Exposed Aggregate Concrete In Frankston

Exposed Aggregate Concrete Experts

Concrete driveways, slabs and decorative finishes built for Frankston's bayside sand and the northern Mornington Peninsula. Fully insured, with fixed itemised on-site quotes.

Exposed aggregate is the most popular decorative concrete finish around Frankston and the Peninsula, and for good reason: it looks the part, it grips underfoot, and it wears far better than a smooth slab. Peak Concreting Frankston lays exposed aggregate driveways, paths, pool surrounds and alfresco areas, washing back the surface to reveal the natural stone in the mix for a textured, hard-wearing finish. Steve has been laying it across the area for over twelve years, so he knows how to get the reveal even, how to time the wash so the stone sits proud without loosening, and how to seal it so the colour stays rich and stands up to the coastal salt air. The finish is only as good as the slab beneath it, so every job is built on a properly compacted base with steel reinforcement and control joints, poured to sound concreting practice. You get a fixed written quote before work starts, a choice of stone colours and blends shown on site, and a surface built to last. Call Steve on 0485 032 128 for a free quote.

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0485 032 128

Peak Concreting Frankston

What exposed aggregate concrete is and where it works

Exposed aggregate is a decorative finish rather than a different kind of concrete: the top layer of cement paste is washed away while the slab is still curing to reveal the stones, or aggregate, within the mix. The result is a textured, speckled surface with real depth of colour, and because the stone itself forms the wearing surface it is naturally non-slip and extremely hard-wearing. That combination of looks and durability is why it is the most requested decorative finish across Frankston and the Peninsula. It suits driveways beautifully, where the grip and the way it hides tyre marks and oil spots earn their keep, and it is equally at home on paths, front entrances, alfresco and entertaining areas, and especially as a pool surround, where a cooler, slip-resistant surface around the water matters, something plenty of bayside and Peninsula homes want. The look is set by the stone: you can choose from warm golden and honey tones, cooler greys and charcoals for a modern build, or crisp white and quartz blends for a lighter, coastal feel that suits homes near the bay. The size of the stone changes the character too, from a fine, subtle scatter to a chunkier, more pronounced pebble finish. Steve brings sample boards to your quote so you can hold the blends against your home in the coastal light before you commit, rather than choosing from a brochure.

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Peak Concreting Frankston

How we get an even, long-lasting exposed finish

Getting exposed aggregate right is all about preparation, timing and consistency, which is where experience earns its money. There are two ways to get the stone into the surface: a through-mix, where the decorative aggregate is batched right through the concrete, and a seeded finish, where the stone is scattered onto the surface of a freshly poured slab and floated in. We choose the method to suit the finish you want and the job, and either way the slab underneath is built properly first, with a compacted crushed-rock base, steel mesh reinforcement, the correct thickness and control joints, because a decorative finish on a poorly built slab still cracks. Once the concrete is placed and finished, the critical step is the wash, or reveal. Time it too early and the stones loosen and pop out; leave it too late and the paste has set too hard to wash back cleanly. Judging that window comes down to reading the concrete on the day, allowing for the weather, because a hot, drying northerly sets a slab far quicker than a cool, overcast day off the bay. We wash back evenly across the whole area so there are no patchy spots where the stone is buried in one place and stripped bare in another, which is the tell-tale sign of a rushed job. Finally we let it cure and then apply a quality sealer, which locks the surface, deepens the colour, makes the finish much easier to clean and helps it resist the salt air near the coast. Done this way, the finish stays consistent and holds up for decades with only occasional resealing.

Peak Concreting Frankston

Why Frankston chooses Peak Concreting for exposed aggregate

Exposed aggregate is a finish where the difference between a good job and a poor one is obvious the moment it is washed off, so it pays to use someone who does it regularly. Steve has been laying exposed aggregate across Frankston, Seaford, Langwarrin, Mornington and Mount Eliza for over twelve years, and he pours and finishes every job himself rather than handing it to a subcontractor. That matters most at the wash stage, where reading the concrete and getting the reveal even across the whole area is the whole game. Working locally, he knows how the coastal climate affects the pour, from the fast set on a hot, windy day to the slower cure in cooler bayside conditions, and he plans the timing around it. He also knows the salt-laden air near the coast makes a good sealer more important here than inland, and advises accordingly. You get honest guidance on which stone blend suits your home and how it will weather, a fixed written quote with the sealing included so there are no surprises, and a clean site at the end. We are fully insured and we build the slab beneath the finish to the same standard as any structural pour. For most customers it is the consistency of the finish and the straight dealing that lead them to recommend us, and a lot of our exposed aggregate work comes from neighbours who saw the last job.

Peak Concreting Frankston

What exposed aggregate concrete costs in Frankston

Exposed aggregate is priced by the square metre and sits above plain concrete because there is more in it: the decorative stone, the extra labour in seeding and washing back, and the sealing. As an indicative guide for the Frankston and Peninsula area, exposed aggregate typically runs from around $100 to $150 per square metre supplied, laid and sealed, though the figure moves with the stone you choose, the size of the area and the site. A premium imported stone or a white quartz blend costs more than a standard aggregate, and a small, awkward area works out dearer per square metre than a large open driveway because the set-up and wash time is spread over less ground. On top of the finish itself, the price reflects the usual slab factors: excavation, the depth and quality of the base, slab thickness for the traffic it will carry, drainage, site access, and whether an old surface has to be removed first. Because those variables change from job to job, a headline rate only takes you so far. Steve measures up on site, confirms the stone and finish you want, and gives you a fixed written quote that includes the sealing, so the number you are quoted is the number you pay. If you are weighing exposed aggregate against a plain or coloured finish, he will talk you through the cost difference honestly. Call 0485 032 128 for a free measure and quote.

