read moreWhy Concrete Cracks on Adelaide's Clay Soils, and How We Prevent It
Reactive clay moves with the seasons. Base prep, slab thickness, mesh and saw-cut control joints are what decide whether that movement shows.
Read moreOther finishes and services
Honed Concrete
Ground and polished to a smooth, low-sheen finish.
Concrete Driveways
Old drive out, new drive poured, cut and sealed.
Concrete Slabs
Shed, garage, granny flat and house slabs.
Paths & Walkways
Side paths, footpaths and entry walkways.
Pool Surrounds
Non-slip finishes for pools and alfresco areas.
Ready when you are
Ready for a driveway the whole street notices?
Tell us about the job and we'll come out, measure up and bring the samples. A written quote, usually within a couple of days. No pressure and no obligation.