How to get a Exposed Aggregate Finish on Concrete 

I have an exposed aggregate driveway that my great-grandfather and grandfather laid about 60 years ago. It's still in great shape , with just one corner cracked due to settling. It is likely about 6"thick They were both masons by training and passion, in the old Italian tradition. My grandfather's house and yard is an ode to brick, concrete and crushed red stone.

I'm 58 years old, you learn something new everyday thanks dude.

Great video Odell. I’ve used this technique for years now self taught. I found that sometimes the water pressure from the hose alone, even if it’s just hitting the surface sometimes displaces the rocks. So I put something flat on top of the concrete (like my trowel, then I pour the water on the trowel and from the trowel the water very gently glided over the stones for exposure

I’ve always wondered how this process was done. Thank you for an easy to follow tutorial!

I have watched so many of your videos, they are always very well explained so that non pros ( like me ) can get a great understanding of how the job is done from start to finish, the high standards that you and your team work to on all of the jobs is truly amazing ! This particular finish is one I have always wanted to re-create and I am now look forward to tackling this in the future Many thanks !

I always enjoy watching how seamless you make multi step processes look.

Very nice. Good tip about running water through the bag of stones first to clean them before using them.

I recently cut out a bit of my driveway up against the house to correct a draining problem. I've now got a bottle gully in exactly the right place and all hooked up to my drains. I was able to achieve a similar exposed aggregate look to the rest of the driveway by brushing it quite aggressively. I pulled it off more or less by luck if I'm honest. Now I'm subbed to this so that whenever I do this stuff in the future I'm not just winging it. Good work and good videos.

Nice job! We do it a little different in the Midwest. We pour a pea gravel Readi-mix. Finish the slab as we normally would, but instead of blooming we spray a surface retarder on. Cover it with poly and come back in the afternoon or next morning to wash. Exposed aggregate is one of my favorite looks, never get tired of it.

I don't know how much this is done anymore but I remember this quite a bit when I was younger.

We get our concrete delivered with pea gravel already added. We get it to grade, edge it and lightly trial it so we don't push the stone to deep. Then we spray the top layer of concrete with a solution that slows or completely stops the very top layer from setting up. We let it set for 6-8 hours in the summer and usually overnight during the winter. Then we use a low pressure nozzle on a pressure washer to wash all the cement off of the pea gravel. Last step after everything has dried the final time we coat the top with a bronze tinted clear coat that keeps the exsposed agg looking great for many years to come. We never seed our gravel anymore or use anykind of suger. These new products make the concrete world incredible

This is the way videos should be made, very clear on your speaking and video came across very nice and clear! Bueno!!

2021: 4 years after you posted this video, it is still EXCELLENT! Thank you!

Man I love watching a Master at work-absolutely flawless final product. Well done, sir!

My favorite method, so far. I like the look and the nonslip aspect.

Amazing video! My driveway is made of aggregate. I've lived in this house 10 years and, not only did I not know what this finish was called, I had no idea how it was done. Thank you, Mr. Odell!

Thus the reason I love concrete. You can do anything with it.

I know you're busy guy... but I have a work related question, and you know so much about cement I thought I'd ask.... It is said when doing a shower pan ( mortar mix ) that you should dry pack it, so when you grab a hand full it should clump together but not quite fall apart. The idea is dry pack will resist moisture so after tiling should water get to pan material it won't get absorbed...or at least as easy. My take is the mortar should have more water, not runny but an hour or so after screeding you'll see water come up to surface. I also think having been a mason tender YEARS ago, that the material must be wet for the binder ( cement ) to do it's thing properly. Your experience & thoughts are much appreciated, THANKS !

Holy smokes I’m glad I watched this before I did my pour. Great information and not a lot of the show business and it’s save me a bunch of disappointment. And it’s been way too many years since I did this and I forgot the finer points. Thanks for putting this up definitely will subscribe to your channel

A lot of people on RU-vid don't know what they're doing. This guy is not that. Great video

I am getting ready to do this at my New House being built up in Northern Idaho. So excited about it as it looks so good

The natural look it gives is great. Like a conglomerate rock.

Ive watched loads of concrete videos & i have to say your videos are by far the best. Especially the stepping stone videos youve just done.

I love this method and love the exterior of the rugged finish. I think pavers or concrete walkways should have a rough exterior look. Reminds me of the old cobblestone finishes on homes. Thank you so much for this vid. Looking forward to more

Thank you so much for this incredible video.I have thought of this process for a very long time ! So clear and simple.! Greetings from Ontario Canada

Really beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

You can also experiment with sugar (or sugar-containing wastes) and starch (to make kind of gel, so it won't dry too fast): sugars slow down setting up of the portland cement, so when you apply it to the top, after few hours the stone would harden, while you still could wash away the top with car washer.

Oh thank u. This topic I only thought of when I'm NOT around someone I could ask. Grew up in city and the rock finish slabs seemed a thing of the past. Maybe in center city there be a specialty finish only for hi-end. But all of anything else was replaced with Grey slabs, that I noticed. Thank u for informing me it can be practical still cause it's just applying technique

You have simple, educational well done videos! Thank you!!

When you covered the pebbles with cement, then how much time did you wait (in hours) before you applied brush and water to remove the top layer of cement?

As a builder myself, you do this the exact same way I do. Throw in some concrete wire and fill it up. The more patient you are in the finishing stage, the better it turns out. And yeah, I have also thrown in coins, arrow heads, bottle caps, and even an old license plate or two. The possibilities are endless. And to take it up a notch, I have even took a grinder to it, and then it looks just like the floor of your local bank.

Ok, I have to admit I was not expecting that finish. Brilliant work.

Great idea man. I'd love my whole driveway like this.

