Home & Garden Gardening

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Finding it difficult to choose the best aggregate mix for your driveway? Looking through samples in addition to visiting suppliers with no real idea of the way it will appear when it is complete. Because of the volume of aggregate blends and variety it is definitely a process that will require some time.

We suggest that firstly you speak with your architect and try get a hold of a finished sketch using the final exterior colour of your home. If possible also ask your architect to obtain a colour swatch of the home's exterior render colour, brick style or painted finish. If you are simply re-doing your driveway and the home already exists then get a hold of a few photos that put the driveway in perspective to the house. Equipped with this handful of resources contact your local aggregate distributors and arrange to visit them, taking with you the swatches and images and get as much advice from the specialists as possible.

The distributors themselves are one of the best tools you can access in relation to making a decision. Through showing them your plan and giving them some perspective, they're able to relate your position to projects they have completed previously and work together with you to source the very best aggregate mix they can.

Concrete aggregate providers provide their own premix choice of aggregate, these are more than likely also seen on the company's website. You should not however feel that this is their only range available. Mainly because aggregate can be created from a great number of types of rock and stone, you can easily visit a provider and make your very own unique mixture of the aggregates available, they might even help you source distinct aggregates.

When going to a provider a very important thing that can be done once you have seen some options and personalized your own mix is to get a sample. Bring that sample back to the site of the driveway and place the sample within the specified position for the driveway. Using this examine how it works against the colour of the home and surrounding vegetation.

Nearly as important as the aggregate itself it is essential to remember that the concrete beneath the mix gives huge effect. Most providers provide you with the concrete and the aggregate and deliver it mixed ready to poor before it's set and revealed through acid washing methods. Because of the concrete being premixed you need to take into consideration if you would like the concrete to be pigmented. Suppliers usually know what colour concrete is most effective with specific aggregate so be sure to consult them if in contact.

Choosing the right texture for the exposed aggregate driveway should not be as tough as determining the colour. There are just a couple of questions you have to consider, are you walking on the driveway barefoot on a regular basis? Is the driveway primarily used for cars? What degree of drainage do you require? It's questions such as these which help you find the perfect solution. If your driveway links to paths or outdoor entertainment areas and is supposed to be walked on then a finer texture is most effective under foot. Should it be grip and drainage that you need on your driveway then the coarser blend of aggregate is most effective to avoid any skid or slip activity.


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