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AI Overview
Plain brushed concrete is the cheaper, faster, simpler option, runs $95-$145/m² in Perth and lasts 20-25 years. Exposed aggregate costs $150-$220/m², lasts 25-30 years, hides surface marks better, and reads as a more premium finish. Pick plain if you're flipping the house in under 5 years or budget is tight. Pick exposed agg if you're staying long-term, the front of the house matters, or salt air is a factor.
Key Highlights
- ›Plain concrete: $95-$145/m² · Exposed aggregate: $150-$220/m² in 2026 Perth
- ›Plain lasts 20-25 years · Exposed agg lasts 25-30 years
- ›Exposed agg hides oil stains, hairline cracks, and surface wear better
- ›Plain is faster (1 day finish), exposed needs day-2 retarder wash
- ›Exposed agg requires a fresh seal every 3 years; plain doesn't need sealing
- ›Salt-air coastal blocks (Cottesloe, City Beach, Scarborough): exposed agg outlasts plain
It's the most common decision a Perth homeowner makes when getting a driveway poured. Plain or exposed?
We pour both every week, so we'll skip the marketing and give you the honest comparison.
There's no universally right answer. The right answer depends on how long you're staying, what's underneath the driveway, and what the front of the house needs to look like.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Plain brushed | Exposed aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² (Perth 2026) | $95-$145 | $150-$220 |
| Lifespan | 20-25 years | 25-30 years |
| Build time | 3 days | 4-5 days |
| Look | Functional, grey | Premium, textured, varied |
| Maintenance | None | Reseal every 3 years |
| Hides marks | Poor, oil stains visible | Excellent, texture hides surface wear |
| Slip resistance | OK | Excellent (textured) |
| Salt-air durability | Pits in 7-8 years coastal | Holds up 25+ years coastal |
| Colour options | Grey only (or coloured-mix add-on) | Wide stone selection |
When plain wins
- Tight budget, the $40-$70/m² difference matters on a 60m² driveway
- Selling within 5 years and the house isn't a premium-end listing
- Plenty of greenery / planting at the front so the driveway isn't the visual focus
- Inland block where salt air isn't a factor
- Side-passage paths or back-yard slabs where finish doesn't matter
Plain isn't 'lower quality'
A well-poured plain driveway with a proper sub-base, full reo spec, and 100mm thickness is just as structurally durable as exposed agg. The difference is purely visual + maintenance.
When exposed aggregate wins
- Long-term home (10+ years) where the look matters every day
- Premium-end property where buyers expect the finish at the front
- Coastal block (Cottesloe, City Beach, Scarborough, Mandurah canal), salt air pits plain concrete
- Steep driveway needing extra grip, the textured surface helps in wet
- Visible-from-street pool surround where you want a finish that handles bare feet + sun
“If we're pouring at the front of a house in Cottesloe, we'll always recommend exposed agg. The salt air does too much damage to plain concrete to justify the saving.”
Stone selection, the part most quotes skip
If you go exposed aggregate, the stone you pick matters more than people realise. Different stones change the colour, the warmth, and how the surface ages.
Common Perth aggregate options
- Donnybrook river stone, warm honey/tan tones, mostly rounded shapes, classic look
- Granitic, speckled grey/black, modern look, harder edge
- Basalt, deep grey/black, formal look, hides dust well
- Quartz mix, bright, lighter tones, reflects more sun (cooler underfoot)
- Custom blends, we can blend two stones for a specific tone match
Get a sample panel before pouring
We pour a 1m² sample panel on the verge before we do the main job, so you can see the actual stone + finish in your light. No surprises on pour day.
The maintenance reality
Plain concrete needs nothing once it's poured. You can pressure-clean it once a year if it's gone grey, but otherwise it's set-and-forget.
Exposed agg needs a sealer reapplied every 3 years to keep the colour rich and stop water penetration. Costs around $7-$12/m² to reseal, so $400-$700 every 3 years on a 60m² driveway. Skip the seal and the surface will dust up and lose colour after 8-10 years.
