Exposed aggregate and stained concrete in Rio Rancho give a driveway, patio or walk texture and color without the cost and timing pressure of a stamped pattern.
They're the finishes to look at when plain gray feels too plain and stamping feels like too much.
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An exposed aggregate finish shows the stone inside the concrete. After the slab is placed and finished, the thin layer of cement paste on top is washed or brushed away at the right moment, leaving the rounded or crushed rock standing slightly proud of the surface. The result is a rough, pebbly texture with good grip, which helps on sloped driveways, pool surrounds and walks that see snow and ice on winter mornings. It also hides tire marks, dust and small stains better than a smooth broom finish. The look depends on the rock in the mix, so we'll talk through the stone size and color options available from local suppliers before the pour.
Integral color is pigment mixed into the concrete at the plant, so the color runs all the way through the slab. A chip or scrape shows the same color underneath instead of gray. It suits earth tones such as buff, terracotta, adobe brown and charcoal, which sit easily beside stucco homes and desert landscaping. Integral color can stand on its own with a broom finish, or serve as the base for stamping or exposed aggregate.
Stains color the surface of new or existing concrete. Acid stains react with the cement to make mottled, variegated tones that look a bit like leather or stone; water-based stains give a wider range of colors and more even coverage. Neither hides cracks, patches or old oil spots, so the slab's condition matters. HomeGuide's national range for a stained concrete driveway is $8 to $25 per square foot, including pouring the slab and staining it.
Rio Rancho sits at about 5,500 feet, and the EPA says UV intensity rises about 6 percent per kilometer of elevation, so color takes more sun here than it would at sea level. Integral color tends to wear evenly because it's through the whole slab; stains and surface colors depend more on the sealer on top. HomeGuide notes that sealer helps protect stained concrete from color fading. We'll recommend a finish and a sealer together; see concrete sealing.
Finishes combine well: an exposed aggregate driveway with a smooth colored border, a stained patio with a broom-finish walk, or integral color under a stamped concrete field. Mixing finishes on one pour is often less expensive than separate trips.
Tell us what you have now and the look you want. Call (505) 371-4111 anytime or send the form, and we'll set up a site visit and a written quote.
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