Finishes for Exposed Aggregate Concrete

An exposed aggregate finish can be any type of aggregate left exposed in the topmost or final surface of a concrete. There are various finishes you can use from ranging from stone, sand, pebble, and rocks.
There are several ways of creating an exposed aggregate concrete surface finish, and these include the following:

• Standard expose aggregate

This conventional method uses aggregate mixed into the concrete batch itself, so the surface aggregate will just be a placement of random aggregate materials that was originally mixed.

• Topping aggregate

If you want a bit more control over the surface aggregate, then this method will be ideal for you. Initially, a concrete slab is poured to fill and build the base surface, then a topping concrete with an average thickness of one and a half or two inches is poured on top of the slab. The topping can be filled with a fancy aggregate like pebble or marble to give you an ideal finish.

• Seeded aggregate

This method gives the most control over the surface aggregate because it requires placing or seeding the aggregate into the surface of the wet concrete. This gives a lot of control over the design of the finish, which for obvious reasons is much harder or labour intensive.

• Abrasive blasting

This is done by using an abrasive, usually sand, and is blasted at the surface of a hardened concrete. This method will give you a rough surface texture similar to that of sandpaper.

• Acid etching

This unconventional finish uses an acid solution like Muriatic Acid and water to hardened concrete surface and burns or etches through the cement portion of the concrete. The final result will look similar to that of a sandblasted finish.

• Concrete polishing or grinding

The top layer is removed through grinding, then a thin layer of cement is paste and cuts the aggregates to a smooth and uniform share, which often resemble a terrazzo. The surface can reach a high level of lustre through repeated grinding and polishing, but you can settle for a dull matte finish.
Overall, exposed aggregate has several advantages over other types and forms of concrete and paving. It also provides you a durable and beautiful finish unmatched by other types of concreting methods. Talk to our experts at Mornington Concreters for all your exposed aggregate projects, and we will provide you with an ideal quote.