Exposed aggregate is a finish, not a different slab: the same concrete is placed, then the top layer of paste is washed off to reveal the stone in the mix. The result is a natural, textured surface that grips well wet, hides wear better than smooth concrete, and lasts a long time, which is why it is a favourite for pool decks and high-traffic walks. It costs more than a broom finish because the finishing stage is more hand work, and hand work is where the cost of any decorative concrete lives.
The look depends on the aggregate. A standard mix gives a consistent pea-gravel texture; seeding a specific decorative stone or glass into the surface gives a richer, more custom result and costs more again. Either way it needs sealing to keep the stone bright and to make it easier to clean, and that seal wants redoing every few years in this climate.
How Much Does Exposed Aggregate Concrete Cost in Winston-Salem, NC?
What changes
Effect on your price
Square footage
The single biggest driver. Work is priced per square foot, so measure before you call.
Standard mix or seeded stone
Using the aggregate already in the mix is the baseline. Seeding a specific decorative stone or glass into the surface is a richer look and more hand work.
Getting the reveal even
Washing the surface paste off evenly across the whole slab is skilled hand work, and hand work is where the cost of a decorative finish lives.
Sealing, and resealing later
Exposed aggregate needs sealing to keep the stone bright, and that seal wants redoing every few years. Budget for the cycle, not just the pour.
Reinforcement, wire or fibre
Adds roughly 10 to 15 percent over a plain pour. Worth it anywhere a vehicle or a heavy load will sit.
Tear-out of the existing surface
Adds roughly 15 to 25 percent, depending on slab thickness and how easily a machine can reach it.
Concrete truck access
Tight lots, long wheelbarrow runs and pump trucks all add labour to the exact same square footage.
Every job is priced on site. We measure, check the base and the grade, and put a written price in your hand before any concrete is ordered.
What's Included
Same structural slab as any pour: base, reinforcement, joints
Aggregate revealed evenly across the surface, not patchy
Standard mix or a seeded decorative stone, priced side by side
Slip-resistant texture, well suited to pool decks and walks
First seal applied once the slab has cured
A finish that hides surface wear and tyre marks over time
How a exposed aggregate Job Goes, Step by Step
1
Build the slab like any other
Under the finish it is ordinary structural concrete, so the base is compacted, reinforcement is placed, and control joints are planned exactly as they would be for a plain pour.
2
Place and screed the concrete
The concrete is placed and brought to grade. If a decorative stone is being seeded rather than using the mix aggregate, it is broadcast and worked into the fresh surface at this stage.
3
Time the reveal
The surface paste is washed and brushed off at exactly the right moment, too early and stone dislodges, too late and it will not release. This timing window is the skill in the whole finish.
4
Wash, clean and cut joints
The surface is rinsed until the aggregate is evenly exposed and clean, and control joints are cut on the planned spacing.
5
Cure and seal
The slab cures, then gets its first sealer to lock in the stone colour and make it easy to clean. That seal is a maintenance item to redo every few years.
When to Call
You want a pool deck that grips when it is wet
A driveway or walk that hides wear better than smooth concrete
You like the natural stone look over plain grey or stamped
You are choosing between exposed aggregate, broom and stamped
Where we cover
Exposed Aggregate Concrete across Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Union Cross, Pfafftown, Clemmons, Lewisville, Stanleyville, Belews Creek, King, Germanton, Oak Ridge, Colfax, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Wallburg, Midway and Welcome.
Common Questions
Is exposed aggregate more expensive than a broom finish?⌄
Yes, because revealing and washing the aggregate evenly is extra hand work, and hand work is most of the cost of any decorative finish. It sits between a plain broom finish and full stamped work on price.
Is exposed aggregate good around pools?⌄
It is one of the best choices. The stone texture stays grippy when wet and is comfortable enough barefoot, which is exactly what a pool deck needs. A slip-resistant sealer keeps it that way.
Does it need sealing?⌄
Yes. Sealing keeps the aggregate bright, makes the surface easier to clean, and protects it from freeze-thaw. In this climate plan on resealing every few years, sooner on a pool deck that takes sun and chemicals.
