Exposed aggregate and decorative concrete in Des Moines are for people who want more than plain gray without the pattern of stamped work.
The texture or color is part of the concrete itself, not a coating painted on top.
Request a site visit and itemized quote
Rather talk it through?
(515) 585-4111Call anytime or send the form. Either way, you get a site visit and a written, itemized quote.
Exposed aggregate shows the stone in the mix. After the slab is placed and floated, we wait for the surface to firm up just enough, then wash and brush away the top layer of cement paste so the rounded stones underneath show through. Timing is everything. Wash too early and the stones come loose, and wash too late and the paste won't come off. Some jobs use a surface retarder to give the crew a wider window. The finished surface is rough enough to grip in sleet, and it hides tire marks, leaf stains and dirt better than smooth concrete. Angi's patio cost table lists exposed aggregate at $2 to $3 a square foot on top of the base concrete price.
Integral color is pigment mixed into the truck, so the color goes all the way through the slab. A chip or a scrape shows the same color underneath instead of flashing gray. It's a good match for exposed aggregate or a plain broom finish when you want the concrete to blend with brick, stone or siding. Earth tones like buff, tan, sandstone and charcoal hold up best outdoors.
Stains go on after the concrete has cured. Acid stains react with the cement and leave a mottled, variegated finish that no two slabs share. Water-based stains give more even, predictable color and a wider palette. Both work on older concrete that's still sound, which makes stain a way to refresh a patio or a basement floor without pouring. Angi's figures for stained concrete run $5 to $10 a square foot.
Some of the best-looking flatwork combines two finishes: an exposed aggregate field with a smooth, colored border, or a broom-finish driveway with an aggregate apron at the street. Borders also hide control joints and give a long walk some rhythm.
Decorative concrete needs a sealer to keep the color rich and to hold up to salt. We cover the schedule and products on the concrete sealing page. For a stone or brick pattern pressed into the surface, see stamped concrete.
Send the address and a photo of a finish or color you like. We'll bring samples to the site visit and send a written quote. Call (515) 585-4111 anytime or use the quote form.
Back to Des Moines Concrete Contractor.
We'll reply by phone or email. Sending this form doesn't sign you up for text messages.
