Perth exposed aggregate price bands
| Band | $/m² (supplied and installed) | What puts a job in this band |
|---|---|---|
| Low | $110–$130 / m² | Standard WA quartz or river-pebble aggregate on a straightforward 100mm slab, easy truck access, SL72 mesh, one sealer coat. Typical of new-build driveways in Baldivis, Alkimos and Piara Waters. |
| Mid | $130–$160 / m² | Premium aggregate blend (e.g. black basalt with white quartz feature), thickened edge, deeper reveal wash-off, two-coat solvent-based sealer. Common for full driveway + pathway packages on established blocks. |
| High | $160–$180 / m² | Designer aggregate (imported granite or specialty blend), complex shape or curves, difficult wheelbarrow-only access, removal of existing surface. Typical of Applecross, Dalkeith and Cottesloe premium builds. |
What drives the cost in Perth
Aggregate choice
WA-quarried river pebble and standard quartz sit at the base. Black basalt (a Perth favourite for contrast) runs $8–$15 more per m². Imported granites and specialty blends can add $25–$40 per m² and often need to be ordered in for the job.
Reveal depth
A light 'seeded' finish shows only the top faces of the stone. A deep reveal exposes half or more of each pebble. Deep reveals cost more because they require slower, more careful retarder timing and produce more waste to wash off — expect $10–$20 per m² more for a designer reveal.
Wash-off timing and weather
The retarder wash-off window is 4–24 hours depending on ambient temperature and mix. Hot Perth summer days (35°C+) compress the window to under six hours. A pour started at the wrong time in the wrong forecast is why some exposed aggregate driveways come out patchy — one section over-exposed, another under.
Sealer grade and coats
Two coats of UV-stable solvent-based sealer add $8–$12 per m² over a single water-based coat but triple the reseal interval. Non-negotiable in Perth. Water-based sealers on exposed aggregate go milky by the end of one summer.
Access and pour rate
Exposed aggregate is a timed finish — the crew must be washing off while another section is still curing. Difficult access that slows the pour rate also compresses the wash-off window, adding a second labourer to the job.
Process
- 1
Base prep and formwork
Same as any driveway — 100mm road base compacted, formwork set with fall, SL72 or SL82 mesh on chairs. The exposed aggregate finish rides on the same slab everyone else's driveway rides on. Skimp on the base and no finish saves it.
- 2
Pour and screed
Pour a 25 MPa mix with the specified aggregate blended through. Screed and bull-float as normal. Do not over-float — you want cement paste on top, not aggregate exposed too early.
- 3
Retarder application
Immediately after bull-floating and before any bleed water, spray the surface with a chemical retarder that stops the top few millimetres of paste from hardening. Coverage rate follows the product datasheet — usually 4–6 m² per litre.
- 4
Wash-off window
Wait until the underlying concrete has set enough to hold the aggregate but the top paste is still soft — typically 4–24 hours. Wash off with a low-pressure hose and stiff broom to reveal the aggregate. Judgement call the crew makes on the day based on temperature, wind and mix behaviour.
- 5
Cut joints and cure
Saw-cut control joints within 24 hours of the pour, 1/4 slab depth. Damp-cure for 7 days. In summer, hessian and plastic. In winter, plastic alone.
- 6
Seal at 21–28 days
Wait for the slab to release its bleed moisture — trapped water under a fresh sealer causes blushing that ruins the finish. Apply the first coat of solvent-based UV-stable sealer, then the second coat perpendicular within 24 hours.
Perth-specific considerations
- Perth's high UV load makes solvent-based UV-stable sealer mandatory. Water-based sealers turn milky by the end of one summer.
- Coastal salt exposure from Alkimos, Cottesloe and Golden Bay demands a 2–3 year reseal cycle. Inland (Ellenbrook, Byford) you can push it to 3–5 years.
- West-facing driveways with dark basalt reach 60°C+ on summer afternoons. Great look — painful walk if kids or dogs use it barefoot.
- The best WA-quarried aggregates come out of the Darling Range quarries — Bindoon, Byford. Ask which quarry the crew is sourcing from; some blends travel from interstate and cost more without looking better.
- Exposed aggregate resists tyre marks from hot tyres far better than plain grey — a genuine advantage for daily-driver families.
Compare with the alternatives
Liquid limestone vs exposed aggregate
Liquid limestone is a cementitious topping over concrete — cooler underfoot, paler, but more prone to staining and slightly less durable under vehicles. Exposed aggregate is more forgiving for driveways carrying regular vehicle traffic.
Read more →Honed concrete driveways
Honed is diamond-ground smooth after cure, revealing aggregate through polish rather than wash-off. Runs $30–$60 more per m². Best for architectural jobs where a flat, refined surface matters more than tyre-mark hiding.
Read more →Ready for a exposed aggregate estimate?
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Frequently asked questions
How much does exposed aggregate cost in Perth?
Between $110 and $180 per square metre supplied and installed. A standard 40m² driveway in WA-quarried aggregate runs $4,600–$6,500. Premium blends with a designer reveal push toward $7,000–$7,500 on the same footprint.
How long does exposed aggregate last in Perth?
The concrete slab itself lasts 40+ years if properly reinforced and drained. The exposed aggregate surface stays looking sharp for 25+ years with a reseal every 3–5 years (2–3 years within 5km of the coast). Neglect the reseal cycle and the paste between stones begins to abrade and wash away.
Can exposed aggregate be laid over an existing driveway?
No. Exposed aggregate is a finish integral to the pour — the aggregate has to be in the mix and the retarder applied to fresh concrete. What you can do is resurface an existing slab with a thin overlay of stamped or spray-on concrete that mimics the look. Ask about resurfacing instead.
What's the best aggregate colour for a Perth driveway?
Mid-tone earth tones (honey, tan, soft grey) stay cooler underfoot and hide most stains. Black basalt looks striking but heats up on west-facing pours. White quartz shows every drop of engine oil. Most Perth homeowners settle on a warm mid-grey with 15–20% black feature for contrast.
How often does exposed aggregate need resealing in Perth?
Every 3–5 years for inland suburbs (Baldivis, Ellenbrook, Byford). Every 2–3 years within 5km of the coast (Alkimos, Cottesloe, Golden Bay) — the combined UV and salt exposure is severe. Signs it's due: sealer looks patchy, water no longer beads on the surface, aggregate starts feeling loose underfoot.
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