Aggregate concrete is a popular surfacing solution that adds both beauty and value to homes. It offers all the durability of traditional concrete and comes in a wide range of styles, colours, and textures.
Traditionally, concreting Melbourne is smoothed to create a clean finish but this can be incredibly boring and doesn’t offer much grip. With exposed aggregate, the concrete is filled with small stones, pebbles, recycled glass or sea shells.
Aesthetics
Aesthetically, exposed aggregate concrete Melbourne is both beautiful and eye-catching. It’s a great choice for driveways and other high-traffic areas, as it’s highly durable and slip-resistant. It also comes in a range of colours and textures, making it easy to choose the look that suits your property. You can choose from crushed limestone, manufactured granite chips, or even coloured glass for an added touch of flair.
You can also select the size and colour of your aggregate, giving you a completely bespoke finish that will enhance the look and feel of your driveway or floor. It’s easy to install, and it doesn’t require as many specialised tools as some other types of concrete finishes. Plus, it’s easy to maintain—a quick sweep or hose down is all you need to keep your exposed aggregate concrete looking its best.
In terms of aesthetics, exposed aggregate concrete is a popular choice for homeowners across Melbourne. It’s an ideal option for high-traffic areas, and it adds style and value to your home. It’s also weather resistant and durable, making it a great choice for the Australian climate. Plus, it’s low maintenance and easy to clean, so you can enjoy your eye-catching new driveway or floor without spending too much time on upkeep.
Durability
When you choose exposed aggregate concrete for your driveway or patio, you are choosing a timeless surfacing solution. The wide range of colours and stoned textures available in this popular finish contrast beautifully with all styles of homes, whether they are weatherboard, rendered, or modern. Whether you’re looking to create a unique look for your home, add traction to slippery outdoor stairs or boost your property’s value in the future, this decorative form of concrete delivers all of this and more.
Exposed aggregate is a great option for driveways, patios, pool surrounds, and alfresco areas. The textured surface provides leading traction for vehicles and people, making it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas that require a durable and slip-resistant surface. The aggregate also helps to reduce the pressure on the concrete slab, making it more resilient to wear and tear over time.
Another way to enhance the durability of your concrete surface is to have it honed. In this process, the concrete is ground and treated with resin-bond diamonds to create a smooth and shiny appearance. The result is a highly resistant and stain-free concrete that can withstand the pressure of cars, trucks, and heavy foot traffic, year after year. With regular maintenance, this type of finish can last for up to 30 years. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, honed concrete is a cost-effective alternative to traditional polished concrete.
Traffic
Unlike concrete that is finished with a smooth trowelled or stippled surface, exposed aggregate concrete exposes the small stones and pebbles to which it owes its strength. As a result, it’s ideal for pathways and other high-traffic areas that require a hardwearing surface.
Exposed aggregate pathways can be made with a vast array of different colours, materials, and textures to help you achieve a unique look that complements the existing design elements of your property. The range of options available makes this style a popular choice for commercial projects as well as for residential driveways and outdoor paths.
In addition to the initial excavation, the ground must be prepared before concreting begins. This process involves tamping the soil to compact it. This is important as it will help ensure the surface is strong and durable.
Once the ground has been properly prepared, the concreter will start to form the base of your path. They will pour a concrete mix that includes a smaller amount of fine aggregates and a larger quantity of coarse aggregates, such as rounded ‘golden’ gravel.
Then they will spray on a retarder to keep the top layer of the concrete wet. Once the surface is dry, they will wash off the slurry to reveal the aggregates.
The aggregates can be left as they are, or the concreter can choose to leave some of the stone areas unexposed. Alternating the colour of the concrete in different areas is also an option. This is more expensive, but it adds a great deal of landscaping interest to large expanses of concrete.
Maintenance
Exposed aggregate concrete is a highly decorative choice that adds style and value to your home. This versatile and durable surface is suitable for a variety of applications, from driveways and footpaths to patios and swimming pool areas. The textured surface of this concrete provides anti-slip properties, making it ideal for walkways and pathways that are susceptible to moisture and wet conditions.
Exposed concrete is easy to clean, and a simple sweep or hose down will keep your new surface looking great. It is also low maintenance, meaning you can enjoy your beautiful paving for years to come without spending a fortune on upkeep.
The beauty of exposed aggregate is that it can be customised to suit any colour scheme or design aesthetic, from delicate pastel shades like pink and rose quartz to earthy hues such as sandy brown river stones, grey limestone, and black basalt. The coloured aggregate can be chosen to complement your existing landscaping, or you can choose to let nature take its course with a natural palette that will blend seamlessly into the surrounding bushland.
Aside from the decorative options, exposed aggregate is a highly functional choice for outdoor paving. The textured, dimpled surface offers excellent traction and is less slippery than smooth concrete, especially when sealed. However, it is important to choose a quality sealer that is compatible with your concrete type to ensure proper protection and long-term durability.
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