Exposed aggregate concrete in Logan
Updated October 2026
Exposed aggregate is the finish most new Logan homes choose when the budget stretches past plain grey. The surface is washed or ground back to reveal the stone in the mix, which gives a driveway texture, grip and a look that does not date the way stencil patterns did. We connect you with experienced, insured local concreters who pour and finish it. We are a referral service, not a concreting business.
What exposed aggregate costs
Guide pricing only. Exposed aggregate typically runs about $120 to $220 per square metre installed in 2026, against roughly $75 to $150 for plain grey. On a 60 square metre driveway that is a real difference, so it is worth seeing samples before you commit. Honed and polished finishes sit above the standard washed finish again. Get a fast quote for a price on your job.
Why it suits the new estates, and the hills behind Beenleigh
Drive the newer streets at Yarrabilba, Flagstone, Logan Reserve and Park Ridge South and the frontages are mostly exposed aggregate in charcoal and sandstone tones. There are two reasons for that. It photographs well against a rendered or brick-and-Colorbond facade, and the texture holds grip when a frontage falls away toward the kerb, which plenty of benched blocks do. The same logic applies on the slopes at Bahrs Scrub, Windaroo and Bannockburn, where driveways run up or down to the garage and a steel-trowelled surface would be slick in the wet.
How the finish is achieved
There are two common methods and they do not cost the same.
- Washed or exposed on site. A surface retarder is sprayed on after the pour, then the top paste is pressure-washed off the next day to reveal the stone. The depth of exposure depends on how long the retarder is left and how hard the wash is, which is why the concreter's experience shows.
- Seeded aggregate. Decorative stone is broadcast onto the fresh surface and worked in, then exposed the same way. It suits a specific stone look that is not available in the delivered mix.
- Honed or polished. The surface is ground back with diamond pads for a smoother, flatter finish. It costs more again and is more common on paths, patios and entries than on a full driveway.
Stone, colour and the sample slab
The aggregate in the mix decides the result, and local batching plants carry a range of blends. Ask for a sample panel or at least a photo of a finished job in the blend you are choosing, in sunlight, wet and dry. Colour oxide in the base mix changes the look as much as the stone does, which is where coloured concrete and exposed aggregate overlap.
Sealing is not optional
An exposed aggregate driveway needs sealing, and resealing every few years. The sealer keeps the stone colour rich, slows staining from oil and leaf tannins, and stops the surface going dusty. Ask what sealer is included in the quote, how many coats, and whether the first reseal is priced separately. A quote that leaves sealing out is not comparing like with like.
Preparation, approvals and the crossover
Underneath, an exposed aggregate driveway is the same job as any other. Base preparation, mesh, thickness and jointing decide whether it lasts. Site classification under the Australian standard is done per block and sets what the slab needs. The crossover between your boundary and the kerb is Logan City Council's land and a new or altered crossover usually needs the council's approval, so check the requirements with the council. In Queensland, building work valued over $3,300 generally requires a QBCC licensed contractor, and the approval rules sit in the Building Regulation 2021, applied by the council and private building certifiers. Before any digging, your concreter should lodge a free Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry.
Where it is worth the extra, and where it is not
- Worth it on a front driveway, an entry path and a pool surround, where the look and the grip both earn their keep.
- Worth considering on a sloped frontage for the texture alone.
- Harder to justify on a long acreage run at Jimboomba or Logan Village, where area is the cost driver and plain grey does the same work.
- Not the answer on a working hardstand or machinery pad, where you want a hard-wearing plain surface you can hose out.
Joints, cracking and what is normal
Exposed aggregate hides hairline shrinkage cracking better than a trowelled finish, but it does not prevent it. Control joints still have to be cut or tooled at sensible spacings, and on a decorative job the joint layout should be planned to suit the shape of the driveway rather than cut wherever is convenient. Ask to see the proposed joint layout before the pour.
Ready to price it? Get a fast quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is exposed aggregate slippery?
Less so than a steel-trowelled finish, which is one of the reasons it is common on sloped frontages. Honed and polished finishes are smoother, so for a steep driveway the standard washed finish is usually the better choice.
How often does it need resealing?
Every few years, depending on sun exposure, traffic and the sealer used. Ask the concreter what they recommend for the product they are applying and what the reseal costs.
Can exposed aggregate be laid over my old driveway?
No. It is a full-depth concrete pour, so the old surface comes out first. If you want a decorative look over sound existing concrete, ask about spray-on resurfacing instead, which is covered in the cost guide.
Does it cost more on a small area?
Yes, proportionally. The retarder, the wash-off visit and the sealing are the same process whether the area is 15 square metres or 60, so small jobs carry more of that cost per metre.