Cost Guide
Exposed Aggregate Cost: Driveways & Per m² (2026)
By Mount Gambier Concrete · 10 July 2026
Quick answer
As a 2026 Australian guide, exposed aggregate concrete costs roughly $100–$160 per square metre supplied and laid — more than plain concrete ($65–$100/m²) but comparable to stamped concrete. A typical 50 m² exposed aggregate driveway usually lands around $5,000–$8,000 depending on the stone, site prep and access. Sealing is included in good quotes and should be redone every few years.
Exposed aggregate is the most popular decorative concrete finish in Australia — and for good reason. It looks like a designer feature, grips underfoot, shrugs off weather, and adds real value to a home. If you’re considering it for a driveway, path or patio, here’s what it costs in 2026, what drives the price up or down, and how to budget for it around Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast.
The short version: expect to pay a premium over plain grey concrete, but far less than natural stone paving over the life of the surface. Where your quote lands inside the range below comes down to a handful of decisions you actually control — the stone, the shape, the prep and the access — so it pays to understand each one before you sign anything.
Exposed aggregate cost per square metre
Exposed aggregate is priced per square metre, supplied and laid:
| Finish | Indicative cost (supplied & laid) |
|---|---|
| Plain concrete (for comparison) | $65 – $100 per m² |
| Exposed aggregate | $100 – $160 per m² |
| Stamped / decorative | $120 – $180 per m² |
For a typical 50 m² exposed aggregate driveway, that’s roughly $5,000–$8,000 depending on the stone you choose, the site prep required and access.
It costs more than plain concrete because of the decorative stone, the extra process of exposing the aggregate to an even depth, and the sealing — but it sits in the mid-range of decorative options and is generally cheaper over its life than laying and maintaining natural pavers.
To put those per-square-metre figures into whole-job terms, here’s how the maths tends to play out for common project sizes. These are indicative 2026 ranges, not quotes — the point is to show how area scales the total, and why access and prep can move the needle:
| Project | Approx. area | Indicative total (supplied & laid) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway | 25 – 35 m² | $3,000 – $5,500 |
| Standard driveway | 45 – 55 m² | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Double / long driveway | 70 – 90 m² | $8,000 – $13,000 |
| Path or side access | 10 – 20 m² | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Patio / alfresco slab | 20 – 30 m² | $2,600 – $4,800 |
Smaller jobs almost always cost more per square metre than large ones, because the fixed costs — getting a crew and a pump or barrow to site, setting up formwork, ordering a minimum load of concrete — are spread over fewer metres. That’s normal, and it’s why a tidy 15 m² path can feel expensive next to a big driveway rate. Always ask for a fixed price for your job rather than multiplying a headline rate.
What changes the price
The aggregate (stone) you choose
There’s a wide range of stone blends, sizes and colours — from fine, subtle river pebble to bold feature aggregates. Premium and imported stones cost more than standard local blends. The stone selection is part of the look and part of the price.
Size and shape
Bigger, simpler areas are more efficient per square metre. Complex shapes, curves and lots of edges take more formwork and hand-finishing.
Site preparation and access
Excavation, base prep, slope and access all affect cost — the same fundamentals as any concrete driveway. Removing an old surface first adds around $30–$50 per m². If a truck and pump can pull straight up to the pour, labour stays low; if the crew has to barrow concrete through a narrow side gate or around a house, the same slab costs more because it takes longer.
Base preparation is where a lot of the invisible cost sits, and it’s the part you should never trim. A decorative surface is only as stable as the compacted base beneath it. Soft or uneven ground needs more excavation, more road base and better compaction — and on the Limestone Coast that’s a real consideration, which we cover below.
Reinforcement and slab thickness
A residential driveway is typically poured at around 100 mm thick with steel mesh reinforcement, and thicker where heavier vehicles (a caravan, a work ute, a boat trailer) will sit or turn. Extra thickness and heavier reinforcement add concrete and steel to the order, so a driveway built to carry serious weight costs more than a light foot-traffic path of the same area. This is structural money, not decoration — and it’s what stops the slab cracking under load. If you want the background on that, our guide to why concrete cracks explains how base, thickness and joints work together.
Sealing
Exposed aggregate should be sealed to bring out the colour, resist stains and protect the surface. This is included in a good quote. Budget to reseal every 2–4 years to keep it looking its best — a low-cost job that noticeably extends its life. For a full walk-through of cleaning and resealing intervals, see how to clean and maintain exposed aggregate.
Exposed aggregate vs plain vs stamped
- Plain concrete is the cheapest and toughest, but it’s grey and flat.
