Best Stones for Exposed Aggregate Concrete Finish for Driveways -

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What are the Best Stones for Exposed Aggregate Concrete Finish?

Granite and Quartz are the best stones for an exposed aggregate concrete finish for driveways. They score 6 – 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. A wide range of natural colored stones lets you create a visually appealing driveway too!

The criteria for selecting the best stone for an exposed aggregate concrete finish depends on whether it is for a driveway, a patio or pool deck.

A driveway needs to withstand tire abrasion whereas a patio or deck needs to be comfortable to walk on barefoot.

When choosing the best stones for an exposed aggregate concrete finish for a driveway you must consider the following factors and specifications:

Stone Aggregate Hardness

Hardness of the stone aggregate that will get exposed is of paramount importance for building a durable, skid resistant driveway. The exposed stone aggregates will be constantly abraded by car and truck tires, so they need to be really hard.

Granite and Quartz are hard. They do not abrade very easily.

Aggregates such as marble or limestone are relatively soft. They score only 3 – 4 on Mohs scale of hardness. They will not last very long as exposed aggregate on a driveway. With time, abrasion and weathering they will become smooth. The driveway will lose traction.

An important feature of an exposed aggregate concrete driveway is high skid resistance. There is no point spending so much money if the driveway is not skid resistant, a few years down the road.

Stone Aggregate Shape

Sharp, angular stones are more suitable for an exposed aggregate concrete driveway as they will provide higher traction. Sharper stones will hurt bare feet but then you usually do not walk barefoot on your driveway.

I would not recommend using sharp angular stones as exposed aggregate for a pool deck or a patio. You would like to walk on them barefoot without hurting your feet.

It is best to use round, smooth pebbles on patios & decks. They will have enough traction for foot traffic without hurting bare feet.

Stone Aggregate Size

Small to medium sized stones (¼” – ¾”) are best suited for an exposed aggregate concrete driveway. With low to medium exposure depth they will provide good traction and durability.

For patios & decks, medium to large stones are more suitable. Of course they must be round and smooth too!

Correct selection of the stone aggregate size affects the exposed aggregate concrete finish.

Stone Aggregate Color

Driveway color is a personal choice. For best aesthetics choose a driveway base color that compliments your house facade. Incorporate this in the concrete mix directly. The same or similar color can be added to the topical sealer as well.

Brown, beige and grays are quite popular as they are natural and muted. The color of the exposed stones should include some that match the base color and some that are in sharp contrast.

For example if the base driveway color is light or medium gray, the stones could be a mix of black, shades of gray and white.

Stone Aggregate Cost

The material cost is certainly an important factor in any project. The decision to install an exposed aggregate concrete driveway is already a commitment to spending significantly more than a standard concrete driveway or even a stamped concrete driveway.

Compromising on the stone aggregate to save money does not make much sense. After all, the stone is the star of the exposed aggregate driveway.

Granite and quartz are expensive but well worth the money in the long run. Do not choose a cheaper alternative such as basalt or limestone. You will end up compromising on the skid resistance and durability of the driveway.

Can You Save Stone Cost Without Cutting Quality?

Yes. It is possible to use less of the more expensive stones that will be exposed. The stones that are fully embedded in the concrete slab need not be as abrasion resistant as the stones that will be exposed.

There are 3 ways to incorporate the stone in the concrete, before the top layer is removed and the stones exposed.

Adding the stone aggregates to the concrete mix. This is the simplest as you the concrete ready mix producer can do it for you. This is also the costliest method as a large portion of the expensive stones are completely embedded in concrete and are never exposed.

Seed the stone aggregates on the surface. Only stones that will be exposed are seeded. Aggregates that are in the concrete mix can be the cheaper normal grade. It is ideal for small areas but quite impractical for a large driveway.
Add the stone aggregate into a thin topping. The topping thickness can be 1” – 2” which goes on a base slab which is 4” – 6” thick. This method works best when the stone size is small. It is also a lot less labor intensive when compared to seeding.

The third way of incorporating the stone aggregate into a thin topping is ideal for exposed aggregate concrete finish on driveways. Consumption of expensive stone aggregates can be reduced without any compromise of skid resistance or durability.

In the long run you can save money on repairs and maintenance costs by sealing the exposed aggregate concrete finish regularly with a high quality topical sealer.

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The Best Sealers for Your Concrete Driveway or Patio

A topical sealer is essential for protecting concrete surfaces from water permeation that can damage the concrete from within and compromise its lifespan.

I highly recommend Foundation Armor Concrete Sealers. Pick the one that best meets your aesthetic and application preference.