Exposed aggregate concrete in Traralgon

Exposed aggregate concrete is ordinary concrete with the top layer of cement paste washed away so the stones show, and a national cost guide puts it at about $120 to $200 per sqm once laid, against $75 to $150 per sqm for a plain slab. Owners in Traralgon choose it for driveways and outdoor areas because it hides tyre marks and dirt better than plain grey and gives good grip on a slope. Your enquiry goes to an independent concreter who decides whether to quote and carries out any work under their own contract with you.

Why choose exposed aggregate over plain concrete?

The finish suits people who want concrete that still looks tidy after years of use:

• Tyre marks, leaf stains and red clay tracked in from a building site show less than on plain grey.
• The stone surface gives better grip than a steel trowelled finish.
• Colour comes from the stone, so it does not fade the way a surface colour coat can.
• Stone blends come in browns, creams and greys, so the surface can be picked to sit with the brick or render of the house.

The trade-offs are cost, a rougher surface for bare feet, and the need to reseal it every few years to hold its look.

How is exposed aggregate made?

There are two common methods, and a provider should tell you which one they plan to use.

Method	How it works	Suits
Washed in a premix	A mix with decorative stone through it is poured, a surface retarder slows the top layer, and the paste is washed off the next day	Most driveways and large areas
Seeded	Plain concrete is poured and decorative stone is pressed into the surface before it sets	Smaller areas or a specific stone colour

The Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia datasheet on residential driveways and paths notes that the coarse aggregate needs to be specified in the mix order (size, type, texture and colour), and that exposed finishes on a steep driveway may need angular crushed stone instead of smooth rounded river stone for grip.

Choosing stone and colour

Ask to see a finished sample slab or a job you can drive past, because a small stone chip in a sample bag looks different once it is set in a grey matrix and sealed. Things to decide:

• Stone colour. Mixed browns and creams hide red clay dust; darker blends show pale dust.
• Stone size. Smaller stone is kinder to bare feet around a patio or pool.
• Cement colour. Grey, off white or a pigmented matrix changes the overall tone more than people expect.
• Borders. A plain or coloured border band along the edges can frame a driveway and cuts the area of decorative mix.

Sealing and slip resistance

Exposed aggregate is normally sealed after curing. The CCAA datasheet warns that non-penetrating sealers that form a film can reduce slip and skid resistance, and recommends penetrating or slip-resistant sealers for steeper grades. Sloping blocks on the Strzelecki Ranges side of the valley, such as parts of Churchill, are where this matters most. On a flat block, a film sealer gives a deeper wet look, but it will need recoating sooner.

Coloured or decorative concrete should not be cured under plastic sheeting, damp sand or wet hessian, because these can leave patchy colour. A chemical curing compound that works with the chosen sealer is the usual answer.

What the work involves

1. The provider confirms the area, levels and falls, and checks whether a crossing permit from Latrobe City is needed.
2. Old concrete or topsoil is removed and the base is compacted.
3. Forms, mesh on bar chairs and isolation joints go in.
4. The decorative mix is poured and finished, and a surface retarder is sprayed on.
5. The next day the surface paste is washed off with water to expose the stone.
6. Control joints are sawn, then the slab is cured.
7. Once dry, the surface is cleaned and sealed.

Timing matters at step 5. Washing too early pulls stones out; washing too late leaves a cement haze that is hard to remove.

Cost compared with other finishes

What you are pricing	National range
Exposed aggregate, per square metre laid	$120 to $200 per sqm
A whole exposed aggregate driveway	$4,800 to $9,000
Through-coloured concrete for comparison	$95 to $200 per sqm
Plain grey concrete for comparison	$75 to $150 per sqm

These are national figures from a cost guide verified in October 2026, not quotes for Traralgon. The cost guide for Traralgon concreting explains what moves a quote within these ranges.

What a careful provider will not do

• Promise a colour match to a neighbour’s driveway without a sample, since stone batches vary.
• Use a glossy film sealer on a steep driveway without discussing grip.
• Pour decorative concrete in heat or cold without precautions. The CCAA guidance is not to place concrete above 30 degrees or below 10 degrees air temperature without suitable precautions.
• Skip the isolation joint where the slab meets the house or garage.

Where exposed aggregate is common locally

If you are choosing a first driveway on a new Traralgon block, the concrete driveways page covers the base and joint details that apply to every finish. On older homes in Newborough and Churchill, replacing a cracked front path and porch landing in exposed aggregate is a smaller way to try the finish. For patios and side paths see paths, patios and outdoor areas.

What to do next

Decide which areas you want in exposed aggregate, note any borders or steps, and take a photo of a finish you like. Then ask for an exposed aggregate quote with your suburb and rough measurements, and a provider will confirm stone options and price on site.

Send a job enquiry