- Exposed aggregate adds texture, colour and grip for a mid-range price — the best all-rounder for driveways.
- Stamped concrete gives the look of stone, slate or pavers with a moulded texture, at a similar-to-slightly-higher price.
If slip resistance matters — a sloped driveway, a pool surround — exposed aggregate is hard to beat because the exposed stone naturally grips. It’s also worth weighing against non-concrete options entirely: our concrete vs pavers for a driveway comparison shows why a seamless decorative slab usually wins on upkeep and long-term value.
A worked example: a typical Mount Gambier driveway
To make the numbers concrete, imagine a standard 50 m² driveway with reasonable truck access and a straightforward rectangular shape. Here’s roughly where the money goes on a mid-range exposed aggregate job:
| Item | Share of the job |
|---|---|
| Excavation, base prep and compaction | 20 – 30% |
| Concrete supply, reinforcement and placing | 30 – 40% |
| Aggregate blend and the exposing process | 15 – 25% |
| Finishing, joint cutting and sealing | 15 – 20% |
Two things stand out. First, more than half of the cost is structural — the base and the slab — not the decorative finish. That’s why cutting corners on prep to save money is a false economy: you’re risking the expensive part to shave the cheap part. Second, the decorative premium over plain concrete is a genuinely modest slice of the total. Once you’ve committed to laying a quality slab, stepping up to exposed aggregate is a small proportional increase for a large jump in looks and grip.
Keeping the cost sensible
- Choose a standard local stone blend for the best value; save premium imported stone for smaller feature areas.
- Keep the shape simple where you can.
- Do the base properly — a decorative finish on a poor base still cracks. Read why concrete cracks.
- Get an itemised written quote that includes the sealing.
How long does it last — and is it worth the extra?
A properly laid and sealed exposed aggregate driveway lasts as long as any quality concrete — think 30–50 years — because the strength comes from the same slab underneath. The decorative stone is at the surface; the structural work is the base, the reinforcement and the joints, exactly as it is for a plain concrete driveway. What you’re paying extra for is appearance and grip, not a shorter or longer life.
That’s why exposed aggregate tends to hold its value well at resale on the Limestone Coast. It reads as a finished, considered driveway rather than a plain grey slab, and buyers notice. Spread over decades of use, the gap between exposed aggregate and plain concrete works out to a modest amount per year — often less than the cost of re-doing a cheaper surface that dates quickly.
Local conditions worth planning for
Around Mount Gambier and across the Limestone Coast, a few local factors are worth a mention when you’re budgeting. First, the ground: the limestone and karst country can have soft or uneven pockets, so honest base preparation is money well spent — a beautiful finish on a poor base still cracks. Inland towns sit on reactive terra rossa soils that swell and shrink with moisture, which makes proper joints and reinforcement more important, not less. Second, the coast: near Port MacDonnell, Beachport, Robe and Kingston SE, salt air makes regular resealing more valuable, both to protect the surface and to keep the colour looking fresh. In the softer, well-drained ground around Millicent and Tantanoola, the base can move if it isn’t compacted properly, so it’s another spot where prep earns its keep. None of these adds a lot to the job on its own, but all are worth factoring in rather than discovering later.
We quote across the whole region — you can see the full list on our areas we service page — and the local ground conditions are always part of how we price the base.
Common questions
Is exposed aggregate more expensive than plain concrete? Yes, by roughly $35–$60 per square metre. You’re paying for the decorative stone, the exposing process and the sealing. Over the life of the driveway that premium works out to a small amount per year.
Does the price include sealing? In a good quote, yes — the first seal is done when the driveway is laid. Budget separately for resealing every 2–4 years, which is a low-cost job.
Can I get exposed aggregate on a small path or just a patio? Absolutely, though expect a higher per-square-metre rate on small areas because the setup costs are spread over fewer metres.
Will it crack? Any concrete can crack if the base is poor or joints are wrong, but a properly built and jointed slab stays sound for decades. The decorative finish doesn’t change that — the strength is all in the base and slab beneath.
Is exposed aggregate slippery when wet? No — it’s one of the grippier finishes available, which is why it’s popular for sloped driveways and pool surrounds. The exposed stone gives natural traction.
Get a price for your job
Exposed aggregate cost depends on the stone, the area, the prep and the access. We’ll help you choose a finish that suits your home and quote it as a fixed price.
Want a driveway that turns heads? Call 0400 123 456 or get a free quote for exposed aggregate or decorative concrete — across Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast.