Darwin Exposed Aggregate Contractors
Call 08 7943 6030Exposed Aggregate in Darwin
Exposed aggregate concrete in Darwin combines natural beauty with outstanding strength and slip resistance. We install exposed aggregate in Darwin for driveways, paths, patios, pool surrounds and entrances, revealing the attractive stones within the concrete for a textured, high-end finish. It is one of the most popular choices for Top End homes.
Our team carefully selects aggregate and colour options, then pours and finishes the surface at precisely the right time to achieve an even, professional result. Sealing brings out the colour of the stones and protects against stains and wear. Exposed aggregate is durable, cool underfoot and very low maintenance. Call us today to arrange a free quote for exposed aggregate in Darwin.
Our Exposed Aggregate Work Around Darwin
Exposed Aggregate Driveways
We pour your whole driveway in exposed aggregate, from the garage right down to the kerb, as one seamless finish. If you like, we can add plain or coloured bands along the edges and joints, which gives the drive a crisp outline where it meets the footpath.
Outdoor Living and Alfresco Slabs
For the area off your kitchen or back deck, we use a finer stone that looks great under outdoor furniture and the barbecue. It works under a patio roof or out in the open, and sits nicely alongside timber decking, tiles and garden edging.
Feature Borders and Bands
Smooth or honed strips around the edges, through the centre or along the joints help break up a big aggregate area and frame it. You can match a border to your roof or render colour, and it gives the slab a clean line against your lawn and gardens.
Honed Aggregate Surfaces
Prefer something flatter underfoot? Once the slab has cured, we grind the top back to cut through the stones and reveal their cross-section. Honed aggregate suits covered patios, entries and alfresco spaces where you want the stone colours on show with a smoother feel.
Garden Paths and Side Passages
We can carry the same finish onto your garden paths, side access and the track to the clothesline, so your whole yard ties together. Narrow side runs are placed and washed off by hand, which works well in tight spots between fences and walls.
Unit Complexes and Commercial Paving
We lay aggregate paving for unit blocks, shopfronts, car parks and community spaces that need a tough surface that still looks smart. We stage the job around residents and customers, so there is always a way in while each section goes down and cures.
Getting Your Exposed Aggregate Started in Darwin: Three Simple Steps
Choosing the stone is the best bit. River pebble, crushed granite or a mix with coloured flecks can all look fantastic, and we are happy to help you narrow it down.
- See our finished work: Ask us for photos of driveways we have completed around Darwin and Palmerston, so you can see how the stone colours look in bright Top End sun.
- Show us your home: A photo of your house and existing driveway lets us suggest a stone blend that works with your roof, render or timber.
- Send an online enquiry: Pop the rough size and your suburb into the form next to this section, and we will come back to you with a free quote.
Exposed aggregate suits Darwin well. The texture gives you better footing when the wet-season rain comes down, and it hides dirt and fallen leaves. We schedule your pour around the weather so the stone is revealed at exactly the right moment. Get in touch and let us help you pick your stone.
Why Darwin Homeowners Choose Us for Exposed Aggregate
Retarder Timing We Watch Closely
Right after finishing, we spray on a surface retarder that slows the top layer while the rest of the slab sets. Darwin's heat makes that window short, so we keep a close eye on it and wash off as soon as the stone releases cleanly.
A Full Crew On Pour Day
The stone needs to be exposed evenly across the whole slab, because patchy spots stand out once it dries. We bring enough people to wash every section at the right moment, so no part dries ahead of the rest.
The Right Mix For Good Coverage
For a great finish you need plenty of stone near the surface. We order a mix designed for exposure and check it as it goes down, so you do not end up with bare, paste-heavy patches once the stone is revealed.
Joints That Fit The Design
Control joints are a must, but they should not look random. We line them up with your house, garage door and paths, or hide them in smooth borders, so the finished slab looks planned from the start.
Solid Base Under The Finish
Under all that stone, it still has to carry cars. We set the dig depth, compaction, reinforcement and thickness to suit your ground, whether that is Darwin ironstone gravel, sandy loam or softer clay, and the vehicles you drive.
Clean Edges And A Tidy Site
Where your slab meets lawn, garden beds or the house, we form neat, straight edges. We also keep wash-off water and slurry out of your gardens and the stormwater drains, and leave the site clean when we are done.
Recent Concrete Jobs Around Darwin
Your Exposed Aggregate Questions
The questions Darwin homeowners ask us most about exposed aggregate: why it suits the Top End, how it feels underfoot, keeping it clean, resealing and matching an older surface.
Because it solves a few Top End problems at once. The stones sitting just above the surface give shoes and tyres extra grip, which you will appreciate on a sloping crossover in a wet-season downpour or in shady spots where algae builds up. The texture also hides dust, leaves and tyre marks, so your driveway looks tidy for longer between cleans. With a good sealer, it handles intense UV, heavy rain and months of humidity well. It does cost more than a plain broom finish, but most of our clients feel the look and extra grip are worth it, especially where a smooth slab would be slippery when wet.
That comes down to stone size and how deep we wash the surface back. Small, rounded pebbles with a light exposure feel good underfoot, so we often recommend them for pool surrounds and patios. Larger feature stones with a deeper exposure give the most grip but feel rougher, so they are better on a driveway than where the kids play barefoot. Smooth river pebbles are also kinder to feet than sharp crushed rock of the same size. Let us know how you use each area, and we will suggest the right stone and exposure for each one rather than one spec everywhere.
Day to day, a broom and the garden hose will handle most of it. The texture does hold a bit more dirt than smooth concrete, and in damp, shaded spots like under trees or along a side fence, you may see mould, moss or algae creep in, especially through the wet and build-up. Treat the growth first, then pressure wash on a moderate setting, and it usually comes up well. Keep the nozzle moving and do not hold it close on one spot, as that can loosen stones and strip the sealer. A heavy clean also removes some sealer, so plan to reseal afterwards.
Up here, most surfaces need a reseal roughly every three to five years, but sun and traffic make a big difference. A driveway in full afternoon sun with cars on it every day wears through its sealer much faster than a covered path. You will see the signs: the stones lose their rich colour and look chalky, and water soaks in rather than beading on top. Missing a reseal will not weaken the concrete, but the surface dulls, stains set in more easily and mould takes hold faster. Resealing on time keeps it looking close to new.
We can usually get close if the original stone is still available, so it helps if you know what was used. Older areas are trickier, because weathering and a tired sealer dull the stone, so a new section will look brighter and crisper at first even with the same aggregate. You should expect to see the join for the first year or two until both areas weather in together. If a close match is important to you, sealing the old and new sections together at the end helps blend them. We can also make up a sample next to your existing surface so you can compare before we pour.
Other services you might need
Planning an aggregate driveway or patio?
Tell us the rough size and we will bring stone samples so you can compare them at your place.