Exposed Aggregate Rockhampton

The look of an exposed aggregate finish comes down to three things: the type and colour of stone, the size of that stone, and how far back the surface is washed (the 'exposure'). A light wash leaves just the tops of the stones showing for a subtle, finer finish; a deeper wash reveals more of each stone for a chunkier, more textured look.

You are not locked into grey. Blends range from warm golds, browns and reds that suit Queensland brick and rendered homes, through to cool greys, charcoals and black-and-white salt-and-pepper mixes for a more modern feel. We will bring options and talk you through what suits your home, your block and how much foot traffic the area gets.

A finish has to earn its place in the CQ climate, and exposed aggregate does. The textured surface gives natural slip resistance, which matters around pools, on sloped driveways and on paths that cop the wet-season rain. The same texture and the busy, speckled pattern hide the everyday marks — tyre scuffs, dropped leaves, the odd stain — that show up badly on plain or coloured concrete.

It is also genuinely low maintenance. There are no joints for weeds or ants to colonise the way they do between pavers, nothing to lift or rock loose over time, and once it is sealed it stays looking sharp with very little effort. For a surface that lives outdoors in our sun and humidity year after year, that durability is hard to beat.

Sealing is what keeps exposed aggregate looking its best. A good penetrating or coating sealer locks in the colour of the stone, stops the surface drinking up oil and stains, and makes the slab far easier to hose down. Without a seal the finish still performs, but the colours look flatter and stains grab on more easily — so we always recommend sealing as part of the job.

Sealer is not forever. In the CQ sun, you can expect to refresh a sealer every few years depending on the product and how much traffic and weather the area gets. Day to day, exposed aggregate looks after itself: a regular hose-down keeps it clean, and an occasional wash with a stiff broom and mild detergent lifts anything stubborn. We will leave you with clear care advice for your finish.

Exposed aggregate is a timing-sensitive finish — the wash-back has to happen in the right window once the slab has set just enough, so the whole job is planned carefully from the first visit. Here is how a typical exposed aggregate job runs with us, from the first phone call through to the day we sweep up and hand it over.

We keep you in the loop at each step, and because the seeding and washing are the part that makes or breaks the finish, we never rush them to beat the clock. If the weather or the slab is not right on the day, we make the call to protect the result rather than push on.

Exposed aggregate punishes shortcuts — uneven seeding, a wash done too early or too late, or sloppy falls all show up permanently in a finish you have to look at every day. That is why the craft and the crew matter as much as the materials. We are QBCC licensed and fully insured, we work to Australian Standards on base prep, reinforcement and concrete, and our crew has laid and washed enough aggregate across Rockhampton and the Coast to read the slab and the weather on the day.

We treat your place with respect from start to finish: boards down where they are needed, edges and gardens protected, and the site left tidy each day rather than turned into a building zone for a week. Good decorative concrete is as much about discipline and care as it is about the mix in the truck.

You should never have to guess what an exposed aggregate job will cost. After we have seen the site and you have chosen your stone blend, we give you a clear, itemised written quote — the area, the prep, the decorative stone, the seal and any extras all laid out so you can see exactly what you are paying for. The price we quote is the price you pay; we do not pad the bill with surprise variations once the truck has left.

We will also give you honest advice up front — whether seeded or through-mix is the smarter spend for your job, which exposure and stone size will wear best, and what the sealing and upkeep will realistically involve down the track. If something on site genuinely changes the scope, we talk to you and agree it before we do the work, not after.