Peak Concreting Frankston

Exposed aggregate compared with plain, coloured and honed concrete

It helps to see where exposed aggregate sits against the other finishes so you can pick the one that suits your priorities. Against plain or broom-finished concrete, exposed aggregate costs more but gives you far more grip, hides marks and stains better, and lifts the look of a driveway, entertaining area or pool surround considerably, which is why many people happily pay the difference for the front of the house or around the pool. Against coloured concrete, the two are closer in price, and the choice comes down to style: coloured concrete gives a smooth, uniform tint through the whole slab for a clean, contemporary look, while exposed aggregate gives natural texture and a speckled, stone finish that hides wear and weathering better over time, which counts near the coast. Against honed concrete, which is mechanically ground back to a smoother, more refined surface, exposed aggregate is more textured, more slip-resistant and generally more forgiving underfoot and to maintain, whereas honed gives a sleeker appearance but can be slippery when wet and shows marks more readily. The one honest downside of exposed aggregate is that the textured surface takes a little more effort to sweep and hose clean than a smooth finish, and it benefits from resealing every few years to keep it looking its best, especially in the coastal environment. As a rule, choose exposed aggregate when you want durable grip and a natural look, coloured when you want a smooth uniform colour, and honed when a refined finish is the priority. Steve will show you samples of each on site.

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Polished Concrete in Frankston

Ground and polished concrete floors for Frankston homes and businesses, from a subtle cream finish to full aggregate and matte to high-gloss, hard-wearing and easy to clean. Fixed written quotes and an even, consistent finish.

Honed Concrete in Frankston

Honed concrete driveways, pool surrounds and alfresco areas across Frankston, mechanically ground to a smooth matte finish that looks like polished concrete but keeps its grip outdoors. Fixed written quotes and an even finish.

Concrete Sealing in Frankston

Sealing for Frankston driveways, paths, exposed aggregate and decorative concrete, using the right sealer applied over a prepared surface to resist oil, stains, water, salt air and fading. Fixed written quotes and honest resealing advice.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Exposed Aggregate Concrete Customers Say About Us

The Process

3 Step Process For Your Exposed Aggregate Concrete Needs

Free Quote

Call Steve to describe the job. He comes out to measure up, check the ground and access, and gives you a fixed written price.

We Prepare

We excavate, compact the base, set formwork and steel mesh, then pour and finish your concrete to the finish you have chosen.

Finish Up

We cut control joints, cure the slab properly, strip the formwork and clean the site, leaving a durable finish built to last.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete In Frankston

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about our Exposed Aggregate Concrete In Frankston

What are the disadvantages of exposed aggregate concrete?

Exposed aggregate is a great finish, but it is fair to know the trade-offs. The textured surface takes a little more effort to sweep and hose clean than a smooth slab, because grit and leaves can catch in the stone. It also benefits from resealing every few years to keep the colour rich and the surface easy to clean, which matters more near the coast where salt air is a factor. It costs more up front than plain concrete because of the decorative stone and the extra labour. And the quality depends heavily on the finisher getting the reveal even, which is why it pays to use someone experienced. For most people the durability and looks outweigh these points. Call 0485 032 128.

Is exposed aggregate cheaper than plain concrete?

No, exposed aggregate costs more than a plain or broom finish, because there is more in the job. You are paying for the decorative stone in the mix, the extra labour involved in seeding and washing back the surface at the right time, and a quality sealer over the top. As an indicative guide it typically runs from around $100 to $150 per square metre in the Frankston area, against roughly $65 to $90 for plain. What you get for the difference is a tougher, non-slip, better-looking surface that hides wear. Call 0485 032 128 for a fixed quote on your job.

What kind of concrete do you use for exposed aggregate?

Exposed aggregate uses a standard structural concrete mix with a decorative aggregate, or stone, either batched right through the mix or seeded onto the surface of the fresh pour. The stone is the visible finish, so the choice of aggregate, its colour and its size set the look. The slab itself is still built and reinforced like any other concrete slab, with a compacted base, steel mesh and control joints, because the finish is only as good as what is underneath it. Steve will talk you through the stone options and bring samples to your quote so you can choose the blend. Call 0485 032 128.

How much does exposed aggregate concrete cost per square metre?

As an indicative guide for the Frankston and Peninsula area, exposed aggregate typically runs from around $100 to $150 per square metre supplied, laid and sealed. The exact rate depends on the stone you choose, since premium and white quartz blends cost more than standard aggregates, the size and shape of the area, site access, and how much excavation and base preparation the site needs. A small, awkward area works out dearer per square metre than a large open driveway. Steve measures up on site and gives you a fixed written quote with the sealing included. Ring 0485 032 128 to arrange it.

How do I keep my exposed aggregate looking good?

Exposed aggregate is low maintenance, but a little care keeps it looking its best. Sweep or blow off leaves and grit regularly so they do not stain the surface, and give it a hose down or a gentle pressure wash when it needs it. The main thing is resealing every few years, which restores the colour, protects against oil and stains, and helps the surface resist the salt air near the coast. Avoid harsh acids and heavy solvents, which can damage the sealer and the stone. When it is time to reseal, we can take care of it as part of our concrete sealing service. Call 0485 032 128.

Can you lay exposed aggregate around a pool?

Yes, exposed aggregate is a popular choice for pool surrounds around Frankston and the Peninsula because the textured surface is naturally non-slip when wet and the stone finish tends to stay cooler underfoot than a dark smooth slab. We build the surround with the correct falls so water drains away from the pool and the house rather than pooling, set control joints to manage movement, and seal the finish to protect it from pool chemicals and salt air and make it easy to clean. Steve will help you choose a stone colour that suits the pool and the house. Call 0485 032 128 for a quote.