We've had a busy couple of weeks at our house. The concrete guys were back to pour the front and back porches. Although we ran out of concrete halfway through the pour of the front porch, everything went smoothly and the end result is fantastic!
We decided to use exposed aggregate for our front and back porches. What is exposed aggregate?
From
Concrete Network:
An exposed-aggregate surface is obtained by placing concrete and then removing the outer 'skin' of cement paste to uncover decorative coarse aggregate (either batched into the concrete mix or seeded onto the surface). Because of its durability and skid resistance, an exposed aggregate finish is ideal for most flatwork including:
- Sidewalks
- Driveways
- Patios
With an exposed aggregate finish, you can achieve spectacular effects at a reasonable cost because few additional materials (other than the decorative aggregate) and tools (beyond basic finishing tools) are required. Here are some other notable advantages of exposed aggregate finishes:
- The basic procedures are simple enough for experienced finishers to master easily.
- The surface is rugged, nonskid, and resistant to heavy traffic and weather extremes.
- Many types and sizes of decorative aggregate are available to achieve unlimited color and texture variations.
- Exposed aggregate is highly versatile and contrasts beautifully with plain concrete or other decorative treatments such as stamping, stenciling, staining, and integral coloring.
- Little maintenance is required, other than sealing and occasional cleaning.
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| The cement mixer and pump truck |
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| Perfect weather to pour concrete! |
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| Front porch before the pour |
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| Ground treated lumber wrapped with a protective barrier |
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| Front porch rebar |
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| Half of the pour completed, waiting for more mix |
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| World's best concrete guy! |
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| Love the decorative notches in the steps |
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| Front porch concrete seam, to prevent widespread cracking |
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| Back porch |
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| Back porch |
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| Finished back porch, with seams - notice the pine tongue and groove ceiling! |
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