The finish is rugged, slip resistant, durable and decorative. Exposed aggregate finishes can be used for the entire paved area, as a border, or for alternating panels. It is ideal for pool decks as well as driveways and patios. The colour and texture of the finished exposed aggregate surface will depend on the colour, shape and size of the stones. In the Greater Vancouver area, blackish-grey is a standard finish. In other areas of BC the colour will vary.

The standard aggregate size is 10mm or 15mm. The concrete mix should be ordered according to CSA 23.1 specifications and should be at least a 30 MPa mix with 5% to  7% air content and a maximum slump of 80mm. The 30 MPa will give you a  higher cement content and the lower slump will prevent segregation, honeycombing and flow lines. Some ready-mixed concrete producers may offer proprietary exposed aggregate concrete mixes with, in some cases, a warranty .When ordering, be sure to explain to your concrete contractor where you will be using the product and, if possible, ask to see samples of the finished product to ensure that the finish you desire is the finish you end up with.

Although integral concrete is the most prevalent method, seeded exposed aggregate concrete can be used for special finishes. Aggregate such as crushed stone or marble is normally embedded into bull floated concrete by tapping with a wooden hand float or magnesium float.  Sometimes a rolling device such as a large diameter pipe is used. This method is labor intensive, time consuming and consequently more expensive. In both cases a qualified, certified, professional concrete finishing contractor should be employed. They will know the best methods for retarding, exposing and curing the concrete.