ground steps made out of dark aggregate concrete

Light vs Dark Exposed Aggregate Concrete: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing the right colour for exposed aggregate concrete is crucial. The finish offers a unique texture, while the colour significantly influences the appearance of your property. Find out which aggregate colour suits your style and taste.

Choosing the right colour is one of the most important decisions when selecting exposed aggregate concrete. While the finish provides the distinctive texture of exposed stone, the overall colour can have a major impact on how a driveway, patio, pathway or pool area looks alongside your home and landscaping.

Vic Mix's exposed concrete range includes a variety of Light, Grey, and Dark options, making it easier to explore finishes that suit different design preferences.

Light Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Light-coloured exposed aggregate is a popular choice for homeowners wanting a bright, welcoming and contemporary outdoor space. These finishes can feature light grey, beige, white or off-white tones, often combined with contrasting natural aggregates.

For example, Vic Mix's Cobram 91 Ivory features an off-white cement base with light grey and brownish aggregates and a small amount of black stone for added depth.

Light finishes can work particularly well around homes with neutral façades, coastal-inspired designs, Hampton-style homes and contemporary landscaping. They can also help create a more open and visually spacious appearance, making them suitable for larger driveways, entertaining areas and pathways.

If you want your outdoor concrete to feel bright, subtle and versatile, a light exposed aggregate finish may be the right option.

Dark Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Dark exposed aggregate provides a stronger visual impact. It can incorporate dark stone, black aggregate or deeper cement tones to create a bold, sophisticated finish.

Vic Mix's Himalayas Ash, for example, features small dark stone aggregates set in grey cement, creating a sleek and refined appearance. Other Vic Mix finishes combine dark and light aggregates to create contrast rather than an entirely dark surface.

Dark concrete can complement modern architecture, darker brickwork, timber features and contemporary landscaping. It can also provide a striking contrast against lighter walls, garden beds and outdoor furniture.

Choose a dark finish if you want your concrete to become a strong design feature rather than simply blend into the surrounding landscape.

What About Grey?

Grey sits comfortably between light and dark, making it a versatile choice for homeowners who want some contrast without an especially bold finish.

Vic Mix offers exposed aggregate mixes featuring light grey bases combined with brown and black aggregates. For example, Cobram 55 Ash creates a modern appearance by combining a light grey base, brownish aggregates and a high percentage of black stone.

Grey can therefore be a useful middle ground if you are unsure whether a very light or very dark finish will suit your property.

Which Should You Choose?

Consider your home's exterior, roof and wall colours, landscaping, the size of the area and the atmosphere you want to create.

Explore Vic Mix’s exposed concrete options to compare different aggregate combinations and find a finish that complements your next project.

Remember that exposed aggregate uses natural stone, so colour and texture can vary between batches and finished surfaces. WE recommends treating product images and samples as indicative rather than an exact representation of the final result.

If you’re looking for a reliable concrete supplier in Victoria, there is no need to look anywhere else as VIC MIX is here for you. With nearly 30 years in the construction business, we know know concrete like the back of our handa. From supplying traditional concrete and decorative concrete to Melbourne communities to undertaking large-scale commercial and industrial projects right across the state.

 
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Decorative

Decorative Concrete is a world where concrete comes to life. This can be shown through different forms such as exposed aggregate, polished concrete, coloured concrete, blasted concrete etc. These types of decorative show the true beauty of pre-mix concrete.

Normal Class

Normal Class is the term applied to a range of standardised concrete mixes as defined by Australian Standard AS1379. The intention of this “Class” is to provide a set of minimum standards that cover the vast majority of concrete manufactured in Australia.

Special Class

Special Class is concrete which is specified to have certain properties or characteristics different from, or additional to, those of Normal Class concrete. Such as Pre -cast panels, Green Star, Permeable Concrete, Low shrink pavements, post tension slabs, high strength 60MPa+ concrete, spray mixes etc.

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