Great look!! Have a quick question... at the end you mentioned a wet look sealer. Do you actually wet the concrete and then apply a sealer specific for a wet application or is it just a wet look sealer that is applied to a dry surface? Thanks and thanks for all your great videos.

i love to watch guys that do concrete right. good job.

Beautiful work! Greetings from Poland

Absolutey awesome technique

Super video dam nice job and it looks easy thanks

Really beautiful work. I'm not sure why, but I keep having your videos pop up in my suggested list. Your work and the way you explain the processes is awesome.

Thank you very much from us Wales in the UK for showing me how to do this...fantastic informative video.

Wonderful man, thanks

Thank your taking the time to make these videos, they are very well done. Unrelated to the exposed aggregate video. How much does sand color affect the final dried color? If I was to use a dark brown mason sand and make the mix would it dry a lighter tan color without having to use coloring?

*You're like the Bob Ross of concrete.*

Mr. O'Dell, What a magnificent work you have created👏👏👏👏

Hi David. I would really like to see an exposed aggregate driveway with crushed/broken glass. Merry Xmas from the U.K. all the best for the new year

When doing a large drive you need pressure I do this work every day and we ordered our mix with the rock thats going to be shown

I love it David!! Glad I found your channel along with tigran! Both have opened the door for different opportunities!!

Old sidewalks were made like this with all the rocks and I noticed that it holds up and lasts a long time. I've seen new sidewalk blocks deteriorate within 5 years. And the old blocks with all the rock are still nice and they are 60 years old

Nice. I did a horrible version of this that I have to replace for other reasons, thankfully. Before then, I'll check out your other videos and subscribe. Thanks.

awesome, great work. you really know your craft. learning a lot from your vids.

glad you pointed out using clean rock.. very important and great video

Absolutely my favorite concrete finish. Thank you for this!

I like Dave always wondered how it was done nice finish Have you ever done video with radiant heat

First, and is it possible to go back to your prior jobs and see the finished and lived in work?

This is exactly the video I was looking for. You’re the man.

Looks great. Would love to see same technique on vertical surface.

Thanks for posting. Can you tell us about your form? Looks like that paver will be very heavy. Is the bottom of the form resting on plastic sheeting on the ground? Did you use mesh or rods to keep it from cracking?

Loved the video, followed how to do it, mixed 20 bags of concrete, washed the stone like you showed. Applied the stone , trowel it under, waited 7hrs then little water and horse hair brush. Worked great , except I have a few spots that look like the cream stayed on . Tried a stiffer brush but it’s still there. Any ideas on what I can do ? Other then that great video, 1st time working with concrete, your video made that possible.

it is a good alternative creating the countertop by treating the surface directly without flipping, and more over without polishing

Very pleasant voice and simple understandable, narration. Thank you!

Superb. A craftsman. Thanks for showing us.

The thing is am glued on your channel......keep posting please...👍

At my moms house the driveway is easily 200ft long and 3 lanes wide and the entire thing is exposed aggregate. In Southeast Florida, it feels great on the feet in the summer time.

Thank you very much for taking the time to show us.

Very nice method to make own pattern and texture on a slab

I've always love this look for a driveway and a walkway 😍😍

OCC, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience of concrete with us.

I really liked your video. I've got to raise my driveway about 5 inches and slope it to 3 1/2 to 4 inches. Don't want to do a complete pour. Your blocks will be a great alternative. Thanks for your video.

a good honest worker

That's artistry sir. Very nice.

Great video - that's a fantastic technique. I plan to try it this weekend.

Isn't this "pebble wash"? This looks amazing!

Making samples is great for jobs... I havent done a salt finish in years... I like the vids. Great job.

Many generations will be exposed to this fabulous video

We had to recast the original slabs, like these in London England on a vctorian shcool, nice work!!

David the concrete magician, does it again. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, kindness and time with us. I am still yet to make a paver, I have purchased the fire glass, just waiting for the planets to line up. Lol. Sherie Rodrigues from Australia 🤩

The narrator sounds exactly like Robbie Lawler the ufc fighter who’s a certified badass !!! Very good concrete work !!

Hello David. Do you think you can make a quick video on grading slope or proper grading. Driveway add ons or sidehouse pathways .Can you include a methods on how to do it the easiest and most effective way .thanks for the consideration.

Nice hand mixed finished concrete. Awesome. Well done video. Thanks for sharing.

thank you. well done, and very helpful. gonna give it a try over these next few days.

It seems so simple yet is so beautiful.

Thank you for the video! Helpful as always!

I like how you really know your craft. I've seen other video's of yours and I appreciate your channel.

Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing your know-hows. Wishing you the very best to you and your fam.

Finally!!! I've wanted to know how to do this for years!!! Thank You!!

Always, fantastic work!

A beautiful job. Thanks for sharing your skills

Hey thanks for the video. I have turned away customer requests for this because I didn't know how it was done. Again thanks

Brokski you killed it great vid.

You make it look so easy.

good info im ust about to do exposed concrete,me and some mates did a pour and it was rough so i had to use a big concrete grinder then a sealer looks good but next time round going to do exposed much less work

Looks way better than mine! Wish you were in Pittsburgh! Artist!!!!

Great video, I always wanted to know how the deck around my pool had been made, looks exactly like the paver

Awesome knowledge sharing. I’m in the pool business. Always looking for new things to market to my customers. Thx Mr. Odell.

I do it the hard way. I like this way for the smooth finish. Thanks

Masterfully done mate. Great explanation. I’d definitely hire you.

Thank you for useful content. Using your technique today

I finished it, it went just fine. Thanks again!

Awesome video, very good instructions. Thanks for sharing, it’s much appreciated.

Very informative, David. Great video.