Exposed Aggregate Blasting
Exposed aggregrate is a more natural alternative to traditional "broom" finished concrete. This finish emphasizes nature's true beauty...stone. Exposed aggregate combines beauty with practicality. Cosmetically it will enhance your home and landscaping. Practically speaking, it is low maintenance and will look brand new for years to come.
Exposed-aggregate concrete can almost be compared to a piece of granite or marble transformed by polishing: A plain, unremarkable surface has been stripped away to reveal the exceptional beauty lying beneath. In the case of concrete, that beauty is in the form of decorative aggregate, either natural or manufactured.
Existing Concrete Blasting
With an exposed-aggregate finish, you can achieve spectacular effects at a reasonable cost. The surface is rugged, nonskid, and resistant to heavy traffic and weather extremes. Exposed aggregate is highly versatile and contrasts beautifully with plain concrete. Applying a transparent concrete sealer to an exposed-aggregate surface can improve both its performance and appearance. These sealers, typically film-forming acrylic resins can help protect against spalling, dusting, efflorescence, freeze/thaw damage, stains, deicing salts, and abrasion. A sealer will also enhance the color of the aggregate, accentuating its depth and richness.
New Concrete Blasting
The decorative process of exposing aggregate has been around since the early 1900s, well before pattern stamping, stenciling, and decorative overlays became trendy. But this method is far from being ready for retirement. An exposed-aggregate finish offers numerous advantages. And many of today's contractors are finding creative ways to take exposed aggregate to a new level by combining it with other decorative treatments.
An exposed-aggregate surface is obtained by pouring concrete and then removing the outer "skin" of cement paste to uncover the decorative coarse aggregate (either batched into the concrete mix or seeded onto the surface). Because of its durability and skid resistance, an exposed-aggregate finish is ideal for most flatwork including:
Sidewalks
Driveways
Patios
Pool decks
Plazas
