Most people who ring us about a new driveway have already narrowed it down to two options: plain concrete or exposed aggregate. Both are poured the same way, both last for decades when they are done properly, and both suit a North Brisbane home. The difference is in the finish, the feel underfoot, and the look out the front of the house. Here is how we help our customers decide between the two.
What the two finishes actually are
Plain concrete is a standard grey slab, floated and trowelled to a smooth or lightly broomed surface. It is the finish you picture when you think of a driveway. It can be left grey, or it can be coloured through the mix, or given a broom texture for grip.
Exposed aggregate starts as the same slab, but the top layer of cement is washed back while the concrete is still green. That reveals the small stones, or aggregate, sitting in the mix. The result is a textured, speckled surface with stone showing through. You choose the pebble colour and size up front, so the finished look is yours.
How they look
This is where most people make their choice. Plain concrete is clean and neutral. It does not compete with the house, and a coloured or broomed finish lifts it well beyond the bare grey slab. If you want the driveway to sit quietly and let the home do the talking, plain is hard to beat.
Exposed aggregate has more character. The stone gives it warmth and variation that a flat grey surface cannot match, and the colour can be matched to your brick, render or roof. It is the finish people point at when a driveway looks expensive from the street. If curb appeal is high on your list, this is usually the one we steer you towards.
Wear, grip and day-to-day living
Both finishes are built to handle cars, trailers and the weather. The practical difference is how they show wear. A plain grey driveway shows tyre marks, oil spots and general grime more plainly, because there is nothing to break up that flat surface. Exposed aggregate hides all of that. The stone texture scatters small marks so the surface keeps looking fresh for far longer between washes.
Grip is another point worth knowing. The textured stone surface of exposed aggregate gives good footing in the wet, which matters on a sloped Moreton Bay block. Plain concrete needs a broom finish to get the same grip, and a polished smooth finish can get slippery when it rains.
Cost and upkeep
Plain concrete is the more affordable of the two to lay, because there is less work in the finish. Exposed aggregate costs more, since washing back the surface and choosing the stone takes extra time and material. We are happy to price both for you so you can compare the real figures for your site, not a guess.
Upkeep is similar for both. A hose down keeps either surface clean, and both benefit from sealing every few years to hold the colour and shrug off oil. There is more on caring for an exposed aggregate finish in our guide to sealing and maintenance.
So which one should you choose?
If your budget is tight and you want a tidy, practical driveway, plain concrete with a coloured or broomed finish does the job and lasts. If you want the front of the house to stand out, and you do not mind paying a little more for it, exposed aggregate is the finish that delivers. There is no wrong answer. It comes down to the look you are after and what you want to spend.
We have been laying both since 1985, right across North Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region, and we are QBCC licensed (1096727). Take a look at our concrete driveways page for plain and coloured options, or our exposed aggregate concrete page to see the stone finishes up close. If you would rather just talk it through, ask the team of North Brisbane concreters and we will give you our honest read on what suits your home.
When you are ready, get a free, no-obligation quote and we will measure up and price both finishes side by side.
