Putting up a walkway or driveway requires a great deal of concrete. However, if you want to do the job yourself, you need to know how to pour exposed aggregate concrete safely. Listed below are tips for pouring concrete with exposed aggregate. These tips will make your job much easier. First, prepare the area with a chemical surface retarder. Next, brush or abrasively blast the concrete.
Bull float the concrete
The process of bull-floating the exposed aggregate concrete finish starts with a proper foundation. The bull float presses the top layer of aggregate into the concrete and then presses it beneath the surface with pressure. The hand trowel is used to clean the aggregates and to fine-tune details. The exposing process should be consistent throughout the entire pour and should be done with the same amount of water pressure. To get a uniform finish, the concrete should be properly poured and a releasing agent must be used.
Apply chemical surface retarder
Expose is an all-purpose chemical surface retarder that provides consistent, repeatable results. It can be used to create a vertical concrete wall with exposed aggregate. It is also useful for on-form applications, such as vertical wall construction. This product has no adverse effects on the strength of the concrete, and it can be used to create an exposed aggregate finish up to 3/16″ thick. To apply Expose, simply follow the instructions on the label.
Brush the wet cement
Despite the durable appearance of exposed aggregate concrete, this material has some drawbacks. While it appears ready to use right away, this finish is susceptible to damage and dirt. Therefore, you should take great care when pouring exposed aggregate. For this reason, it is important to hire a professional to do the job. Unless you have an expert on hand, you might end up making a mistake and ruining the entire project.
Abrasive blast the concrete
To achieve the exposed aggregate finish on a surface, the top layer of concrete should be removed using a wet abrasive blasting process. This technique not only gives the surface a more attractive, yet slip-resistant, finish, but it also saves money because it won’t require replacing concrete. If you’re not interested in exposing aggregate, you can opt for stamped concrete, also known as textured concrete. These concretes are designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, tile, wood, and more.
Smooth the surface
If you’re planning to pour an exposed aggregate patio, you’ll want to smooth the surface first. Fortunately, it’s easy to do. Exposure aggregate concrete is made up of three basic components: cement, water, and aggregate. Aggregate is the small rock or pebbles that make up concrete. These materials can be fine or coarse, depending on the desired effect. To smooth the surface when pouring exposed aggregate concrete, simply rub a wet sponge over the surface. This will remove excess cement and produce a smooth surface.